Through the Rushing Water by Catherine Richmond

Through the Rushing Water by Catherine Richmond is inspiring! Have you ever wondered why your plan and God's plan aren't necessarily the same? Sophia, the heroine, wonders, too. As a school teacher at an elite woman's college, Sophia believes her calling to be a congressman's wife. When he chooses another (her roommate, no less), she is so dismayed that SHE creates a new calling: missionary to China. Sophia doesn't realize, until she winds up in Dakota, that China is not God's plan at all. Will, the hero, is a God loving carpenter, builder, and all around Mr. Fix Everything. He is a missionary, too, giving strength and showing God's love to the Ponta Indian tribe. When Sophia arrives in the Ponta village, he wonders why she is there and how long she will last. What is inspiring? Sophia works very hard to give the Ponta tribe the best education possible and along the way learns what God's plan REALLY is (thanks to Will). If you are wondering what God's plan is for you and how to accomplish His plan, this novel, even though it is fiction, will guide you. You will learn HOW to ask, WHY to ask and HOW to LISTEN to God. It is a great read.

Hope Springs by Kim Cash Tate

What heppens when the world gets you down? You fill up on faith! Hope Springs is a story of a family whose faith knows few boundaries. First, we have the matriarch, Grandma Geri. Grandma Geri is filled with faith. Faith that God will heal her, her family and guide her grandaughters. Next we have Stephani. She has been questioning her faith. She visits Hope Springs and finds not only her faith, but what is God's will for her life. Becca, another character, learns that through faith, all is possible, but one must be humble. Finally, there is Janelle. Her life hasn't turned out quite like she had hoped, but when he puts her total faith in God, great things happen. As the characters struggle with real life issues, the reader learns how faith can help one survive. A great book with great lessons to be learned. I recommend reading it.

Brush with Angel's Wings

Brush of Angel's Wings combines the themes of Amish and Angelic intervention. As the story begins two characters who are extremely different, meet on the road. It's a meeting of destiny. One is an Englisher who is part Amish, but wants to leave the community and the other is an older Amish girl past her marriagable age. She is 20 years old (imagine!). A buggy incident joins them together as the angels (one from each side of the heavenly divide) try to keep them on or off the straight and narrow path of goodness. As the story unfolds these two folks have their hardships including a horrible farm accident of the girl's father. Along the way the angels are fighting over their souls using the hardships to teach either strength or anger (dependent upon the angel). As far as Amish books go, this is a really good one. The author uses much of Amish language and mannerisms. Adding the angels is a perfect fit for the reader to understand that even those whom we think are better, still question God's decisions. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spirit Fighter: Jerel Law

If you are a fan of Percy Jackson, you will love Spirit Fighter. Our hero, like Percy, is a normal teenager with normal issues. One day, each discovers that they aren't so normal. Jonah's normal existence is turned upside down when he learns that he is part angel with super human powers. To compound this matter, his mother has been kidnapped and he must rescue her. With Elohim by his side, Jonah and his sister embark on an epic journey to rescue the mother and save the world from evil. This is a great book for teens and adults who love adventure.

Simple Secrets to a Happy Life Lucy Swindoll

Lucy Swindoll has the wisdom of a grandmother. If my grandmother were still alive, she would probably have given me the same sage advice as in "Secrets". While the "secrets" are common sense (for those who have been blessed with a good family and religious experiences) it is also good to have a reminder on how one can live a happy life. For example, I get caught up in fairness and equality. When I am wronged, I carry bitterness. I needed a reminder to let that go. I also needed to be reminded to "slow down" and "do for others" in other words, "make time".

While the secrets are sensible, in this fast paced "me world", a reminder is necessary every now and again. Swindoll's conversational tone is just that, a calm reminder not a command. Something a grandmother would say.

Stand by Me: Neta James

Stand by Me is a fantastic read that is difficult to put aside. First, the characters are very realistic. I, personally, could connect to most of the characters. Avis, the main character, goes through several struggles (external and internal) yet holds onto her faith with a vengence. If only all of us could do that. Kat, the other primary character, is so full of vigor and excited in her new faith. A new born Christian, Kat is bubbling over with ideas to help others. Sometimes she gets a little ahead of herself, which reminds me of myself on occasion.

Stand by Me grabs the reader and hangs on til the end. I surely hope a sequal is in the works: SOON!

Then Sings My Soul Book 3

This book is very interesting. Robert Morgan is not only a great historian and researcher, he is a fantastic storyteller. Each hymn is a classic and each story is a maserfully written. Then Sings My Soul Book 3 was so interesting that I gave it as a gift to my father-in-law. As a song leader, he loves to tell background stories of his chosen hymns.

Then Sings My Soul: history and music, a winning combination.