Faith Based Business

Using the parables from Matthew 25, Joseph Slawek, unlocks 10 best practices for a successful life and business in his book "Ingredients for Success: 10 Best Practices for business and Life.". A single chapter is devoted to each of the 10 practices. Slawek writes "the essential foundation for all ten practices is living with integrity." As each principle is presented, Slawek discusses the relevant parable and then some aspect of his life or business that relates to that principle. Some of the principles are practical, no-nonsense type of practices that we all have heard before while others he puts a different spin on. For instance, investing our talents for a maximum return is a best practice. He believes money is not the motivator at work, but the "knowledge that my work has purpose" is the real motivator. All in all this relatively easy read on ten best practices can help everyone whether at work or at home to improve their conduct and live more successfully. Challenge yourself to try incorporating these practices into your life or business and see how God uses them!

Captivating

I have just started reading books by this author-Kim Vogel Sawyer. I found this one, What Once Was Lost, to be captivating! I read it in under 24 hours which me is a record!Set in the 1890's, the Brambleville Asylum for the Poor, is home to a rag tag group of displaced individuals guided by Christina Willems. A fire destroys the kitchen and damages parts of the house making it impossible for the group to live there. Christina sets out to find shelter for all members of the group among the residents of Brambleville. Resistance is met in the placement of her young ward, Tommy, who is blind, but she manages to convince mill owner Levi Jonnson to take him. The reclusive mill owner not only develops a fondness for Tommy but also that he have made a mistake regarding his reclusiveness from the community. Meanwhile, Christina has more than her share of problems in trying to get the farmhouse rebuilt and keeping her rag tag members together. Throughout the book the characters grow in their relationship with God as they over come adversity and rejection. There are many lessons taught throughout this book but why give them away. Pick up the book and be captivated not only by the storyline, the characters but by God's love as well. I received this book for free to review from WaterBrook Press' Blogging for Books.

The Truth about Christmas

Wow! This book hits the mark with all the commercialism of Christmas and trying to take it out of the public areas. "The War on Christmas" by Bodie Hodge dispells many of the myths surrounding Christmas and how the American culture has become almost anti-Christmas!! Learn why Christmas is so important to Bible beliving Christians. Hodge wrties "Why in America is Christ being taken out of Chritmas?...The real reason many in this culture want Christ out of Christmas is because they don't want to believe and obey the Word." As Christians we need to stand up for Christmas-one way we can do this is to read this book and then give it families and friends. And, remember to say "Merry Christmas!"

The Heart of Christmas

Sadie and Levi are two single Old Order Amish who are intent on being friends only. Soured on having a romatic relationship both agree to be friends but to the community they act like they have a promising relationship in order to have their families stop their respective match making. Can this relationship grow beyond friendship? Or will they remain friends in name only? Christmas is full of surprises in Apple Ridge in Cindy Woodsmall's new book The Dawn of Christmas. An easy read to put you into the Christmas spirit of faith, family and forgiveness.

Growing where planted

   Rhoda is working to establish an orchard in Maine along with the two King brothers and in the process create a new Amish settlement. But the process has not been easy. In this third book, For Every Season, in the series Amish Vines and Orchards  Rhoda feels the strain of an impulsive kiss from her partner Samuel King and witnessed by her beau Jacob. So much so she moves in with her English neighbours in the hopes this will help the situation between Jacob and his brother. While living there her intuition, her God-given gift, begins to build up to the point where she tells her English neighbour what she has been hearing and seeing. Will this decision back fire or does it help? Will her decision about Jacob and the orchard be the right one? With the help of Samuel will Rhoda accept her God-given gift for what it is?
Cindy Woodsmall does a wonderful job in helping the reader to get further into Rhoda's head to understand her fears, her hopes, her dreams. The sad part is that we will have to wait for the fourth book to read how the orchard does at the first harvest, what happens between Leah and Landon, and the future of Rhoda's relationship with the Kings.

Thumbs Up for Amish Who-Done-It

I loved reading this latest novel from Amanda Flower. Although it was my first time it will not be my last. "A Plain Disappearance" had the right amount of drama, suspense, romance and humour to make me a new fan of this author. 
Part of the Appleseed Creek Mystery series, Chloe Humphrey is on her first date with Timoth Troyer, who has left his Old Order Amish to be an Englischer, when  they discover the body of a local Amish teenage girl near an abandoned barn. Not only that but inside of the barn they discover evidence that Timothy's friend Billy may be involved. As Chloe begins to investigate she discovers there may be more than one possible suspect. You will not be disappointed in reading this Amish who-done-it. If anything you will become a fan of Amanda Flower.

Nuggets of Wisdom

Personal growth or a women's Bible study, "The Blessed Woman" by Debbie Morris, is just the ticket. Morris was looking for a mentor to help her on her Christian journey but did not find one. So she turned to the women of the Bible to mentor to her. What she discovered is presented in this book. Some of the women and their stories are familiar but others are not. Take the story of Jeal who kills Sisera to save the Israelites as told in Judges. As Morris writes, "our personal victories over sin and Satan affect our husbands, our children...When we conquer the oppressor in our lives, we embolden other believers to do the same." Some other topics include overcoming insecurity, finding a purpose and learning to wait. Nuggets of wisdom are found throughout this book that will help women in their spiritual and personal growth. Become the woman that God wants you to be and read this book.