A Place Called Blessing,
Where Hurting Ends and Love Begins
By John Trent PhD with Annette Smith

I was drawn to read the book A Place Called Blessing by John Trent PhD with Annette Smith, because the sub-title caught my attention. I usually do not read fiction books however this one caught my attention because I can identify with the words of the sub-title. One of those been there done that sort of things.
Josh grew up in a dysfunctional home with a Dad who didn’t work much and both parents were more interested in going to the bar than caring for their young children. He often heard that if they were good they would bring them home some treat but they rarely remembered to do it.
After his parents died in a car crash on the way home from the bars, Josh and his two brothers went from foster home to foster home, being slit up along the way, Josh had not only lost his parents but also his brothers who were the only close family and friends he had. They were always together because they only had each other when their parents were alive, and now they were gone too.
Feeling unloved, unwanted, with no home or family, Josh got a wonderful surprise and was reunited with his two brothers and went to a foster home together with them. It was in the country and they even had their own bedroom. They were happy there until a terrible accident tore them apart again. Society expects homeless kids to have problems and Josh, after being told this over and over again saw himself just that way. Once again he felt unloved and unwanted and now he was damaged goods and unadoptable as well.
He just wanted a job and a place to live. He had never really met anyone who truly cared for people and loved them unconditionally. He tried really hard to be a loner but his co-worker Mike and Mike’s mother Anna would not have it that way at all. Josh learned how to love through these people and a revealed secret teaches him what “The Blessing” is all about.
If you let it, this book will change your way of treating others. No matter what they have been through, they deserve to be loved and treated just as we would if we were in their circumstance.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze dot com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 www dot access dot gpo dot gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03 dot html : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Love & Respect

Love & Respect
By Dr. Emerson Eggerichs
I was drawn to read the book Love & Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs because I desired a deeper understanding of male/female/ & husband/wife relationships according to God. In this book, Dr. Eggerichs offers an in-depth study of how God says we should relate to each other. Females toward males and males toward females.
Dr. Eggerichs explains that love alone is not enough for a successful relationship God’s way. Respect is a missing piece in the puzzle of life together as husband and wife.
As a Pastor, he counseled many married couples and heard the same thing over and over again, wives said, “he doesn’t love me.” and men said “she doesn’t respect me.” Then he found the secret hidden in Ephesians 5:33 – each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself and the wife must respect her husband.
Men and women are as different as pink and blue. After teaching couples how to decode each others thoughts and feelings, couples have a better understanding of each other. An example: a wife says she has nothing to wear – she means nothing new, and a husband says he has nothing to wear – he means nothing clean.
He energizes relationships by teaching that “his love motivates her respect” and “her respect motivates his love.” These are unconditional according to God and we must do our part even if the other refuses to do theirs. He emphasizes that what matters to God, matters!
This is an encouraging deep study. It gives you the information you need to repair broken relationships, draw closer in existing relationships and trust that God knows what He is doing.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Then Sings My Soul

Then Sings My Soul special edition
By Robert J Morgan

Because of my love for music I have often wondered about my favorite songs and what may have inspired the writing of them. I eagerly awaited the arrival of this book and I was not disappointed.
In this book Robert J Morgan lists 150 all time favorite hymns including the lyrics, the score and most interestingly the story behind the song.
Reading this book will change the way you sing your favorite hymns, and how you worship with them. Knowing the sometimes tragic circumstances will move you even closer to the one you are worshipping with the singing of them.
One of my favorite old hymns is Beulah Land. Mr. Morgan tells of the writer, Edgar Stites being born in Cape May, New Jersey and he was a descendent of John Howland who came over on the Mayflower. He served in the Union forces and later became a Methodist Preacher. The song was written in 1876 and the writer spoke of how he could only get through a couple of verses at a time before being overcome with emotion and falling on his face.
I am rating this book, 5 stars of 5. A lot of research has gone into compiling this book. Many of the songs included are very old and records long ago are not easy to find. The stories are interesting and moving. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves the great old classic hymns.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Heaven Is For Real

Heaven Is For Real
By Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent
I was drawn to read the book Heaven Is For Real by Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent because I love reading true stories about encounters with God.
In this book, a young family from Imperial Nebraska tells us about their 4 year old son’s sudden illness and after several weeks and near death was finally diagnosed and required surgery.
After finally getting through several faith challenges, this family was able to get back to a “normal” life. They lived in a small town where everyone knows each other and helps each other in times of need. They gratefully accepted this help even though they were used to being the ones who offered help rather than receive it.
As they returned to their normal lifestyle after these traumatic events, they discovered their son had an amazing experience while he was in surgery. During their everyday conversations, Colton would speak of heaven and what he saw while he was there.
Over a period of about 1 year, they discovered that Colton had experienced a time in heaven and witnessed several things verified in God’s Word, the Bible and he also knew information about them during his surgery he could not have possibly known and was never told about.
This is an intriguing look into heaven from a child’s eyes. This book will encourage the Christian and give hope to those without hope.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Your Money God's Way by Amie Streater

Your Money God’s Way
By Amie Streater
I was drawn to read the book Your Money God’s Way by Amie Streater because times are tough and I want to learn as much as I can and make sure I am living my life and spending God’s money the way He wants me to.
In this book Amie Streater not only teaches us “why” we need to handle our money God’s way but she also teaches us “how” to handle our money God’s way, and she shows us why we are not doing that already. She says that for too long pastors have ignored one of the most common problems plaguing Christian families: financial ignorance.
Reading this book will change the way you handle your money. Even if you think you currently have it all “under control.” There are always ways to make things better for yourself and others. Amie shows us how we can be “free” financially so we are free to help others in need.
Amie helps us understand counterfeit convictions that are beliefs that started out as biblical truths but were absorbed incorrectly into our hearts. There are many reasons we have trouble handling our money. Amie gives many examples from her experience as a Financial Minister and offers ways from God’s Word to re-organize and do it God’s way.
If you let this book change your way of handling money, you will be able to be successful in handling your own finances and be a blessing to others as God would have you be. At the end of each chapter Amie outlines solution steps you can take to regain control of your finances.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Out Live Your Life by Max Lucado

Out Live Your Life
By Max Lucado
I was drawn to read the book Out Live Your Life by Max Lucado because that is what I want to do and intend to do with my own life. I want to live my life in a way that will leave a legacy of love and Christian faith that others may see, understand and desire to do the same. To “Pay it forward” and out live their lives as well.
In this book Max Lucado reaches into the Word of God to show us who we are in Christ. Why we have been created and how God has equipped us to do what we have been created for. In God’s word’s we will learn how to be “a doer of the Word and not just a hearer.”
Max explains how very “individual” we are. We are created in God’s image yet we are unique and there is none like us. We have been given a life. We did not ask for one but we have it, a first day, a last day, and any number of days in between. Our days are accelerated and as each one goes by it becomes one of the good old days, a part of our past. And if we are not careful our shot at life will pass us by.
Reading this book will change your life if you let it. You will not live and die and never ask why, rather you will grab each moment and not let your fleeting vapor of life pass by without having left something behind for others to “pay it forward.”
Max shows us that God wants us to be His hands and His feet, loving and caring for His people with His heart. He compares stories in the bible with people of today and yesterday and he tells how they out lived their lives by doing for others things that change the world, one obedient heart at a time.
If you let this book change your life, you will then be able to reach out and change the world as you “Out Live Your Life.”

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Captured By Grace
By Dr. David Jeremiah
I was drawn to read the book Captured By Grace by Dr. David Jeremiah because I wanted a deeper understanding of how God can use ordinary people to do extraordinary things.
In this book Dr. Jeremiah illustrates the similarities between Saul, also known as Paul, a Disciple in the Bible and John Newton, known for writing the world’s most beloved hymn, Amazing Grace. Their lives before the grace of God steps in are similar in that both of them, after God’s grace is revealed to them, considered themselves to be the greatest of sinners.
Paul was a persecutor of Christians in the first century and zealously trying to “cleanse” the land of these Christians who were polluting the faith of his fathers. John Newton was an eighteenth century slave trader. Both of them caused a great deal of pain, suffering, torment and fear in the lives of many.
As Paul was on his way to murder more Christians, grace knocked him right out of his saddle and transformed his life. In the light of God’s amazing grace, God opened his eyes and he could see the sinful man that he was and the unmerited forgiveness God brought to him. His life was instantly transformed by a pursuing God who loved him.
When John Newton came to a point in his life, where even his very survival was in jeopardy, he saw the hand of God at work in the ways he was saved from destruction and he grasped the hand of grace. John stated “If it be of God, He will make good on His own Word.” And his life was transformed by a pursuing God who loved him.
Dr. Jeremiah goes on to describe our travels through this life walking in grace as part of God’s comprehensive plan for the ultimate good of those who love Him.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Same Kind Of Differnet As Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore

Same Kind Of Different As Me
By Ron Hall and Denver Moore

I was drawn to read this true story because it is based in an area I am familiar with. It is a story about the lives of a modern day slave, Denver Moore, who grew up in Louisiana and an upscale art dealer, Ron Hall, from Fort Worth, Texas and how their lives touched one another through the Union Gospel Mission in downtown fort Worth.
Denver Moore explains his life as a cotton picker in Louisiana and how one day he just could not take it any longer and hopped on a train and did not get off until it stopped in Fort Worth, Texas. All he knew was picking cotton. He could not read or write. And so he ended up living on the streets.
Ron Hall explains how his lifestyle as an art dealer included a beautiful wife, jet planes and Mercedes cars. He spoke of how he despised being panhandled on the street corner on his way to work everyday and how he was glad that local billionaires were renovating downtown and displacing all the local bums to the other side of the tracks. He says that his images of homeless people were as an army of ants bent on ruining decent people’s picnics. Unknown to him God was laying the groundwork for one of them to change his life.
After meeting and marrying his wife Deborah, both Ron and Deborah got “saved” and began their walk with the Lord. Deborah plugged into God and Ron threw himself into his work. After some rough spots in the road of marriage Ron and Deborah began their journey of mutual love and service for God.
Ron and Deborah began volunteering at the Union Gospel Mission. This brought Denver and Ron together through Deborah’s encouragement. After Denver “tested” Ron through a long and cautioned “trial” period, they started a lifelong friendship that is stronger than ever to this day. They both lost Deborah to cancer.
This story is one that shows the love of Jesus can break through any barrier that man has created. This story is one that shows the love of Jesus can break through any barrier that man has created. He can set the captives free and humble the self righteous. This book moved me to tears in several places. I highly recommend this quick read.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Storm Warning by Billy Graham

Storm Warming Completely Revised and Updated

By Billy Graham

I was drawn to read the book Storm Warning by Billy Graham because I know he is a world renowned evangelist. People of many religious backgrounds and positions in life seek him with questions regarding God and His Word, known as the Bible. His combined knowledge gathered over his 71 years in ministry and his vast experience across this world sparked my interest in reading this book to see what he has to say about the book of Revelation.

In this book Billy Graham shares his understanding of this book of the Bible and how what is written on its pages relate to what our world is currently experiencing in government, finance, spirituality and morality.

Billy Graham presents “warnings” from throughout the Bible about things to happen. Some things have already come to pass and some are yet to come. He uses the analogy that the older generations put in their hearing aids and turn them up and the younger generations set aside their headphones so we can hear these warnings from heaven.

Billy Graham speaks of the deception that is rampant in our world today. He asks the hard questions, Is God ashamed of our churches today? When the unbeliever spends time with the “churchgoers” do they see a reflection of Christ?

Throughout the whole book I see the heart of Billy Graham in his writing of this book. His intent is obviously a cry to the people to repent and to be sure of their place in heaven through Jesus Christ alone. He exclaims we are to be ready for what God has told us will come, and God says it will be soon.

He explains that the evidence of God’s mercy and love to those who still do not know Him is in His patience and how He is still holding out His arm of salvation but that day will soon come to an end as promised in scripture.

He ends the book with the explanation of the hope we as Christians have in Jesus Christ. He offers some glimpses from the book of Revelation that speaks of heaven and our eternity there with God and His Son Jesus, forever in their presence and worshipping in peace and love.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com

http://booksneeze.com/ book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Friendship for Grown-Ups What I Missed and Learned Along the Way

By Lisa Whelchel

I was not drawn to read the book Friendships for Grown-Ups – What I Missed Along The way by Lisa Welchel because I knew her as the person who played the character of Blair on The Facts of Life. It was actually the title that drew me to the book.
In this book Lisa shares about her personal need and longing for deeply connected friendships. She describes friendships from her youth through current relationships today and she calls them a journey with many bumps in the road and no final destination. Each corner you turn promises more adventure.
Lisa shares about the wall of busyness she built to protect her from intimate relationships and the freedom that came from true, intimate friendships when she began to tear down that wall and other obstacles that protected her from becoming transparent.
Lisa explains that there are levels of friendship. Some may be just an acquaintance for life while others are true “safe” friends for life. She offers suggestions to take you from one level of friendship to the next and how to identify “safe” friends.
Lisa shares how her faith in God is the foundation to her having authentic friendships and her friends are the visible manifestation to her of God’s grace. Like Gods grace, true “safe” friendship says that there is nothing a person can do to change the way a friend feels about you or you about your friend.
I relate to Lisa and the struggles she has had with friendships. I feel like I am a lot like her in many ways. To me it seems easier to just not have close relationships. When you open your heart to trust a friend only to have it trampled and torn because your trust was misplaced, then a person tends to withdraw from going back to that place because of the pain and humiliation. Lisa has shown me that just because one friend betrays does not mean that all will do the same. She has shown me that I am missing out on the “visible manifestation of God’s grace” by not stepping out and trusting once again to find true “safe” friendship. I am now beginning the same journey Lisa. Thank you for sharing.

California Tried to Keep Us!

April 2oth, very early in the AM we left Fort Worth for Reno, Nevada. We traveled through rain, sleet, snow and sunshine along the way. Even had a mini snow storm for a few miles. As we traveled across the Hoover Dam, they have new security measures in place and so we were stopped, boarded and dismantled to make sure we were not planning to blowup the Dam or something similar. Dodd woke up to a flashlight shining in his face, how rude! I actually slept through all of it. I can hardly believe I did this but I had been up for 24 hours when I went to bed a couple of hours before this so I must have been comatose for awhile. We stopped in Silver Springs to Ron's mother in laws business so she could give us $100 in free fuel and some drinks. We arrived April 21st with several hours to spare before we had to unload the equipment and get setup. This was a real blessing so we could get showered and rest before the service. The mountains around Reno were snow covered and the temperature, I thought, was on the cool side. Of course all the guys would argue that with me.

We had a great service at Lemmon Valley and saw some familiar faces from the last time we were here. We stayed the next 2 nights in the church parking lot. The Pastor and his wife left us with their car in case we needed it. We went to the Walmart on Thursday to get some supplies. It is always nice to get off the bus for even a few minutes and get some air.

That morning Tamara came and knocked on the bus door and asked the guys if they would mind coming over to her mother Lily's house about 4 houses down the block and sing a couple of songs for her. She was unable to attend the concert the evening before because she had a reaction that required an ambulance to come to her house. They found she was OK and left her at home but she was so discouraged that she missed the concert. The guys agreed and she wanted it to be a surprise. So we went over and when she answered the door, I do not think she realized who we were. Steve said we had come over to look at her house. She cautiously said "OK" and looked at her daughter like we were some kind of crazy people. After we came in Steve told her that they had come to sing her a couple of songs because she had missed the night before. She just melted and as she began to cry she said in a shaky voice "OK". She is a sweet spirit and thoroughly enjoyed the mini concert just for her.

On our way out of town the next morning we went to the local Good Sam RV Park to dump the black water tank and fill the water. The owner was gracious enough to let us use the showers, so we had a spacious nice hot shower before we hit the road again.

We stopped at a rest area at Donner Pass because the engine and the generator were heating. We all got out and enjoyed the beautiful scenery and had a snowball fight while we waited for the engines to cool. The rest of the trip through CA was filled with vineyards and fruit tree orchards all along Hwy 99, as far as you could see.

Because of the down time with the engine and the very narrow winding roads to this little country church, we made the next stop in Mountain Ranch on the 23rd just in time to get things unloaded and setup. It was a beautiful place out in the countryside of California. I had to take a picture of it for Diane who is collecting pictures of churches. I think I will do that too. I have been collecting pictures of stained glass windows but old church pictures sound like a nice collection too.

We had previously been in contact with Andy from our Facebook page. Sherman Andrus had contacted him and recommended us to go to the prison with him in California to minister. We were invited to Tehachapi state prison south of Bakersfield and expected to do that on Saturday night but found out that we needed at least 15 days to get the high security clearance so we determined we would have to try and make it next year. Andy also wanted us to know that he would love for us to come to Folsom and San Quentin next year too. Wow! What an opportunity that will be. We went on to the fairgrounds in Bakersfield and spent the night in the campground there. We had to find a back part of the field to park in because a woman came beating on our door and told us that the generator was bothering her. It is a necessity that we would rather not have running too but it has to run to keep the fridge, furnace or air conditioner going.

The morning of Sunday the 25th we parked behind the barns and pushed our equipment (thank God for wheels) over to the Amphitheater for the service. It was rather warm and full sunshine. Had a sunburn by the end of the service. We had a great turnout. Jim says the biggest one ever. I had spoken to my brother Steve who lives near Adelanto about an hour away a couple of days before. He was going to come for the service but did not make it until we were almost finished packing up the equipment and had to move on to the next church. I was able to visit with him as he helped us load the equipment. It was to quick a "hi and goodbye" after not having seen each other for 6 years or so.

We had to travel back up north 4 hours to Winton for the sunday evening service at Evergreen. This was a wonderful group of people and the whole church except for a few on their knees at their seats, were at the alter. Ron's mother in law and some other relatives came to the service that evening. After we got packed up and had supper on the bus. Ron started out the driving and Greg and I got up at 2:30 to take over. We were near Modesto. When we were 12 miles on the south side of Bakersfield California tried to keep us! the bus engine heated and siezed up. After several hours there, Jim Rowlett called and said he had a cousin in Bakersfield that owned a Peterbuilt shop. The tow truck came and during the hookup process, he had to do something with the rear wheels. When he was taking things apart he found that a nut for the wheel bearing had come completely off and we were about to lose our wheels. We were just about to go up into the mountains of CA when this happened. From now on when something like this happens we will just look up and say "thank you Jesus!" knowing there is a reason for it. We were towed into Bakersfield to the Peterbuilt shop. We rented a truck and car to get home. We stayed the first night (April 26th) at Needles, CA because we were so exhausted. Then we drove all the way through the rest of the way and arrived home at 5am on Wednesday. On the way home, I put up a note on our Praise Inc Facebook page about the bus and asked for help. By the end of the first week we had around $5,000.00 of the estimated $20,000.00 for the repair. God's people are just awesome!

Yay! I have a Blog!

When I decided to start journaling I determined to do it digitally so it can be easily shared, printed etc. Living on a Homestead has provided a plethora of experiences that has changed my life and the lives of others. I want to share the life that happens here. Some of the things I intend to share with you are:

Things I do to pass free time:
1. Reading books ( I just found a great website called booksneeze.com that sends you free books in exchange for writing a review that gets posted on at least 2 sites.) This will be a great resource for me as I spend a lot of my free time reading and I will enjoy sharing these book reviews with you on this blog.
2. I like pictures of the places we travel to and the people we meet.  I'll share some with you here.
3. Crochet - my other free time hobby.

Things that keep life happening on the Homestead:

1. I love to cook and learn how to 'make my own' of everything. I will share 'How To's' so this knowledge can be passed from one generation to another.

2. Animals! No homestead is complete without them.
3. Kitchen tools and Gadgets: LOVE them! Will recommend many.
4. Naturals: Growing your own and Making your own.

These are just a few of the things I intend to share with you. I know that you will find something here to glean for your own personal use and to pass along so that we can share the wealth of knowledge that helps not only ourselves but others as well.

Salutations from the homestead, Sharon