Everyone has been hurt. Everyone experiences conflict, great and small. Everyone has someone to forgive. But sometimes we just can't bring ourselves to forgive someone who has wronged us or we don't take the need to forgive seriously--not like the Amish do. Forgiving others in order to live at peace is woven into the very fabric of their faith. To the Amish way of thinking, "You can't love the stream without knowing the source. " We must forgive others, they believe, because God forgave us.
"The Heart of the Amish" invites readers into the world of a people renowned for their ability to forgive. Through true stories gathered from a variety of Amish communities, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher illustrates how they are able to release their pain and desire for revenge, and live at peace with others. Her in-depth, personal research uncovers the astounding yet fundamental way the Amish can forgive anyone from the angry customer at the grocery store to the shooter at Nickel Mines. Readers will learn how to invite God into "their" stories, apply lessons from the Amish to their own circumstances, and find the freedom that comes with true forgiveness.

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This isn't my first review of a book written by Suzanne Wood Fisher and I strongly suspect that it won't be the last. She's long been a favorite author and when you combine that with my love of Amish books, well, there was no way that I was going to turn down the chance to read this one. Every chapter starts with an Amish proverb and ends with a section of reflection questions. It's honestly not a bad idea to keep a journal/notebook and pen right on the nightstand with this book. Unless you're crazy like me and sometimes just write directly in the book...which I've been told is a sin... Either way, filled with wonderful stories, proverbs and a chance to reflect on your own life, this book is going into my refer back to bin.


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n Wrestling for My Life, WWE superstar Shawn Michaels shares from his heart about the highs and lows of his life inside the WWE. Included are some never-before-shared stories and an intimate look into his career as well as stories of hunting, family, and faith.

With millions of fans, Michaels had adulation and all the attention he could ask for, but he discovered there was something more. When he became a committed Christian during his years in the WWE it had to affect everything. Michaels reveals what it is like to be a man of faith in this unusual world and shares insights for all of us


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I originally picked up this book because Ben is a huge WWE fan and always enjoyed Shawn Michaels. It's something that Ben and I have always enjoyed watching together so I knew there was a very good chance that I would enjoy this book as well. Turns out that I was right. The book isn't as preachy as I was originally concerned that it would be. Yes, Shawn mentions his faith, God and Jesus on nearly every page but it's done respectfully and not in a way that you feel as if it's being crammed down your throat. Having read this book, I'm very interested in finding a copy of the first book that Shawn helped to pen about his life. As for this book, it's a fine edition to both the wrestling and autobiography genres and both Ben and I are hoping to read more about the entertainers that we enjoy on tv every week.



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Find Your Own Mothering Style
Trying to follow someone else's rules for mothering can take the joy out of being a parent. But "Mothering From Scratch" shows you how to develop your own style that helps you be the best mom for "your" kids.
Find Your Own Mothering Style
Trying to follow someone else's rules for mothering can take the joy out of being a parent. But "Mothering From Scratch" shows you how to develop your own style that helps you be the best mom for "your" kids.
Full of solid biblical truth, this book will help you
- explore your personality and examine your strengths and weaknesses in order to find what works for you
- tap into the resources surrounding you and get mentoring and support from other moms
- push past the fear of change or doing it wrong and allow room for grace in your mothering
Melinda Means and Kathy Helgemo provide a flexible, customizable approach to help you discover your optimal parenting style.
""Mothering From Scratch" speaks to the hearts of women from coast to coast who are desperate for practical tools that work! Kudos for a job well done!"
--Jennifer Maggio, CEO of The Life of a Single Mom Ministries and award-winning author

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When I was a much younger mom with much younger children, I was insecure in my parenting, like most new moms are. You worry that you're not doing something a certain way and that it will negatively affect your children. Luckily for me, I was thrown into the deep end and it was sink or swim time and I'm happy to report that my children are none the worse for it. However, back then, I would have welcomed a book such as this one. Filled with a transparency that made me smile, these two ladies don't claim to know it all or to be perfect parents. They share their practical insights and encourage all of us to be the best moms that we can be. I will mention that this is a Christian book and has quite a few religious insights, so if that's not your thing, you're going to want to give this one a pass. If it is your thing or you know a new mom that might enjoy this, add it to your wish list.



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Children around the world are living in dire conditions without even the basic necessities of water, food, shelter, and love. They often suffer in silence, struggling simply to exist among the unexplainable and irreversible conditions in which they find themselves. Many are so young they do not even know what they lack the love of a family and the comfort of a home. Survival is their only concern as they grow up in a world of adults who seem to have forgotten them or are so busy with their own survival that they really do not have time to care. These first-person narratives are compiled from conversations with dozens of boys and girls in India. The stories put a voice to the suffering that they and thousands more like them endure every day. Children bravely share their stories of being caste bound, trafficked, beggars, witnesses to murder, unwanted, and of suffering great loss. Each child is a witness to his or her own story of survival. From their voices can be heard the desperate plea for someone to care, if not for themselves, then for those even less fortunate whose voices have not yet been heard."

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While simply written (after all, it is in the children's own words), this book is full of heart breaking imagery that with every page made me more thankful for what my boys and I do have. We might be poor and struggling, but we're not out picking through garbage looking for food or items that we can sell...and that's just the tip of the iceberg. Living where we do, perhaps we've grown a bit hard to the struggles of families elsewhere, but this book opened my eyes and there isn't a single person out there that I wouldn't suggest read it.



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“Don’t waste your pain,” says unlikely missionary Avis Goodhart. She didn’t – and neither should you.


Despite a background of childhood abuse, dyslexia, and marital infidelity, Avis took her first international mission trip at age fifty. The church, school, and orphanage she later founded in northern Peru, all products of both her pain and her radical obedience to the Lord, have brought thousands of others out of the dust. This compelling story of an ordinary woman who serves God in extraordinary ways will challenge, inspire, and empower you to:


* Eliminate excuses from your life
* Recognize that in God’s kingdom, availability matters more than ability
* Allow your pain to produce – not prevent – your obedience
* Serve the Lord with the same abandon shown by one unlikely missionary

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As someone who doesn't consider themselves highly religious, I wasn't sure what I was going to think about this book. Imagine my surprise when I picked it up, started reading and didn't put it down again until I was done. I even tried to and failed! Avis' story is one that will draw you in, along with the fact that the book reads as if she's talking to a dear friend. Even if you don't consider yourself a Christian, I think that you could find this to be an inspiring read. Avis' life is amazing and so is her faith and her strength.



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There is hope, even on the darkest of days

Katariina Rosenblatt was a lonely and abused young girl, yearning to be loved, wanting attention. That made her the perfect target. On an ordinary day, she met a confident young woman--someone Kat wished she could be like--who pretended to be a friend while slowly luring her into a child trafficking ring. A cycle of false friendships, threats, drugs, and violence kept her trapped.

As Kat shares her harrowing experiences, her ultimate escape, and her passionate efforts to now free other victims, you'll see that not only is sex trafficking happening frighteningly close to home--it's also something that can be stopped. Stolen is a warning, a celebration of survival, and a beacon of hope that will inspire you.

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On a day where I received six different review books, this one stood out and called to me. Maybe it was the fact that the author's first name is so close to mine or that she went by Kat, just like I do sometimes...I don't know why the call came, but I have no regrets that it did. Reading through Kat's story, I realized just how vulnerable our children can be; how vulnerable I probably was. I was inspired as I read her story and how she got to where she is today. It made me stop and think, that maybe 38 isn't too late to do something with my life. Maybe I can somehow dig myself out of the financial mess and find a way to a better life for me and for my children. Yes, there is a lot of God mentions in this book, but even if your beliefs aren't in life with that, don't let it stop you from finding a book that tells a harsh reality that can teach you to not only protect but perhaps can also inspire you and your life.




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You don't always know what you're getting into when you bring home a puppy. Enter Henry, a boxer who suffers from Supreme Dictator of the Universe Syndrome. He vandalizes his obedience school, leaps through windows, cheats death at every turn, and generally causes his long-suffering owner Erin Taylor Young to wonder what on earth she did that God would send this dog to derail her life.

Through his laugh-out-loud antics and escapades, Henry will steal readers' hearts. Anyone who has ever owned a dog, especially a canine catastrophe like Henry, will enjoy this lighthearted book about a dog who brings new meaning to the concept of unconditional love.

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When I first saw this book, my initial reaction was "Oh, another Marley and Me." I'm not going to say that I was wrong, but I will say that even though both books were about "problem puppies", you really can't go wrong with a well written book that makes you laugh, chuckle and just shake your head. It made me very thankful that all of the dogs that we'd had over the years were "normal." I admit that I was hooked from the very first sentence of this book and had a really tough time putting it down. Thank goodness it was a quick read! I highly suggest this one to my dog loving friends. It's cute, fun and an easy read.



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Sit down with Kirk Cousins, record-setting Michigan State University quarterback and 2012 draft pick of the NFL’s Washington Redskins. In Game Changer, Cousins gives readers an inside look at his life—as experienced under the bright lights of college and professional football—and how he puts his faith and values into action, both on and off the field.

Featuring:

 Personal stories and struggles of a competitive Christian athlete
Truthful discussion of media hype and modern sports culture
Reflections on honesty, humility, hard work, privilege, and responsibility
Life principles for winning choices on and off the field

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My oldest son is a huge Kirk Cousins fan so when I saw this book, I got it more for him than I did for myself. We were blessed to actually attend Kirk's last game at MSU. It's something that Ben still talks about. He hasn't had a chance yet to read this book, but I know it's going to be his first choice as soon as he finishes his current summer reading book and even though he has some learning difficulties, I know he's going to devour it. Kirk writes in an easy to follow style and does more than talk about football (though there's a lot of that too!). He talks about his journey and how his faith has helped him. While he says he doesn't want to push the religious aspect too much, he does talk about it a lot, so don't say you haven't been warned. Overall, a great, easy read and one that I think many will enjoy.




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Turn your fleeting minutes into defining moments.

What can you do in 30 minutes? Have lunch? Watch television? Check Facebook?

How about change your life?

Why do some people achieve far more than others? We all get the same 24 hours in a day, yet a special few seem to have superhuman abilities when it comes to accomplishing great things in life.

Tommy Barnett, a proven master at “getting things done,” says the key to maximizing your productivity is to make use of small, manageable moments in your day—just 30 minutes at a time.  In this remarkably practical book, Tommy shows how to begin a whole new life of fruitfulness. You’ll see immediate results in all areas of your life, including your—

·         Purpose and values
·         Personal goals
·         Faith
·         Character and attitude
·         Dreams
·         Career
·         Relationships
·         Marriage and family
·         Church involvement and ministry

Why not change time from being your worst enemy to your everlasting friend? It all starts with the amazing things you can do in only a half hour.  Through inspiring stories and biblical principles, discover how your downtime can have a major upside.

Get going—you don’t have a minute to lose!

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This one took me about a month to get through. Why? Because the author actually suggests that you read one section at a time, make notes and think on it before you move on to the next section. Being a good girl, I followed directions. Overall, I'd say that this book is a nice and easy read and if you're looking for a book on time management, this may be one that is really helpful to you. I suggest that you take your time and put each section into practice before you move on to the next. Remember..a half hour is only two fifteens and you can do anything for fifteen minutes, right?




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"An unforgettable true story that will touch your heart and make you believe in love’s enduring legacy, and in the power of prayer.

In 1928, 16-year-old Minka was on a picnic in the woods when she was assaulted and raped. And suddenly this innocent farm girl—who still thought the stork brought babies—was pregnant. The baby was secretly born, named Betty Jane, and given up for adoption. For decades, Minka wrote letters trying to get news of her daughter; she kept loving and praying for her, even though she never dared believe they would meet again. Until nearly eighty years later, when Minka whispered her secret, impossible prayer for the first time: Lord, I’d like to see Betty Jane before I die. I promise I won’t bother her or interrupt her life. I just want to lay eyes on her. Unbeknownst to Minka, that very same day, a judge was releasing the sealed adoption records to her 77-year-old daughter. And soon, Minka’s phone would ring. Written by Cathy LaGrow (Minka’s granddaughter), The Waiting brings three generations of this most unusual family together over the course of a century to tell a story of faith that triumphs, forgiveness that sets us free, and love that never forgets."

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It's been quite some time since I finished a book, closed the cover and thought, "Wow..." but that's just what happened with this book. The book reads like a novel and without out a doubt, it would make an amazing movie. I warn you though that it'd be one of those movies where you may want to wait until it comes out for home viewing because you may be doing some ugly crying and who wants to walk out of a theatre with a snotty blotchy face? Minka is an amazing woman. She goes through so much and yet it never turns her bitter. She is someone that all of us could model and be better human beings. As soon as I closed the book, I was on Google looking for more information on this amazing woman. I honestly cannot say enough good things about this book. Minka's granddaughter, Cathy, did an amazing job at capturing the life of this amazing woman. Minka, if you're still out there and I hope that you are, thank you for sharing your story with all of us...



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   The Long Awakening is a riveting true story of a life-threatening coma, a miraculous awakening, and the long quest to regain what was lost.

    The day Lindsey O’Connor’s fifth baby entered the world, was the day she left. For 47 days she lay suspended in a medically-induced coma, hovering in nothingness. The time before and after her long sleep were spliced together in O’Connor’s memory. The time in the middle, too long for her loved ones, and time erased for her. The miracle her family desperately prayed for was a miracle that Lindsey missed. She awoke to a world that kept moving without her and began the long journey to love her newborn daughter, to search for her identity, meaning and lost and found love. Applying her journalism background, O’Connor set out to discover what happened during her time lost as she does when researching a piece of literary journalism about someone else. In a strange twist, she reported her own story.

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Some books you read in one sitting and others are just perfect for reading a chapter or two each night before bed. This book fell right into that second category. As a mother, I can't imagine missing out on the first months of my baby's life. As I was reading, there were times when I was glad that the end of the chapter came along. This wasn't always the easiest story to read, but one that was well worth the read. I can't imagine the strength that it took for Lindsey to not only live through this, but to then relive it as she wrote her own story. If you get the chance and you're looking for something that's a little deeper than you might normally read, might I suggest that you pick up The Long Awakening.



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Sammy Ikua Gachagua had lost his father to illness, his mother to abandonment, and his home to poverty. By age ten, he was living in a shack with seven other children and very little food. He entered an orphanage seeing it as a miracle with three meals a day, a bed to sleep in, and clothes on his back.

When Claire Diaz-Ortiz arrived in Kenya at the end of an around-the-world journey, she decided to stay the night, climb Mt. Kenya, then head back home. She entered an orphanage seeing it as little more than a free place to spend the night before her mountain trek.
God had other plans.

Hope Runs is the emotional story of an American tourist, a Kenyan orphan, and the day that would change the course of both of their lives forever. It's about what it means to live in the now when the world is falling down around you. It's about what it means to hope for the things you cannot see. Most of all, it's about how God can change your life in the blink of an eye.

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When I first decided to review this book, I wasn't quite sure what I was getting myself into. I was ready for an emotional read and I found one. What I wasn't ready for was how this book pulled me in and kept me reading. The diary format makes it easy to find places to put the book down, but I had a hard time doing so. This one is going on my shelf and I suspect it won't be too long before I'm pulling it down again to read.



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The world of J. R. R. Tolkien is filled with strange creatures, elaborately crafted lore, ancient tongues, and magic that exists only in fantasy; yet the lessons taught by hobbits and wizards speak powerfully and practically to our real lives. Courage, valor, trust, pride, greed, and jealousy--these are not fictional virtues. This is the stuff of real life, the Christian life. Professor and author Louis Markos takes us on the road with Tolkien and C. S. Lewis, with looks at selected classic works of literature as well, to show how great stories bring us so much more than entertainment. They inspire and convict, imparting truth in unforgettable ways.

Rediscover the virtue of great storytelling and the power of fantasy to transform our reality.

It's been a long time since I've read anything that has an intellectual basis. Don't get me wrong, I love fiction and getting lost in a story but it's a different brain experience than reading something that actually causes you to pause and think about what the author is saying. This is just that sort of book. More than once, I found myself holding my page with my finger while I considered and contemplated something that he had wrote within the pages. This is a book that helped to re-stretch my brain and one that I will go back and read again once my brain has been stretched again. If you're at all offended by biblical references, this won't be the book for you but if you're interested in how they compare with some of our favorite fantasy stories, don't hesitate to pick this one up.



I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. In fact, I received two copies, so if you'd like one, let me know and I just might send one on its way to you. All thoughts, comments and opinions are my own.

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What do you need to leave behind?

When I was in college, I figured my life would come together around graduation. I'd meet a guy; we'd plan a beautiful wedding and buy a nice house-not necessarily with a picket fence, but with whatever kind of fence we wanted. I might work, or I might not, but whatever we decided, I would be happy.

When I got out of college and my life didn't look like that, I floundered around, trying to figure out how to get the life I had always dreamed of. I went down so many different paths for it. Career. Travel. Friends. Relationships. But none of them were as satisfying as I hoped they would be.

Like many twenty-somethings, I tried desperately to discover the life of my dreams after college, but instead of finding it, I just kept accumulating baggage. I had school loans, car payments, electronics I couldn't afford, a house full of mismatched furniture I didn't love but that had become my own, hurt from broken relationships, and unmet expectations for what life was "supposed to be" like.

Just when I had given up all hope of finding the "life I'd always dreamed about," I decided to take a trip to all fifty states...because when you go on a trip, you can't take your baggage. What I found was that "packing light" wasn't as easy as I thought it was.

This is the story of that trip and learning to live life with less baggage.

I had high hopes for this book and perhaps that's where my problem with it lies. I was expecting it to be a true memoir of a trip across the country but instead, it's more of a let go and let God while taking your own life into your hands type of book. She touches on moments that touched her, but doesn't really talk as much about the trip as you might think. Over all, I would say it's a good book if you're looking for something to inspire you in your Christian walk, but please don't mistake it for a Bill Bryson travel guide or you'll come away disappointed. I enjoyed the book, but I'm not sure that I'm in the right place in my life for it to have really touched me. I would really love to see a follow up book where she really talks about the trip and what happened afterward. I was hoping for an epilogue that gives the reader an update on her life and on her friends'.



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