Nearing Home ( Life, Faith and Finishing Well) by Billy Graham

Mr. Graham states in his preface that this book isn't written just for old people but for people at every stage of life. "The reason", he says, "is that best way to meet the challenges of old age is to prepare for them now, before they arrive."
I chose this book to review because I had in mind giving it as a gift to my parents after I had reviewed it. I thought it would probably not mean as much to me in my mid-40s. I was wrong. This book is relevant to the old but also to the middle-aged, the young married couple, the college student, the high school student...
In this day and time respect and admiration for the aged is not taught , not a part of our culture, not passed down as a way of life for the most part. And our country has suffered because of this. Those who have lived longer have experienced more and have much wisdom and knowledge to share.
As a former social worker with the elderly, I found that the part of my job I enjoyed the most was hearing the stories of life from my clients. I heard of courage, ingenuity, faithfulness, hardships, and hope. We learn from these stories of our ancestors...if we take the time to hear them. I found Mr. Graham's book to be just as if I were sitting across the table from him, sipping tea and listening to his experiences in life with the Lord. His style of writing is very conversational and I felt I had been with a good friend each time I laid the book aside.
I want my teenage son to read this book...now. Because if it is read at a young age the impact these words could have on that life are immeasurable. If this generation of teenagers read this book and took it to heart, we would see our country rise to greatness once more in this world. We would see change that made this world a better place to live...and all because of the focus being on the place called heaven and the Savior called Jesus Christ.
If you are not a Christian, but consider yourself open-minded, read this book and test, try and apply the principles for yourself...then make a decision. If you are a Christian, read this book and be filled with hope and courage and inner strength.
As a middle-aged person, I have had questions come up in my heart. Am I on the right path? How can I know I am making the right decisions? How can I move away from a life of fear and confusion and into one of strength and optimism?
Mr. Graham answers these hard questions. Not with theories or suggestions but with truth. This is such a thing as absolute truth. He tells us where to find it.
Some of the topics covered include hope, living with optimism, retirement, finances, planning, pain, dealing with the death of friends and family, relationships with adult children. He also covers fear, depression, physical ailments, grief, grandchildren, leaving a legacy, building a foundation and developing a strong root system to nourish you.
I love how he has filled this book with both the earthly wisdom he has gained and the spiritual wisdom and truth of the Scriptures.
There were portions of this book that were so helpful to me that I copied them by hand into a notebook so that I could re-read and commit them to memory.
I am still giving this book as a gift but I have been the one who received the gift - the gift of the wisdom of life experiences and of a life spent walking with Jesus Christ as shared by Mr. Billy Graham. Such a blessing to read...thank you, Mr. Graham.

QUESTIONS I FOUND ANSWERS TO IN THIS BOOK:
1) How can I prepare for the unexpected twists and turns of growing old?
2) Is retirement for me?
3) How can I manage money on a fixed income?
4) How can I hear the voice of the Lord?
5) How can I cope with grief?
6) How can I leave a legacy of faith to others?
7) Why should I build my life on Christ?
8) What is God's will for me?
9) How can I develop a faith strong enough to see me through the uncertainties of life and old age?
10) How do I know Heaven and Hell are real? That there is life after death?

Forever Faithful by Karen Kingsbury

I was ready for some fiction reading but I didn't realize there were three books in one volume when I signed up for this book! When I received it, I thought I would never read it before Christmas. I sat down and started to read. I was caught into the story immediately. Karen Kingsbury is one of the best writers I have read. She really knows how to develop her characters and is not afraid to draw you into their conflicts, their sorrows, their struggles. I felt as if I was reading about friends of my own because the characters were so well portrayed. I finished the first book in one night because I could not put it down. Went on to the second book thinking it could not be as good as the first (that is just how it always is). I was wrong! It was just as good and I finished it in two nights! The last one was even better!
This book is hard to put down. I loved the characters and how they show up in the later volumes as well. Well written. I laughed and cried...some of those gut wrenching sobs that you are embarrassed to have while reading a book. Wonderful writing!!!
"I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review"
If you want to read the first chapter of this book for free, click here. Just be forewarned...you will have to go and buy the book! :)

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The Love & Respect Experience by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs

Having read Dr. Eggerichs' book Love and Respect, I was curious to see what this devotional book would be like. I liked the subtitle..." A Husband-Friendly Devotional That Wives Truly Love".
It is set up into manageable chapters that are easy to use on a daily basis but he suggests using one chapter a week (thus there are 52 chapters). This gives time for what you read to sink in and for you to put it into action. I liked the fact that he starts off with a preface explaining how to use the book. He even says that for husbands you can stop at any step of the instructions and let that be it. Each chapter has a Bible verse, writing, insight, action and prayer. The instructions are the key point that make this a husband friendly book and I would not skip over these to get straight to the devotions at all.
He covers many topics that are helpful to married couples in understanding each other, accepting each other, and focusing on what God has for you to do instead of what God has for your mate to do.

Some of my favorite chapters were "Who is on Your Mental Committee?",
"Your Children are Watching" and "No Matter How You Feel Trust Scripture More Than Your Feelings".

I think this is a great book for couples and may even be better because of the ease of reading than his original book. I also liked the cover which feels soft and leathery . Very manly.

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

Quick to the Heart!!

The God Pocket by Bruce Wilkinson is a small book with a huge message. The subtitle to the book is "He owns it. You carry it. Suddenly everything changes."
This book is about giving, generousity, helping, meeting needs. The focus though is not on just doing these things and feeling good about it. The focus is on God. I liked the verse Wilkinson mentions Psalm 50:10 "...for every animal of the forest is mine,
and the cattle on a thousand hills [says the Lord]"
The earth and all in it and on it belong to the Lord...including us and our money and our resources. When we grasp this concept it becomes easier to let go of "our" stuff for HIS glory!
As I read the book, I loved the idea of having a specific holder for the money you set aside to give when God tells you to give it. I looked online for the store that is supposed to be selling these holders but could not find it. So I created my own by crocheting a drawstring pouch and writing on a slip of paper what the God Pocket is all about...or WHO it is all about. I am waiting for the Lord to show me my first mission.

The prayer that he includes says this:

**The God Pocket Prayer**
Dear God,
Today I ask to be sent to show Your love and deliver Your funds to the person You choose. I carry Your provision in my God Pocket, and I am ready and willing. I am Your servant, Lord. Whenever You nudge me, I will respond! Here am I – please send me!
Amen.

I read this book in one sitting...could not put it down. It made me want to take action ...and I like a book that will get me moving!



WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group provided this book to me for free in exchange for this honest review as part of their Blogging for Books program.

Acorn Hats

Acorn hats...little tiny bumpy brown and gray acorn hats scattered over a layer of moss under a huge oak tree. We pick them up and make a pile of acorn hats... and a pile of acorns for the squirrels. Yellow leaves, red leaves, orange leaves...we kick the leaves into the air and watch them fall with the other leaves falling from the trees. You are wearing your prayer hat I made you in acorn browns. It looks like an acorn hat. You are my little red-headed acorn, running here and there. Smiling, picking up sticks, talking to me.

We sit in the chairs in the backyard and look up at the sky and watch the "big smoke" (clouds) roll by. We hear a bird but we are not scared . You tell me you want to swap chairs with me...so we do. You lean your pudgy little chin on your plump little hand and say, "Mommy, I like talking to you."

You tell me about the red star on the barn, the little tiny flag of the States, the sunshine, the squirrel, and the scarecrow in Grandpa's garden. "I washed that scarecrow with Grandpa's hose!" you laugh!!

We lean our heads back onto the chairs and I hear the peace of a forest. We get up and walk in the moss and the leaves again until it is time to go. Couple of more minutes, you say. So we stay a couple of more minutes, drinking in the beauty and the sounds and the love that God has given us through His creation and each other.

Thank You, God.


"..And on this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve manner of fruits, yielding its fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations."
Revelations 22:33

My Bridegroom!!

Overlooking the ocean with a storm brewing and lightning striking from the clouds to the sea, I thought of when Jesus comes back for His bride, for us...the Church. At that time I heard strains of bagpipe music coming up from the beach. There was a Scottish wedding on the beach and the groom was carrying the bride across the rivulet of water so that her dress would not get dirty. That is the way it is with us...the only way we can get into the kingdom of heaven is for Jesus Christ to carry us in, made pure by His sacrifice for us. Then...wonder of wonders...a rainbow appeared over the ocean! Confirmation of a promise from God that He established a covenant with us that is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. If you have not met this amazing person...Jesus Christ...He is the fulfillment of all your dreams and hopes! You can speak to Him now by just praying, speaking to Him, calling His Name and He will meet you where you are.