Tag: Inspirational

‘Unconditional’ by Eva Marie Everson


Sam (Samantha) Crawford is happily married to her best friend, Billy Crawford. All seems to be turning out as she thought things would until the unthinkable happens and Billy dies. He isn’t taken from her in illness, he is murdered and it plunges her into a pit of despair in which she sees no sunshine and can’t emotionally or spiritually find her way out. When she is at her lowest point God puts a couple of children and a very special friend from childhood into her life. Keisha, Macon, and Joe Bradford (known as Papa Joe by the children he works with in his ministry) are the instruments used by God to radically change her life and in the process change their lives too.

It is a great story that shows what God’s love can do when we least expect it.

My favorite part is probably where Sam learns what her husband said right before he died. Not just what he said, but what happens in and around her finding out.

On the front cover it states that it is based on the motion picture screenplay written by Brent McCorkle, and at the end of the book we are told that it was inspired by actual events in Joe Bradford’s life. What those ‘actual events’ are that inspired the story are not shared. What is shared is that a ministry to fatherless children started from sharing a piece of candy and that ministry is called Elijah’s Heart. To find out more about the ministry there is a website you can visit.  http://www.papajoe.org and http://www.elijahsheart.com (both go to the same place.)

I recommend this book as both encouraging and inspirational reading.

Unconditional Book Cover Image

Have you read the book? What do you think? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

Purposes of Disclosure of Material Connection: I received an a copy of this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion of it in a review on my blog. 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.”

Encourage365


If you are looking for a directory of inspirational, devotional blogs please check out Encourage365 Devotional Blog Directory.

I’ve had the pleasure of communicating with Kelly via email and found her warm and caring.  She is currently blogging a verse-by-verse teaching of the book of John and has published a book on Ruth too.

Her personal blog is at:

Covenant Child by Terri Blackstock


Covenant Child is a story about Amanda, Lizzie, and Kara.  Amanda is the step-mom who fights to keep twins Lizzie and Kara when death claims her husband, their father.  She fights the girls’ maternal grandparents and when the dust clears they have won…or at least it looks that way.  Kara tells the story based on information given her by Amanda and others, as well as Kara’s own memories.

The entire story begins sometime ‘after the fact’ but harkens back to when Amanda met their dad, they fell in love and married.  The twins were three at that time.

Amanda’s selfless love toward the twins and the diligent care she gives to their future is what keeps this story from being too dark and depressing.

The characters were adequately developed, maybe a little unbelievable at times but not enough to detract from the story.  I liked the way Ms. Blackstock kept the story moving.  Showing glimpses into the twins’ lives over a fifteen year period.  It was such a sad story that if she had dwelt any longer on any one time period it would have been hard to get through.  I also like how she had Amanda turning to the Bible and finding hope and living out her faith.

The story reminds me of someone riding along in a train on a bright sunny day with their back to the front of the train. When suddenly they find themselves going through a tunnel.  For a very short time they can still see light from outside but before long everything is dark. Then stays dark the whole time they are in the tunnel and even once they come out of the tunnel they still see darkness until the train is far enough away from the tunnel to see full light again.  Only in this case the darkness lasts approximately fifteen years.

Even though there are inspirational parts I’m not sure I’d recommend it to others or not.  I liked Amanda’s commitment to her promise and love, but even though Ms. Blackstock was writing this as an analogy of coming to The Father and becoming a Christian, sadly it didn’t come across that way to me.

Covenant Child Book Cover Image

Other reviews of ‘Covenant Child’

 

 

Author’s Website

Purposes of Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a temporary digital copy of the book mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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.”

By Faith, Not By Sight by Scott MacIntyre


Are you physically challenged and wondering what you could ever do for God?  Or maybe the trials and stresses of life seem as if they have become super-sized?  Was your life on track to realize your greatest dreams when out of the blue your dreams splintered into a million pieces?  If so, meet Scott MacIntyre through ‘By Faith, Not By Sight’ and be encouraged!  Here is a blind prodigy with a truly bright future laid out like a detailed map before him.  Then a life threatening illness looks to take it all away.

Scott’s desire is to inspire and encourage people.  This book does both.

This is not a self-help book. ‘By Faith, Not by Sight’ shows how Scott trusts God through some very impressive obstacles and challenges.  It isn’t preachy, but subtly encourages and exhorts the reader to see life in a new light and perspective.

Scott takes the reader on a twisting, intimate path which jumps around through the years as he reveals the story of his life.  He shows us not only the triumphs, but the failures.  This remarkable young man gives us an inside look at the: doubts, fears, pain, joys, dreams, and faith that made Scott who he is today. This book leaves the reader feeling like they have known him all his life.  By reading how God caused Scott’s dramatic circumstances to turn around so many times, it brings hope to the heart of the reader. Hope that the black clouds and stormy circumstances they are facing today might be transformed into sun drenched views beyond anything we can imagine tomorrow, just as Scott’s were.

If you need encouragement, read this book.  If you can’t imagine how God could use your life, read this book.  If you are at the point of despair, read this book.  If you just want to know more about who Scott MacIntyre is, read this book.  To sum it all up…Read this book!

By Faith, Not By Sight book cover image

More Reviews of ‘By Faith, Not By Sight’

Purposes of Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of the book mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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.”