QUARANTINE AND PRAY
QUARANTINE – Helen Amy Beck-Gray
Here is a poem that Troy Coin’s Great Grandmother, Helen Amy Beck-Gray wrote in 1942 during the Scarlet Fever Epidemic. She was a widow, raising 11 kids by herself! She was born in the early 1900’s and died in 1993. She had 11 children and was widowed when she was pregnant with her 11th child.
© Troy Coin
Used with permission.
THE HAPPY CAMPER – Melody Carlson
The Happy Camper by Melody Carlson is a clean, sweet, contemporary romance, written in true Hallmark style, about transition, family relationships and dealing with the innumerable challenges of every day life.
With her uplifting anecdotes and faith boosting stories, Melody Carlson weaves simple joys into the storyline, with her character development, by putting characters in life-changing circumstances, and in healing relationships.
Home is where the heart heals. Dillon finds peace and satisfaction as a happy camper. She finds joy in simple things like working in her grandmother’s garden and fixing up a vintage camper.
The Happy Camper is a delightful story of finding love in the most usual places. It is a light and cute chicklit romance, with well-written characters, about family love and forgiveness. I highly recommend this delightfully engaging, entertaining story, with adorable characters and portraying realistic situations.
Miriam Jacob
CHRIST’S BLOOD PROTECTS YOU – Miriam Jacob
I pray for Christ’s Blood to mark your door posts and flow in your veins. I pray Psalm 91 for God to protect you, your family and your loved ones. Take care and stay safe. God bless. 🙏
Miriam Jacob
OUT OF THE EMBERS – Amanda Cabot
Out Of The Embers by Amanda Cabot is an inspirational historical romance. It is an intriguing mystery, skillfully woven into a sweet romance.
A decade after the brutal murder of her parents, Evelyn Radcliffe’s only refuge, the orphanage has burned to the ground. Only she and a young girl escape to safety. Fearing this to be related to her parents’ murders, Evelyn flees to Mesquite Springs in the Texas Hill Country, with her young friend, taking refuge at the home of Wyatt Clark, a single, rugged horse rancher. Will he hold the key to her future—and her past?
With trouble blowing hard on her heels, Evelyn is at first a distraction, and later a full-blown disruption. Can Wyatt keep her safe from the man who wants to kill her? And will his own plans get in the way?
Suspenseful and romantic, Out of the Embers invites you to the Texas Hill Country in the 1850s, in the wild West, filled with noble men and strong women.
Evelyn deals with the “Watcher” with fear, cautiousness and courage. The plot twist with the “Watcher” was so incredibly done.
This is an excellent read. I recommend it highly.
Miriam Jacob
STAR OF PERSIA – Jill Eileen Smith
“Star of Persia, Esther’s Story” by Jill Eileen Smith is the exotic, out-of-this-world, true-to-life tale of how the simple, lovely orphan girl, Esther became the beautiful, honored and revered battle queen of Persia. Caught in the throes of the bitter intrigue and murky strife of palace politics, Esther finds herself in an impossible, catch 22 situation, one in which she can either risk her life or consign herself and her people to the fiery flames of annihilation.
With her impeccable flair for research and her imaginative, conversational, story-telling style, Jill Eileen Smith brings to life the romantic, suspenseful, and beloved story of Esther, drama queen of Persia.
Here in this book, you will meet real people with flaws and foibles, whose palpable emotions tug at your heartstrings, in this passionate story of the Bible’s greatest Jewish heroine.
Jill Eileen Smith weaves together richly crafted descriptions, well-researched historical detail, and merges them together in biblical stories with a fresh, new perspective.
I highly recommend this book to all who wish to make Queen Esther’s story come alive to readers of today. I was captivated and spellbound as I read it, line by line, page by page. I couldn’t put the book down until I reached the end. Great reading!
Miriam Jacob
PRAYER FOR A PANDEMIC
A TIME TO KILL AND A TIME TO HEAL – Everlee Whitman
A Time To Kill and A Time To Heal by Everlee Whitman is the third book in the Living River Ranch contemporary Christian romance series. This cleanly written series, follows Ecclesiastes 3:18 – “A Time For Everything.”
The Living River Ranch, overlooking verdant fields and rich tree groves, is a therapy ranch for people with special needs.
Imagine Dr. Brendan Rosio’s horror when his wife’s killer arrives at the ranch for healing therapy!
Everlee Whitman, with great sensitivity, shows how with Christ’s love in our hearts, we can eventually overcome our hurts, however painful they are, by reaching out in love and forgiveness, to those who hurt us.
I highly recommend this clean, sweet book for all the goodness it contains. This is a must-read for all who have hurting hearts and desire earnestly to be healed. The beauty of this book reminds me that “Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.”
Miriam Jacob
ONE PERFECT ROSE – Dorothy Parker
with scented dew still wet –
One perfect rose.”
Dorothy Parker
A VISION OF DELIGHT – Miriam Jacob
It is an exquisite morning,
The sky is immensely blue,
And I feel the soft gentle breeze
Blow softly across my uplifted face,
With a little zest and sparkle of coolness.
The vivid-blue sky is like an arch of turquoise,
White silvery clouds glide imperceptibly across,
Rearranging and changing their shapes continuously.
Glittering, shimmering, jewel-like in the golden sunshine.
It is a glorious dream of enchantment, a pure vision of delight.
© Miriam Jacob
——–
Hi Miriam,
I love how the shape of the poem feels like the arch, or like a mountain.
Shanna
——–
Photo Courtesy:
Montecassino Abbey, in the southern Alpennine mountains, a couple hours east of Rome, Italy. It’s perched up on a mountaintop and has the most incredible views!
© Shanna Delaney
ANOINTED FOR CHRIST CHURCH MINISTRIES – Miriam Jacob
Miriam Jacob is the founder of “Anointed for Christ Church Ministries”. When she first started her online work in 2003, she originally intended to serve God by publishing Christian articles and poems for God’s honor and glory. She did this successfully but God had other plans to launch a worldwide ministry to serve the people of the world, an incredible plan which constantly amazes and inspires Miriam, as she sees the awesome and mighty things that God does each new day. These are certainly things that only God can do, and all honor and glory is given to Him.
This is the amazing story of the birth of a ministry which now spans the globe and is unique in one feature. It is among the very few ministries in the world that actually lives on the internet. Every other ministry has an earthly base, but the base of this ministry is the internet, which is the sole reason for its existence.
It all started on July 20, 2006 at 5.58pm with the click of a button. A friend suggested that Miriam should create a website for her family and friends, appropriately titled “Miriam’s Christian Family.” She started the website and made the first post, updating the site daily with Christian articles, poems and quotes. Family and friends came from all over the world to join the website. People from 168 countries in five continents started to visit on a regular basis.
A publishing ministry was launched in faith. An international writers community featuring the articles and poems of a large number of Christian authors and poets were published on the website. The works of graphics designers, artists and photographers were added to the site. Musicians, singers and songwriters enhanced the website with their musical creations.
A wealth of Christian articles, poems, e-books, devotions, songs, graphics and paintings were published for God’s glory and honour. Inspired by God, the website was named “Anointed For Christ Ministries” in 2008. An international network of ministry websites was launched in a global campaign. This was the birth of the “Anointed For Christ Network”, which is expanding at a rapid pace, with new websites being constantly added.
In 2009, a worldwide network for counseling and pastoral care was launched and the ministry was officially named “Anointed For Christ Church Ministries.” Prayer and pastoral care is given round the clock to the people of the world in a constant flow of e-mails and instant chat messages for prayer and spiritual support. Every single e-mail is prayed for and replied to instantly.
In 2011, Miriam Jacob started to review books for authors and publishers in USA and UK. Her reviews are published at Amazon, Christian Book Distributors, Barnes and Noble, Google Books, Goodreads, NetGalley, and on her own blogs at WordPress and Blogger. In 2016, one of Miriam’s reviews was published at Oxford Academic, Oxford University Press. Since then, the work-load has increased drastically, with new book reviews being published on a daily basis for an ever-expanding list of authors and publishers around the globe. The work continues for God’s glory!”
MY JESUS SWEET – Tina Suzanne George
Opisthocomus hoazin – photo by @jeffreypkarnes
Courtesy: Save Wildlife with Maria, used with permission
THE LAND BENEATH US – Sarah Sundin
TWO STEPS FORWARD – Susanne Woods Fisher
“Two Steps Forward” by Susanne Woods Fisher is a story filled with unique relationships, ranging from a wide gamut of family secrets and past mistakes to searching for forgiveness. The main characters are strong-minded and realistic, laced with determination and fortitude. Susan Woods Fisher is a unique voice for the Amish community. Her sensitive, true-to-life stories are well balanced, with a lot of heart, humor and faith.
“Two Steps Forward” by Suzanne Woods Fisher is the third and final book in the ‘Deacon Family’ series. Jimmy Fisher is back, broke and bereft in Stoney Ridge, having coasted through the vicissitudes of life, as long and as well as he could, purely on the strength of his charming good looks and deep-set dimples, which had always stood him in good stead, until one day, much to his chagrin, they didn’t!
Jimmy’s dazzling smile had absolutely no effect on Sylvie Schrock King, the violet-eyed, vivacious beauty, who offered him a job at her farm, to keep herself and her son Joey afloat. Hiring Jimmy, the son of her neighbour and nemesis, Edith Fisher Lapp, would only serve to fan the fiery flames of Edith’s rancorous rage. However, Sylvie, desperate for help, has no other option. Jimmy has a heart for horses, unlike any other. While Jimmy’s dazzling smile and endearing ways win Sylvie’s heart, Edith schemes to claim her land. Has Sylvie made a terrible mistake in hiring Jimmy? Is it too late to outrun, outwit and outfox the fox? And who exactly is the wily fox?
Writing with warm wit and charm, Suzanne Woods Fisher delivers a supremely satisfying tale to wrap up ‘Deacon’s family series, with this extraordinary twist to the typical Amish tale. Humanitarian issues of abandonment and compassionate virtues of commitment, forgiveness, and helping the helpless weave their way through this heartwarming tale. I highly recommend “Two Steps Forward” to all who wish to identify with the warmth and love of Amish family life in their own unique communities.
GLIMPSES OF HIS GLORY – Chrissy Siggee
GLIMPSES OF HIS GLORY
In her majestic poetry, Chrissy Siggee weaves a glorious tapestry of beauty, as she selflessly strives to become a woman after God’s own heart. She is passionately devoted to God, with a heart that abides in God’s Word, fervently committed to prayer and the spontaneous sacrifice of praise. Chrissy is blessed with a heart that serves, submits, loves and overflows, a soul deeply committed to creating order from chaos, a mind strengthened by spiritual growth and enriched by joy in the Lord and in the strength of His might. In all things, great and small, Chrissy shows that she cares, encourages, seeks first things first and follows ardently after God’s heart, searching, seeking and finding with all her strength and determination.
Chrissy made the most important decision in her life when she chose with her whole heart to live each day for God. She loves God, worships Him, walks with Him, serves Him, and eagerly looks forward to being with Him in eternity. Chrissy enjoys true inner peace and joy as she selflessly nurtures a heart of singleminded devotion to God, who is Number One in Chrissy’s life, the priority above all priorities, the love above all loves. Chrissy passionately yearns for the things of God, to be God’s woman, to love Him fervently with her whole heart, soul and mind. She made a soul-satisfying decision to love God and follow after Him with her whole heart, each and every day, for as long as she lives. For Chrissy, every day counts when she is devoted to God, for God is divine love, and it is heaven on earth to be in His presence, the awesome and glorious presence of God Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.
Being a woman after God’s own heart, Chrissy is fully preocccupied with one thing at all times – God and His service. While she fulfills her God-given responsibilities, she also gives the highest priority to do the one and only thing that matters most – worshipping God. Chrissy is fully conscious that nothing can take the place of time spent in God’s presence, an act that subsequently fuels and focuses all future acts of spirit-filled service, quality time spent in eternal pursuits that ultimately reaps its own rewards. Chrissy spends each new day breathing in God’s freshness and walking in His truth, keeping close to God through His Word, drawing on its rich source of eternal, life-changing value. As she stands in His righteousness, and kneels in His presence, she takes in the most radiant glimpses of His glory, and the dazzling beauty she finds there is transformed into her poetry.
In “Glimpses of His Glory”, Chrissy has slipped yet another priceless pearl onto her strand, winning the most magnificent prize that awaits a woman after God’s own heart. She has dedicated her book to the Glory of God and His majestic creation “for He is worthy to be praised.” Chrissy glimpses God’s glory and sees God’s beauty in the universe all around her. To her there is nothing more beautiful than God’s creation. She feels that it is as much a part of her as the Saviour Himself. Chrissy is reaping her reward for living life God’s way – and the blessings that come with it are immeasurably, unspeakably and indescribably beautiful. To God be all the glory.
Chrissy Siggee has spent many fulfilling and satisfying years in children and youth ministries. She also devoted a lot of her time to pastoral care and counselling to people with special needs. “Out of the Shadows – Jenna’s Secret” is the fruit of Chrissy’s efforts to help teens with eating disorders. “It is the story of a girl who, at the brink of going too far, learns from her mistakes and from seeing those who crossed the line.” Chrissy has a deep-rooted passion to help others through her own remarkable experiences and pastoral care training. She is an avid poet and short fiction writer of international stature, who has gained worldwide recognition through numerous writing organisations across the globe.
© Miriam Jacob
TWO STEPS FORWARD – Susanne Woods Fisher
Miriam Jacob
ANCHORED IN JESUS – Johnny Hunt
GOD – Renu Thomas
GOD
by Renu Thomas
Father God, You are the unseen One,
No man has seen You but Your Son,
O God, You are the most Holy One,
But we see You in Your Son.Creator God, most Holy One,
You loved us so, your sinful ones,
That on the cross, You gave Your Son,
To save us, Your sinful ones.Lamb of God, sinless Son,
In flesh, You came for us, Your sinful ones,
On the cross, You died, blameless One,
To save our souls, Your unworthy ones.Spirit of God, restoring One,
You live in us, Your sinful ones,
Grace You give us, one by one,
To overcome sin, till we see Your Son Triune God, God in one,
Thank You for living in us, Your unworthy ones,
Help us by Your grace, oh, sinless One,
To walk in love, for Your sake, merciful One.
STILL – Jenny L. Donnelly
In “Still,” Jenny L. Donnelly helps us to still our souls and discover God’s life-giving rest at any time, in any place, and under any conditions. This beautiful perspective of rest powers our very identity, is the essence of our creativity, roots all our relationships and crowns everything in life.
Embraced by God’s love daily, Jenny exhorts us to stay rooted in rest, as we abide in Christ, to experience His life. Rest is a reset, to set our priorities right and reconcile ourselves to who we are and whose we are. Rest is rooted in God’s love. We learn to still our souls, even in chaos, to find God’s comforting presence, divine power, amazing grace and heartwarming love.
Jenny equips and empowers women to live and lead biblical truth. We understand the soul-satisfying beauty of resting in God. Our greatest battles are won by finding peace with God. Jenny sounds a bugle for this world, reverberating the hope and resurrection of Christ.
“Still” gives us rest in life’s crazy twists and turns. Penned with astounding grace and candor, in Jenny’s unique style, it provides powerful spiritual principles to fulfil our God-given assignments. As one of the most life-changing, faith-based books, I highly recommend it to all believers who wish to find rest in the midst of chaos.
Miriam Jacob
AN UNCOMMON WOMAN – Laura Frantz
“An Uncommon Woman” by Laura Frantz is a historical romance depicting American history set in the time period between the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War. Laura Frantz transports readers to the picturesque, danger-fraught Western mountain frontier, with sensory-rich descriptions and intricate historical details that bring the past to life.
The novel is richly peopled with resilient and compelling characters, each one of them being forces to be reckoned with in their own right. Tessa Swan, unflinchingly honest, frank and plainspoken, with a quicksilver smile and lilting laugh, is famed for her unadorned decency and a bone-deep beauty, with startlingly hued, marbled, violet-blue eyes, and hair “as black as moonless midnight.”
Quiet and courageous, Clay Tygart is a war hero who wins the heart of Tessa Swan, with his thoughtful resonant voice and kind, compassionate demeanor. This inspiring novel depicts “those rare times when your spirit is knit together with another’s, and you love them like your own soul.” I highly recommend this book to all who like Laura Frantz’s historical romances.
Miriam Jacob
SHE LAUGHS – Carolanne Miljavac
In “She Laughs” by Carolanne Miljavac, humor keeps us focused on what really matters, by rubbing off all our corners, dusting the cobwebs away. Laughter lifts us up. It is truly the best medicine. The ability to laugh is a gift of God. It helps us to lift up our faith and conquer fear. Laughter, the gift of a profound sense of humor, helps us to endure the hardest days. It helps us to persevere against all odds, even when everything is against us. Laughter gives us beauty when we are ashen and gray. “She laughs without fear of the future.” There is always hope for us at the end of the tunnel, as long as humor knocks at the door of our hearts, requesting to be allowed in.
Laughter fills us with a beautiful sense of esteem and self-worth. It makes us feel good about ourselves, and in spite of ourselves. The lady who laughs is dignified and victorious, empowered to succeed, against all the odds aligned against her. Laughter fills us with faith and shows fear the door. Faith keeps our hearts rooted in the truth that God is good all the time. A lady who laughs is at peace, even with an unknown future before her. She does not need to know the whys and wherefores. The gift of laughter is precious. Cherish it like a priceless jewel. Laughter embues us with hope. It gives hope a voice and speaks life into our spirits. Faith, laughter, humor and hope go hand in hand. Laughter fills us with hope and joy for the future God plans for us.
Losing her little niece to cancer taught Carolanne to surrender to God, and in doing so, she found herself and God. Carolanne’s authentic life reflects beauty for ashes. She pulls heartstrings with love and laughter. Her life’s purpose is to spread love and joy, honestly and truthfully. I highly recommend “She Laughs” for all those who opt to choose faith over fear.
© Miriam Jacob
WILLED IN HIS GRACE – Laura Jaka
In her life’s journey, beautifully told in “Willed in His Grace” Laura Jaka, having experienced challenging times navigating the treacherous sea of life, has now come full circle, to a place of completeness and fulfillment in her life. Laura has finally learnt to be still, in a place of rest, knowing that in the final outcome, all things work together for her good and God’s glory, as expressed in Romans 8:28. One of the greatest lessons of life Laura has learnt is that in the final analysis, all that really matters is love and family.
Laura was most profoundly influenced by her grandmother, Daisy Susanna Wellington, whose sheer tenacity, remarkable resilience, compassionate love and selfless sacrifice inspired and transformed Laura’s life, teaching her priceless values and sterling morals to govern her life by. Her grandmother obeyed her calling to serve, as a selfless steward to many, although she herself had absolutely nothing to give. Though financially deprived, she was obedient to her calling with the precious little she had, serving her family with love, compassion, dignity and honor. “She loved as only she could,” a truly phenomenal lady of sterling qualities, who had eyes to see only the good in people and never distinguished between their class or social status in society.
God’s gift of unconditional love allows Laura to live her life “willed in His grace.” All Laura’s trials, tribulations and triumphs, coupled with God’s amazing miracles and favors, have shaped her into the stunning personality she is today. In this revealing book, Laura uncovers the roads she travelled and the successes achieved, to lead her to where she is today. Laura has an intuitive mind, that adapts to everything. She has the deep-rooted courage to reach deep down inside herself and express hidden, underlying feelings at the heart’s core of her soul. Laura’s passion in life is to serve others in whatever capacity she may do so. She wants to make a difference in the lives of those in dire need of support and care. I highly recommend this awesome book for all those who wish to make a profound impact upon society, in whatever way they can, to make this world a better place for those less fortunate.
Miriam Jacob
Corals and Moss – Under the Red Sea – Annette Kurian
THE ROLL OF THE DRUMS – Jan Drexler
Imprint: Revell. Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
ISBN: 9781493419364
Pub. Date: Oct 2019
Price: $15.99
In “The Roll of the Drums,” Jan Drexler has produced a rare masterpiece of genuine Amish family life, combined with true Christian faith and exemplary values of decency and decorum, set in the backdrop of war and its fiery aftermath. Jan combines intensive historical research with true-to-life characters, to create a memorable story of the sweetness of true love, flourishing against all odds, amidst the conflict, sorrow and trauma of battle. The true values of honest faith, love of family and hard-won freedom of the gentle Amish community are painfully tested in the excruciating crucible of war. Lives and hearts are disrupted by the roll of the drums. This haunting and beautifully woven love story of Gideon and Ruby, surrounded by Gideon’s children, captures the mind and nourishes the soul, keeping readers spellbound, as Jan Drexler graphically portrays the heroic struggles of fiery faith, aspiring hope and selfless love in families, communities and churches. I strongly recommend this inspiring, enlightening and engaging book to all who wish to know about the true and honorable values of family life in Amish communities.
Miriam Jacob
WORDS OF COMFORT FOR WOMEN – Carolyn Larsen
Imprint: Revell. Publisher: Baker Publishing Group. Date of Publication: October 2019. ISBN: 9781493419517. Price: $4.99
“Words of Comfort for Women” by Carolyn Larsen is an inspiring compilation of 90 unique pick-me-up devotionals, combined with Scripture verses to give you a special lift in an otherwise difficult day. What do you do on days that are topsy-turvy, when nothing goes as planned and everything goes wrong? There is only one thing to do – reach out to the One who promises to comfort us amidst the turbulent stresses and strains of life. Come to Jesus Christ. Start your day with God. Allow the Holy Spirit to remind you of God’s reassuring promises and His divine presence in your life during challenging times when nothing makes sense. I highly recommend “Words of Comfort for Women” to all who desperately need God’s comfort and strength in their lives. Look no further. God’s comfort is right here in the reassuring pages of Carolyn Larsen’s book.
Miriam Jacob
WORDS OF HOPE FOR WOMEN – Carolyn Larsen
Imprint: Revell. Publisher: Baker Publishing Group. Date of Publication: October 2019. ISBN: 9781493419500. Price: $4.99
In “Words of Hope for Women,” Carolyn Larsen presents 90 short-to-the-point devotionals to illuminate God’s priceless, reassuring promises and shows us how to apply them to our lives, by reaching out to the One who promises divine comfort and consolation amidst life’s distressing trials. Carolyn’s scripture verses are skillfully illustrated with bright humor and poignant tenderness, giving you a positive perspective on life and the world around you. Instead of worrying about our distressing circumstances, we can learn to live with a sense of purpose, trusting God to guide us through to victory. No matter what each day holds, the direction our days take is ultimately shaped by our own attitude. Faced with trials and tribulations, we easily become discouraged, seeing only the pitiful past and the innumerable challenges of the present, oblivious to the hope for the future. But God, not being limited by the constraints and confines of time, works all things out for our good and His glory. God has a divine plan and a supernatural purpose for everything in our lives, and He can be trusted to keep His promises. I highly recommend this inspiring book to all who wish to have a rich, devotional faith and a personal relationship with the King of Kings.
Miriam Jacob
BREATHE AGAIN – Niki Hardy
BREATHE AGAIN by Niki Hardy is a book designed to teach us one precious lesson – how to breathe again while gasping for air, when the turmoil, travail and turbulence of life threatens to submerge us. God is the breath of life and He is the One who helps us to breathe again, through all the stresses and strains of life, up the hills of hope and down the valleys of despair, until we reach the everlasting, eternal bliss of heaven. Come and breathe again with Niki Hardy in the pages of this book, that inspires you to just take a deep breath and breathe again, as you begin life again, on its altered scale.
Miriam Jacob
OBEDIENCE OVER HUSTLE – Malinda Fuller
In “Obedience over Hustle,” Malinda Fuller describes the surrender of the striving heart to obey God. Malinda heard God’s voice, quiet and unassuming, bold, gentle, firm and tender, speaking directly to her heart. All he said was, “Will you obey Me? Am I not your Provider.” As she wrestled with those questions, Malinda had a choice to make. She would trust God to provide for her. She would “confront the Hustle” and “choose Obedience.”
We must not manipulate God’s plan and fast track His agenda to attain our dreams. We should aim to obey God and do whatever He asks of us. Our only aim must be to love Him, serve Him and help to build His Kingdom. We will go wherever He leads us. We will choose Obedience over Hustle. Let us choose God’s way only, not ours. The hustling heart always strives for something more and is never satisfied with anything. Hustling ruthlessly chases after a goal at any cost.
God calls us to listen to His voice, obey Him, follow His leading and yield to Him. Let us choose Obedience in the tiniest details and in the grandest plans. We must be satisfied with God and His plans for us. Obedience to God is a daily decision to obey Him. It is a way of thinking, a lifestyle. God wants us to partner with Him. Life acquires meaning when we work with God to achieve His purposes. God honors us when we work with Him. We must try on God for everything and depend on Him for favorable outcomes. God wants our partnership with Him to make His name great and point people to Christ. Say yes to God, give up the hustle and step into obedient living. I recommend this book to all who love God, desire to obey Him at any cost and who want God’s will to reign supreme in their lives.
Miriam Jacob
CHRONIC HEALING – Courtney Cohen
In “Chronic Healing,” Courtney Cohen masterfully weaves a tapestry of sound biblical wisdom into her spirited fight against chronic disease. Endowed with indomitable courage and determination, Courtney bravely confronts difficult, life-challenging questions looming large in her life, as her doubts and fears resonate clearly with our own. The answers Courtney finds in her persistent quest for healing are soothing to the soul. This book is born out of Courtney’s mature walk with Christ the Healer, who is her All-in-All. “Chronic Healing” captures the essence of experiencing true freedom in the midst of battling chronic disease. It imparts wisdom and insight to all who face trials and tribulations. Faithful, fearless, strong and resilient, Courtney has a strong calling of God upon her life and a deep passion for Christ and His cause. I strongly recommend this book to all who want healing in their lives, in body, mind, soul and spirit. Come and receive Christ the Savior, in all His fullness. Get to know Christ the Healer, as Courtney has. Your life will never be the same, when you experience a touch from Christ, the Healer of hearts and souls.
Miriam Jacob
IN THE CRADLE LIES – Olivia Newport
Barbour Publishing, Shiloh Run Press. Pub. Date: 01 November 2019. ISBN: 9781683229957. Price: $12.99
“In the Cradle Lies” by Olivia Newport, is the second book in the Tree of Life” series. An investigative Father-Daughter Team try to link family histories, present to past, on family trees. Tucker, on a solo ski vacation, spends his wealth indiscriminately. A fearless skier, he is determined to conquer an overgrown slope, a dangerous and risky run, hitherto unattempted for decades past. Genealogist Jillian explores Tucker’s family tree to try to reconcile his charming nature with his reckless resolve. Meanwhile Jillian’s father, Nolan tries to lure Tucker into giving him ski lessons, to make him open up about the suspicious circumstances revolving around his grandfather’s life in the 1930s. The secret of Tucker’s seemingly perfect family history may lie concealed in a sealed envelope Tucker refuses to part with. When Tucker’s fiancee turns up unannounced, and Tucker himself cannot be found, everyone realizes that he must be trying to ski the dangerous and perilous run, alone in a snowstorm. Time is running out for Tucker and soon it may be too late. This book inspires us to explore family trees and celebrate unforgettable family stories that connect us with our own unique family histories. It also takes us on amazing faith journeys that help us to discover what actually lies at the heart of our faith.
Miriam Jacob
THE SACRED SHADOW – Courtney Cohen
In “The Sacred Shadow” by Courtney Cohen, we eagerly enter into the daily mysteries of God’s Kingdom, as God Himself communicates spiritual truths to His people, eternal secrets and sacred mysteries, hidden in the shadows, to be found by all who seek them. A great light shines on a solid reality, casting a shadow, to represent a solid truth. Courtney leads us to this solid truth and the Great Light behind it, as she draws back the veil that limits our natural senses, to reveal Christ in our daily lives. Everything around us points to a deeper truth, a clearer revelation of reality. In a fresh, truthful perspective, Courtney shows us how Science, no enemy of God, discovers God’s creation.
“The Sacred Shadow” takes us on a spiritual journey of discovery, from Adam’s fall to God’s redemptive plan for mankind, focusing on the Light of Christ as our only source of salvation. God whispers to us in His Word and reigns in an unseen Kingdom. We live as eternity-dwellers in God’s Kingdom. This is our only true reality. This world is actually a glimpse of another world, God’s Kingdom, the spiritual world, eternity, which Courtney calls “the realer real.” Explore the exquisite mysteries of God’s Kingdom and the nearness of His Presence. Perceive the present reality in its truest sense, as God makes Himself clearly known, though we squint against His light, being unused to its dazzling brightness. The longer we bask in the sunlight of God’s glory, the clearer we perceive the grandeur of His kingdom.
The Church is the bride of Christ, our heavenly Bridegroom, with whom the bride lives in His Kingdom. This world is like a shadow, reminding us of a greater, realer substance, the Kingdom. God created the shadow to bear witness to the substance, this world, to show us what the Kingdom looks like. Yet we often live only in the shadow, despite God’s invitation into His substance. Let us press into the sacred shadow and through it, into God and His Kingdom, to find Him here and now. Turn on God’s light to see a clearer reflection of reality. The realest real is only seen face-to-face. Come and taste God’s love, as you see Him, in the Spirit-filled pages of “The Sacred Shadow.”
Our senses-oriented life is the shadow. The physical realm is a shadow of the spiritual realm. God uses the physical realm to teach us about Him. Let us press past the shadow of our physical lives to where God calls His bride, the Church, to join Him in the real spiritual world, the realer real, here on earth. The physical realm of this world is the shadow. The spiritual realm of God’s Kingdom is the substance. God reveals His Kingdom to us through earth’s realities. We must grasp the reality of God’s Kingdom beyond the shadow of this world. “These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ” – (Colossians 2:17). That substance is God’s Kingdom. Christ is the Bridegroom, with authority over His Kingdom, which exists in us, the Church, when we surrender our lives to God. Christ’s light reveals His Kingdom to us in the spiritual realm. When we open our eyes to God’s light, His Presence fills our lives to illuminate the substance, God’s Kingdom, as the greatest reality, the realest real, of all realities.
Miriam Jacob
Always We Begin Again – Leanna Tankersley
“Always We Begin Again,” a challenging, inspiring and thought-provoking quote by St. Benedict, is the rich source of inspiration for the title of Leanna Tankersley’s book, appropriately subtitled “Stepping into the Next, New Moment.” This is a soulful and sacred invitation to anchor you to your true identity. A tender, powerful book, with a unique blend of candid honesty and expectant, soul-refreshing hope, it is an inspirational treasury of hope, filled with grace, that invites us to rest, renew and refresh ourselves, as we step into the next, new moment of each new day. It’s a challenge but one worth taking. I encourage you to read this life-transforming book.
Miriam Jacob
Finding Lady Enderly – Joanna Davidson Politano
“Finding Lady Enderly” by award-winning author, Joanna Davidson Politano is a splendid, endearing tale of whimsy, intrigue, danger and love, that cleverly captures the colorful, exquisite details in ordinary, humdrum, day-to-day lives, highlighting random acts of kindness, compassion and care.
The beautiful heroine, Raina, is a true vision of loveliness, with a vein of gold coursing through her veins, born with a lively, spirited imagination, noble and respectable in character though in dire financial straits. Raina wrestles with two identities – Lady Enderly’s and her own. It leads us all to ponder our own identities and who we really are at heart.
This is a classic novel of the romantic mystery of a misplaced heroine, on a compelling, spellbound journey into the world of ancestral inheritance. It explores the innocent, heartfelt loyalty of love. In a deeply-moving, dramatic story-within-a-story, full of puzzling Victorian intrigue, Joanna Davidson Politano skillfully combines the elements of romance and mystery to create a melodramatic plot twist to keep you captivated and spellbound until the loose ends of the mystery are all wrapped up. I highly recommend this awesome book by an extremely gifted and talented author.
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Miriam Jacob
The Battle God Fought – Ruth Susan George
Published in the September issue of Ruby magazine, USA – source:https://issuu.com/ruby4women/docs/september_2019_ruby
Psalms 119:68 –
“God is good, what He does is good”
Hello, my name is Ruth Susan George. I am now in year 7 of Children’s Service. I am going to share one incident in my life where God Fought the Battle for me and my family. I still have a scar to remind of this amazing moment. But, wait I am getting ahead of myself, that battle goes like this.
Back in April 2018, my family and I, straight after my 11th birthday went to India for the Easter holidays. Unusually, this time I wasn’t very excited to go and was persuading myself to be. After landing at Cochin we had to go and visit some family members along the way and at the end we reached my father’s house late evening. Now, I had nothing to do but my father did. Dad had to go to an optician to fix glasses and since I had nothing to do I forced myself to go. I asked my mum to come with us as well. My father’s testing was taking time, so my mum wanted to test her eyes because she had been having some headaches. I also said I wanted mine checked in the hope of getting a new frame, although I started wearing one only 6 months before. When mine was tested, I couldn’t see the first letter of every row. The optician suggested to consult an Ophthalmologist. My parents booked an appointment and got it on the day before my father was leaving back to Doha.
My aunt from Ernakulam had come for that night so my father didn’t really want to go. But my mother insisted that we should. Anyway, we went to Chaithanya Hospital and it took the whole day with tests and scans. While my scanning was progressing, I saw the doctor talking seriously with my parents. At the end, the doctor wrote a letter and told us to see a Neurologist before leaving the country. We went home and I was told to go and lie down. I found my father calling the airline to change his flight. I also remember that my parents were being very soft with me after the scan.
We went to Indo-American Hospital in Vaikom for further consultation. On the way I was singing a chorus repeatedly and it was ‘On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand’. My mum asked me to stop singing as she was tensed hearing the word ‘sinking sand’. We saw the Neurologist and on his preliminary examination we were told there was nothing wrong with me. I was relieved, but then he said because of the Ophthalmologist’s letter I had to take an MRI. I was really sad and started crying. Anyway, we started taking other tests and went for lunch before taking MRI. After the MRI my mum told me to sit with my uncle while they went to meet the doctor. My mum came back and said, “Let’s go for a walk”. We went and she said, “Let’s go back slowly to Qatar”. Still I had no idea what was going on.
Next week I found myself in a hospital bed and about to have a surgery. You may ask why I was going to have a surgery, it was because I had brain tumor. Well, the night before the surgery, one of my mum’s friends Betsy aunty, from children’s service sent her a verse from the message she heard at the church and it was 2 Chronicles 20:15, ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s’. On the day of the surgery, I started singing a song ‘The enemy trembles every time cause he knows the battle is no longer mine’, which became the battle song for my parents, even though they never heard it before. After the surgery, I had some trouble to walk and had to be helped about. One morning, during prayer my mum asked me to read a Psalm. I read 126 thinking that was one of my father’s favourite. The Psalm says that nations and us will say that God has done great things for us. Later only I found my father’s favourite chapter was 128 and my parents think it was my Heavenly Father who prompted me to read this great promise. I was also told that lot of people, including Doha Children’s Service, joined the battle by praying for me.
So, this is my story and that is why I still have a scar on the back of my head. But what I learned is that, God will fight the battle for you whatever they are. So do not worry He will help you in times of troubles and is always there for you. I want to help and encourage others and that is why I think this has happened to me.
© Ruth Susan George
102 fascinating Bible studies on the New Testament – William H. Marty
Published: April 16th 2019. Bethany House Publishers, Baker Publishing Group. ISBN:9780764232435. Price: $13.99.
“102 fascinating Bible studies on the New Testament” by William H. Marty is exclusively designed to help you to know the Word of God and the God of the Word. If you love God, a passionate love for the Word of God will be ignited in you through the inspiring pages of this book. You will gain a fresh insight and a new perspective on how to become more like Christ. The Spirit of wisdom and revelation will help you to know God better through the 102 fascinating and insightful Bible studies on the New Testament vividly detailed in this book.
A FATHER’S PRAYER
This prayer was written by General Douglas MacArthur, a hero of World War II, on behalf of his son whom he loved dearly.
‘Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid; one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory. Build me a son whose wishbone will not be where his backbone should be; a son who will know You…Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort, but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenge. Here let him learn to stand up in the storm; here let him learn compassion for those who fail. Build me a son whose heart will be clean, whose goal will be high; a son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men; one who will learn to laugh, yet never forget how to weep; one who will reach into the future, yet never forget the lessons of the past. And after all these things are his, add, I pray, enough of a sense of humour, so that he may always be serious, yet never take himself too seriously. Give him humility, so that he may always remember the simplicity of greatness, the open mind of true wisdom, the meekness of true strength. Then I, his father, will dare to whisper, “I have not lived in vain.”’
40 VERSES TO IGNITE YOUR FAITH – Laurie Polich Short
Bethany House Publishers, Date of Publication: April 2, 2019. ISBN: 9780764232565, Price: $13.99
40 Verses to Ignite your Faith” by Laurie Polich Short is an inspiring book of 40 exclusive Bible verses for all who seek God’s wisdom and hope. We encounter the God who breathes life into dead bones, the God who weeps and the invisible God who is visible through our eyes of faith, as we sit in the silence of God, waiting to hear from Him.
These 40 specially selected Bible verses are “the lesser known Scriptures to help us discover new angles to breathe life into our faith.” God’s amazing grace always gives us “second chances, fresh starts and new beginnings.”
Trusting God in despair requires a resilient faith that will never give up, whatever the cost. God pulls out all the stops for us to taste His love. “You are the God who sees me… I have now seen the One who sees me” – (Genesis 16:13).
These inspiring words boost and bolster our faith like nothing else. We have a God who sees us in our pain, when we are utterly alone. God is with us in our sufferings. We are never alone. I highly recommend this book to all who desire to taste God’s love in all its fullness.
Miriam Jacob
LIKE AN OLIVE TREE
“I am like an olive tree
flourishing in the house of God;
I trust in God’s unfailing love
for ever and ever.
For what You have done I will always praise You
in the presence of Your faithful people.
And I will hope in Your name,
for Your name is good.”
-Psalm 59:8-9
SHELTER OF GOD
“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
– Psalm 91:1-2
THE HEART OF A KING – Jill Eileen Smith
Publisher: Revell, Baker Publishing Group. Date of Publication: 30 April 2019. ISBN: 9781493417698. Price: $15.99
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“The Heart of a King” by Jill Eileen Smith, though ostensibly a story of love, loss and longing, depicting the many loves of King Solomon of Israel, is really a story about Solomon and his God.
This is the true-to-life story of how the wisest King of a vast kingdom allowed passion to overrule his unique God-given wisdom, making him trust the gifts instead of the Giver.
Jill Eileen Smith skillfully brings King Solomon to life, portraying his real personality as a man of many loves, with creative interpretations, systematically interspersed with rich Biblical truths.
In his persistent quest for true love, after receiving the greatest wisdom in the world from God, King Solomon must have finally realized that only God can satisfy the deepest longings and deep-seated desires of the human heart.
In this book, the author effectively portrays King Solomon’s multi-faceted personality, giving us an intuitive and imaginative understanding of the different layers of his emotions and human nature. For all his great God-given, the tragedy of King Solomon life was that he could not conquer his passions.
In this deeply engrossing novel of biblical facts embellished with fiction, the author portrays the varied sights and sounds of King Solomon’s world through his own eyes.
Jill Eileen Smith is a master craftsman, with her beautifully chiseled characters, full of incredible depth and amazing emotion. Her characters spring to life vividly and with rich, captivating historic detail, drawing us instantly into King Solomon’s world. Wise and wealthy beyond measure, only one thing eluded King Solomon – the quest for true love, which can only be found in God alone.
Miriam Jacob
ALL THINGS AT HIS FEET – Roy Lessin
When you have laid all things at His feet,
When you have placed all things in His Hands,
When you have entrusted all things to His keeping,
When you have released all things into His care,
When you trust Him no matter what—
Then the peace that passes all understanding will rule in your heart.
Roy Lessin
JAPANESE MAPLE – Portland Japanese Garden
CROSS OF CHRIST
GOD’S BEAUTIFUL CREATION
This flower is called Amaravali. It looks like a bird from a distance, you can see the real flower by zooming in. It is the beauty of nature… God’s beautiful creation .
“IF ONLY I COULD” – Stacy L. Sanchez
Publisher: Stacy L. Sanchez
Date of Publication: August 10, 2018)
ISBN-13: 978-1732632707
IF ONLY I COULD” by Stacy L. Sanchez is her agonizing heart’s cry in the painful, loss-filled aftermath of her husband’s sudden death. Griefstricken, Stacy has to learn how to live life on its altered scale, battling incredible loss, overwhelming sorrow, never-ending heartache and raw pain.
Intimate and painfully honest, “IF ONLY I COULD” is a poignant, personal journey through grief.
Stacy writes so movingly about finding hope in the midst of devastating loss. She speaks straight from the heart, and her life-giving words bring healing and hope to people.
This book takes us on a true spiritual journey of the heart. The author instinctively understands the hurt of the human heart, when confronted with agonizing pain, that refuses to go away. Stacy delves deeper into the things of God to find comfort and solace. Faced with utter loss, Stacy learns to rely upon Christ to heal her heart and give her His joy. This eye-opening book is a dramatic portrayal of the devastating journey through heartrending grief, a poignant love story and a source of immense comfort and inspiration to all those who have lost loved ones. As Stacy shares her life’s experiences, her openness touches our hearts as we identify with her feelings of loss. Stacy instinctively knows how to speak to the heart. She is a gifted writer who honestly shares God’s anointed wisdom through the loss, grief and pain of her own life. Both a blessing and an inspiration, Stacy L. Sanchez has a pure, honest, faithful and sincere heart that helps to heal aching hearts and fill them with God’s joy.
This book is an undying testament to the selfless love of Steve Sanchez, as Stacy knew him. It will serve to keep Steve’s evergreen memory alive. I thank God for the awesome way in which God brought Stacy triumphantly through the dark, distressing journey of grief into the brilliant sunshine of a joy-filled life, lived for God’s glory.
© Miriam Jacob
You’ll Be Fine, Beautiful. You’ve Got God – Stacy L. Sanchez
Publisher: Stacy L. Sanchez
Date of Publication: February 27, 2019
ISBN-13: 978-1732632721
Price: $16.80
The breath of heaven blows refreshingly through the anointed, inspiring words of Stacy L. Sanchez in her book, “You’ll Be Fine, Beautiful. You’ve Got God.” It is written in the divine unction of the Holy Spirit. The fire of God rests upon every page of this awesome book, breathing its life-giving words into the hearts of its readers.
Stacy L. Sanchez is an inspired pen in the hands of her Creator, a royal and dignified daughter of God. Stacy lives to reflect Christ’s glory, like a multi-faceted diamond reflects sparkling rays of light.
When faced with grief, Stacy bowed quietly before the Lord and laid her life as a humble offering at His feet. God touched her heart His purity and she sparked into life as a vivid flame to write for His glory.
Stacy’s books were born out of her own heart’s travail as she struggled to come to terms with unbearable grief after the death of her precious husband. She pours into her books the spiritual experiences of her faith walk with God. Stacy experienced God in amazing ways right in the midst of raw grief.
This book is her amazing testimony to the glorious power of God in her life. It will bless the hearts of all who read it. Every word in the book is so inspiring that it arrested my attention in a way that no other book ever did. I highly recommend it to readers worldwide.
© Miriam Jacob
DO THE NEXT RIGHT THING – by Emily P. Freeman
“Do The Next Right Thing” by Emily P. Freeman is all about the perpetual quest for the right ideal, the unending search for guidance in each questionable decision, and the prayer for strength to do the right thing. This concept is often seen in the Bible. After Jesus performed a miracle, He usually gave a simple instruction for the person to do.
This eye-opening book is all about making the right decisions in life, where choices are ours to make. It teaches us to make the right choices and decisions from God’s perspective, as we become more fully ourselves, when we abide in God’s presence. It helps us to be open, alert and responsive to listen to God’s voice, as He gently guides us about what to do next, and only ‘next,’ the next right thing.
At every turn, we eagerly hear from God. Each important decision we make has a long-lasting consequence. The outcomes of our choices and decisions shape our lives and eventually shape our characters, molding us into the image God intends us to be. Our correct, well-made choices and decisions shape us. Unmade or improper decisions can paralyze us in fear or open our hearts to love.
Emily P. Freeman guides us to learn how to create space in our souls to hear God’s voice, to do the next right thing, and make the correct choices and decisions in our lives. God is always with us in our indecisive moments, as we struggle to know what to do next, when life’s overwhelming burdens become too much for us to bear. As God gently eases our tired hearts with His loving presence and fills us with His divine peace, He helps us to untangle all the tangled knots in our lives.
Miriam Jacob
THE INN AT HIDDEN RUN – Olivia Newport
Shiloh Run Press, Barbour Publishing, Inc. ISBN: 9781683229940. Price: $12.99
“The Inn at Hidden Run” by Olivia Newport is a well-written, time-split story that arrests our attention, when a genealogist daughter and her lawyer-cum-mediator father sort out the baffling problems between Meri, the main character and her family. The story is split into two time frames, with a strong Christian theme, providing ample food for thought. It is a moving story about family relationships, reconciliation, depicting how the same family members are influenced by different family traits. An interesting, inspiring and immersive read, this book deftly portrays how to pursue one’s own dreams, in a love letter to the past, a romantic mystery in which Olivia Newport uses the “time slip genre” to root her story in the interesting art of genealogy, reaching back to past generations. The first book in the Tree of Life Series, “The Inn at Hidden Run” celebrates unforgettable family stories and interesting family histories that inspire readers to connect in unique faith journeys. Olivia Newport expertly examines the innate human desire for a sense of roots and belonging, creating a unique patchwork quilt of family histories, intricately woven into the daily fabric of human lives.
Miriam Jacob
A TIME TO WEEP AND A TIME TO LAUGH – Everlee Whitman
A Time To Weep and A Time To Laugh, by Everlee Whitman, is Book 5 of the Christian Contemporary Romance series.
All books in this series follow Ecclesiastes 3:18 – “A Time for Everything.” This is a cleanly written romance series with fully developed characters.
A handsome man, Grayson Meade, shows up at the ranch with twin redheaded girls. He is searching for the support that only the ranch can provide him and his nieces.
The girls steal Stormi’s heart and Grayson carves a niche for himself in Stormie’s affections.
This beautiful book wins its way into our hearts with its heartwarming characters and the genuine warmth of true love. I highly recommend it to all who love Everlee Whitman’s books and charming, easy-to-read style, that holds your rapt attention from start to finish.
Miriam Jacob
