And It Was Beautiful

And It Was Beautiful:
Celebrating Life in the Midst
of the Long Good-bye
Kara Tippetts
(David C. Cook)
March 2015/256 pages/Harcover/$14.99

“I was here. I saw beauty. I embraced it.” —Kara Tippetts

How do you live out extravagant love in the everyday moments? How do you celebrate grace when your life turns out differently than the one you dreamed?

Kara Tippetts discovered how to find joy in the small moments of life. She learned how to hold tight to hope even while battling intense physical and emotional pain. And she lived out the truth that God can redeem any story.

In her final book, Kara offers gentle reflections on living and dying well. She invites us to cultivate soft hearts even when we face great disappointment. Her ideas for living are hard-won, wrestled with in the crucible of family, illness, and faith. And her constant reminder is that whether we are in the midst of dark days or mundane moments Jesus is always there, life is surprisingly beautiful, and God is forever good.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kara Tippetts was the author of The Hardest Peace and the co-author of Just Show Up. She blogged faithfully at mundanefaithfulness.com. Since her death in March 2015, her husband, Jason, has been parenting their four children and leading the church the couple founded in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Find out more about Kara at http://mundanefaithfulness.com.


MY THOUGHTS

Thousands of people followed the journey of Kara Tippetts (and her family) on her blog, Mundane Faithfulness, as she shared the heartaches, struggles, and even the joys, of living day by day with cancer until she stepped into the arms of Jesus on March 22, 2015. This book contains many of her writings during that time as she sought to bring glory to God and honor Him in the midst of agonizing pain and heartache. Written in her unique, authentic style, Kara shows the reader how to gain an eternal perspective on daily living. While small in size, this tome is a powerful testimony that God is good all the time and no matter the circumstance, it can be well with our soul. An excellent gift.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book free from David C. Cook and Litfuse Publicity for a blog tour. 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.”


See what others on this blog tour are saying about this book!

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Just Show Up-- Plus a Tried & True Friendship Giveaway!

Just Show Up:
The Dance of Walking
Through Suffering Together
Kara Tippetts & Jill Lynn Buteyn
(David C Cook)
ISBN: 978-1434709530
October 2015/192 pages/$15.99
Kara Tippetts’s story was not a story of disease, although she lost her battle with terminal cancer.

It was not a story of saying goodbye, although she was intentional in her time with her husband and four children. Kara’s story was one of seeing God in the hard and in the good. It was one of finding grace in the everyday. And it was one of knowing “God with us” through fierce and beautiful friendship.

In Just Show Up, Kara and her close friend, Jill Lynn Buteyn, write about what friendship looks like in the midst of changing life seasons, loads of laundry, and even cancer. Whether you are eager to be present to someone going through a difficult time or simply want inspiration for pursuing friends in a new way, this eloquent and practical book explores the gift of silence, the art of receiving, and what it means to just show up.


ABOUT THE AUTHORS

The late Kara Tippetts was the author of The Hardest Peace and blogged faithfully at mundanefaithfulness.com. Cancer was only a part of Kara’s story. Her real fight was to truly live while facing a crushing reality. Since her death in March 2015, her husband, Jason, is parenting their four children and leading the church they founded in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Jill Lynn Buteyn is the author of Falling for Texas, an inspirational novel, and a recipient of the ACFW Genesis Award for her fiction work. She has a bachelor’s degree in communications from Bethel University. Jill lives near the beautiful Rocky Mountains with her husband and two children. Find out more about Jill Lynn Buteyn at http://jill-lynn.com.



MY THOUGHTS

As a nurse and someone who has served as Care Minister for my church for several years, I am passionate about reaching out to folks during the hard seasons of their lives. I followed Kara's journey intermittently at mundanefaithfulness.com and more consistently as her earthly life ebbed to a close, and I was touched by the community that surrounded her family--and that continues to walk this difficult road with her husband and children. Just Show Up, which Kara began writing before her death with her close friend Jill Lynn Buteyn, is a moving and practical guide for ministering to those in hard places. It also provides wise counsel for those who find themselves on the receiving end of care. Whether the hard is illness, death, job loss, infertility, divorce, or a host of other issues that upend one's life, Just Show Up will not only encourage you but equip you with realistic advice. Jill and Kara's warm and authentic styles made me feel as if I were sitting in the room with them as I read. Though Kara's illness was heartbreaking, the love and community experienced in the midst of unspeakable sorrow is a beautiful picture of God's grace and the way he designed the Body of Christ to function. Don't miss this gem!



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from David C Cook and Litfuse Publicity as part of a blog tour. 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.”



What does friendship look like in the midst of changing life seasons, loads of laundry—and even cancer? Kara Tippetts and Jill Lynn Buteyn teamed up to write Just Show Up, a story of their close friendship and walk through Kara's battle with terminal cancer. Whether you are eager to be present to someone going through a difficult time or simply want inspiration for pursuing friends in a new way, this eloquent and practical book explores the gift of silence, the art of receiving, and what it means to just show up.

Celebrate the gift of friendship with a Tried & True Friendship giveaway—a prize for you and for a friend!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of Just Show Up
• Two Ombre Layer Necklaces—one for you and one for a friend

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 23rd. The winner will be announced October 26th on Jill's blog.

Is one of your friends going through a tough time—maybe you need some encouragement? Stop by Kara and Jill's author page, click on the reviews bar, and read through some bloggers' stories of how their friends got them through suffering.

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Darkness Before Dawn

Darkness Before Dawn
Ace Collins
(Abingdon Press)
ISBN: 978-1426714672
March 2013/352 pages/$14.99
On the same night she discovers she is pregnant, twenty-eight-year-old nurse Meg Richards’ husband is killed in an auto accident caused by a drunken teen. James Thomas, the teen, comes from one of the most influential families in the community. He’s a star athlete and glamour boy at the local high school. Angered by her senseless loss, Meg blames God for what has happened and considers a decision that could change her life even further—until the D.A. intervenes.

The results of the brutal trial enrage Meg, leading her down a frightening path of retribution. When the opportunity for revenge comes unexpectedly, will Meg follow through? Or will the remnants of her faith lead her in a different direction?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bestselling author Ace Collins has written more than fifty books including novels Farraday Road, Swope’s Ridge and Words of the Father, as well as the nonfiction Stories Behind The Best-Loved Songs of Christmas, grAttitudes, and Lassie A Dog’s Life. His books have become movies and network television specials. He has appeared on Good Morning America, the NBC Nightly News and The Today Show and has been featured in the Distinguished Lecture Series at the National Archives in Washington D.C. Ace Collins has sold more than 1.5 million books during his career.

His latest book is the Christian fiction, Darkness Before Dawn.

Visit Ace’s website at www.acecollins.com.

Connect with Ace via TWITTER and FACEBOOK

MY THOUGHTS

Ace Collins boldly tackles a variety of difficult and painful issues in this gripping novel as he portrays the desperation of a life that turns away from God at its darkest hour. Meg's grief is palpable but rather than finding comfort in her faith, she turns her back on God and embarks on a quest to mete her own vengeance on the teen whose night of drinking left her a newly-pregnant widow. Collins digs deep into the human heart to bring to light the raw anger, heartbreak, and single-minded focus that consumes Meg's life. Suicide, abortion, and the justice system are also touched on in this story that will cause readers to examine their own hearts, and Meg's distress, especially in the early days surrounding the funeral, is instructive for those who are quick to offer a Pollyanna platitude or perfunctory scriptural quote to anyone experiencing such deep sorrow. While the subject matter and the emotional impact make this novel a bit difficult to read at times, it is simultaneously impossible to put down! (I only have one caveat for other readers with nursing backgrounds: several of the scenes and interactions in the hospital made me a little crazy because they are a bit unrealistic. While they don't diminish the overall story, they are somewhat distracting to someone in the profession.) This would be a great novel for book clubs and youth groups to read and discuss. Highly recommended!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received an advanced copy of this book free from Abingdon Press and Pump Up Your Book Promotions. 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.”

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Taylor's Gift

Taylor's Gift:
A Courageous Story of Giving Life and Renewing Hope
Todd and Tara Storch
with Jennifer Schuchmann
(Revell)
ISBN: 978-0800721886
March 2013/336 pages/Hardcover/$21.99
In March 2010, thirteen-year-old Taylor Storch's life was tragically cut short by a skiing accident. With only a few minutes to consider their options, her grieving family made the life-changing decision to donate her organs. Knowing Taylor's caring spirit, they were sure this was what she would have wanted. Over the course of the next two years, Tara and Todd Storch connected with four of the five people who now live because of Taylor's gift. And through these encounters, the Storches have discovered unexpected blessings that are changing countless lives.

Now Tara and Todd share their inspiring story, shining a light at the end of the tunnel for those enduring the suffering of losing a loved one. Through the stories of the donor recipients, readers will discover hope in the midst of pain. Honest with their struggles, the Storches show readers that life is a gift and our response to grief is a choice. They also speak with a clear voice about the importance and the blessing of being an organ donor, telling the inspiring story of the creation of Taylor's Gift Foundation and its goals to raise awareness of the need for organ donation, to re-gift life, renew health, and restore families. They are changing the conversation around the globe that organ donation is not about death--it's about life!

“May this story bring hope to anyone who has suffered tragedy. There is life after loss. It comes after a monsoon of tears. But it comes.”-from the foreword by Max Lucado

Read an excerpt here.



ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Photo: © Frank Marott, Pixels–Coppell, TX

After the death of his daughter, Todd Storch left a successful career in media consulting to pursue his God-given passion to promote organ donation. As co-founder of Taylor's Gift Foundation, Todd manages the day-to-day operations. In less than two years, Todd has spoken to nearly 10,000 people. Through the foundation's efforts, he has contributed to the certification of nearly 2,000,000 organ donors in Texas and over 12,000,000 nationally. Todd has more than twenty years of experience as a senior executive in radio and digital media sales, and extensive experience helping companies build their digital and interactive divisions.

Tara Storch is an award-winning sales and marketing professional, an entrepreneur, and a community leader, but most importantly she is a wife to Todd and a mom to Ryan and Peyton. Along with her husband, Todd, she cofounded Taylor's Gift Foundation to increase organ donation to "regift life, renew health, and restore families." She and her husband have shared their story on Good Morning America, The Today Show, and The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and other national media.

Jennifer Schuchmann specializes in collaborations with celebrities and newsmakers. Among her many books, she is coauthor with Kurt and Brenda Warner of the New York Times bestselling First Things First; with Dan Woolley of Unshaken, the only book written by a survivor of the Haiti earthquake; and with Jim Cymbala of Spirit Rising. An accomplished writer, trainer, and speaker noted for creative and practical approaches to business and spiritual topics, Jennifer has an extensive public speaking background. She holds an M.B.A. from Emory University with an emphasis in marketing and communications and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Memphis.

MY THOUGHTS

This is a heart-wrenching book that is hard as a parent to read. Only by knowing that God's grace has brought (and is continuing to bring) this family through this tragedy was I able to persevere. However, I'm glad I did, for the story of hope and the lives changed by the gift of organ donation were beautiful to see, as were the evidences of God's hand along the way in tiny details and "coincidences" that can only be explained by recognizing God's involvement in every minute detail. Having an extended family member who received a liver transplant as a baby, I know what the gift of organ donation means to the life of the recipient and to the entire family. Redeeming tragedy is God's specialty, and Todd & Tara Storch are testimonies of the beauty He is bringing from their ashes.

Click the button below to learn more about organ donation and register to be an organ donor

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book free from Revell Books as part of a blog tour. 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.”

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We Need Christmas More Than Ever

My heart is broken for the families in Connecticut. The fact that it happened so close to Christmas is doubly cruel. I keep thinking about the joy of anticipation that five- and six-year-olds feel as Christmas approaches and my heart hurts to imagine those happy children in that kindergarten classroom and the terror they must have experienced in those brief moments before their lives were so cruelly snatched. How I pray that legions of angels descended and that they were whisked to the Father's arms before they had a chance to suffer.

It seems unfathomable to think about Christmas, yet this is exactly why Jesus slipped into the world as a baby that night in Bethlehem 2000 years ago.

Tears are falling, hearts are breaking
How we need to hear from God
You've been promised, we've been waiting
Welcome Holy Child . . . .


Bring Your peace into our violence
Bid our hungry souls be filled
Word now breaking Heaven's silence
Welcome to our world . . . .

Just as the song speaks of that first advent, we cry out again today "You've been promised, we've been waiting. . . ."

Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!

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Friday Fizzle

This is one of those days there's not much brainpower left of me to post.

It's been a tough 24 hours to be a Care Minister. A dearly loved woman who impacted many lost her battle with cancer. Two church members were admitted to (separate) hospitals. And an accident claimed the life of someone close to one of our youth.

How in the world do people cope without the hope that Christ brings? Especially in the case of our dear friend, while we all grieve the loss and ache for her husband and children, we smile as we picture her in the presence of the Savior she adored.

Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. (I Thessalonians 4:13)

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. (Psalm 116:15)

Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (I Corinthians 15:55-57)

I love the chorus from this song that we just don't hear much anymore:

But just think of stepping on shore--And finding it Heaven!
Of touching a hand--And finding it God's!
Of breathing new air--And finding it celestial!
Of waking up in glory--And finding it home!
(Finally Home by Don Wyrtzen), 1971

And this has been running through my mind a lot lately:

And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my strength is gone
Still my soul will sing your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore!
(10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman and Jonas Myrin, 2011)

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TSMSS - For Those Tears I Died

I've shared a number of songs by David Phelps through the years on this blog. Today my heart is heavy for him and his family. David's sister, Sherri Proctor, passed away this week after a six-year battle with cancer.

This video is David and his Family Band, including Sherri, singing just a little over a year ago in June, 2011, at a festival in Ireland. I have always loved this song but I don't think I've heard it since my high school days.



Join me at Amy's for more songs.

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A Wonderful New Resource

I enjoy Gayle Roper's fiction, and now she has begun something new I am happy to share with you. If you or someone you know is walking the road of widowhood, please check out Gayle's new blog called Widows Journey, in which she shares her journey since losing her husband in 2010. Her writings are tender and will touch your heart. Those who have experienced the the death of a relationship due to divorce may also benefit from this site. A Links & Resources page will also be of value and even includes a children's book about grief.

I'm adding this to my list of resources for my Care Ministry and encourage you to pass the word to those you know who would benefit from connecting with, as Gayle says, other "sisters in sorrow."

The Widow’s Journey: when two becomes one

You can learn more about Gayle and her books at her website.

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TSMSS - Blessings

I've heard this brand-new song on the radio several times this week and it has completely grabbed my heart. The simple melody and piano backdrop are just beautiful and the words are incredible.

I was not familiar with Laura Story, who wrote and sings the song until I downloaded this song and read a bit about her. What a delight to discover that she wrote one of my favorite worship songs that Chris Tomlin recorded, Indescribable. Her new album releases on April 12, but you can download the whole album digitally at her website; the single of this song is also available on iTunes.

Here's Laura sharing a bit of the story behind the song, which came from the experience of her husband's journey with brain cancer.

BLESSINGS
Laura Story

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet Love is way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops?
What if Your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near?
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
As long as we have faith to believe

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops?
What if Your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near?
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not our home

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops?
What if Your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near?
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst
This world can't satisfy?
What if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise?

Join me at Amy's for more songs.

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More Glimpses of Heaven

More Glimpses of Heaven:
Inspiring True Stories of Hope and Peace
at the End of Life's Journey
Trudy Harris, RN
(Revell)
ISBN: 978-0800734404
November, 2010/204 pages/$13.99

More true stories of the tender beauty of life's end

There is more to death than simply ceasing to live. In Glimpses of Heaven, retired hospice nurse Trudy Harris offered an intimate look at the final days and moments of terminally ill and dying people. Now she shares more of her stories and also stories from other medical and hospice professionals, allowing the veil to be drawn back on God's handiwork, while we are both living and dying.

If you have lost a loved one, are facing a terminal illness, or are simply curious about what happens when we pass from life to death, More Glimpses of Heaven offers you an even deeper insight into God's plan for our lives every day.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Trudy Harris, RN, is the author of Glimpses of Heaven, a former hospice nurse, and former president of the Hospice Foundation for Caring. Since retirement, Harris remains active in connecting the needs of terminally ill and dying people in her community with the hospice program she knows can best meet their needs.




MY THOUGHTS:
This is both a fascinating and a touching book. As a nurse, I have a tremendous respect and appreciation for the incredible care that so many hospice organizations provide. Over the past few decades they have helped dying patients and their families face their final days with dignity and grace. Trudy Harris has allowed us to be the proverbial "fly on the wall" of the last days and moments of individuals ranging in age from children to ninety-plus-year-olds. While I don't necessarily agree with all the theology and beliefs exhibited by the patients and caregivers within the book, I recognize that only God knows the spiritual condition of a person's heart in their last moments. And for those who are believers, the peace and assurance they experience as they approach their transition to heaven is awe-inspiring, and it is a privilege to watch as a soul becomes "absent from the body and at home with the Lord." (2 Corinthians 5:8) This book will minister to many.


Available now at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell as part of their Blogger Review 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.”

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A Friend in the Storm - Plus Contest!

A Friend in the Storm
Cheryl Ricker
(Zondervan)
ISBN: 978-0310519935
August, 210/96 pages/$12.99

Author Cheryl Ricker reaches into the depths of human suffering from the perspective of Christ speaking to the reader in soothing poetic words.

This elegant gift book will reach the heart and soul of anyone facing difficult circumstances, leading them through their suffering into the arms of a faithful loving God.

Each two-page spread includes a poem, as well as reflections written by Christian leaders, along with healing Scripture verses.

An elegant foil-stamped fabric binding makes this the perfect gift.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Cheryl Ricker has a degree in creative writing and has written columns and articles for various magazines and newspapers. She’s been writing poetry all her life and her poems have won awards in fine arts and literary magazines. Cheryl lives with her husband and two sons in Rochester, Minnesota. Visit her website to learn more.




MY THOUGHTS:
This is a lovely little book. Poems, quotes, and scriptures are interwoven to provide encouragement and comfort for life's difficult circumstances. One of my favorite quotes in this book is from Corrie Ten Boom: Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow - it empties today of its strength. This would make a wonderful gift book for a friend who is walking a dark road. . .or for yourself.


Share Your Storm Kindle Giveaway
Details of KINDLE contest and Facebook Party: Cheryl is hosting a fun contest where she asks you to share an original poem, story or snippet about a time when someone was a friend in your storm. To enter, visit the Contest Page on Cheryl's website - there you'll find all the details! One person will be selected at random to win a KINDLE and five runner's up will receive an autographed copy of A Friend in the Storm! The winner will be announced at Cheryl's fun "A Friend in the Storm" Facebook Party on October 4th! During the Facebook Party Cheryl will be chatting with party goers (that's YOU!), hosting fun trivia contests, and giving away prizes every 10 minutes - including signed copies of A Friend in the Storm, and gift certificates to Amazon.com and Starbucks.com!




Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Zondervan as part of their Blogger Review 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.”

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Choosing to SEE - A Special Book

Choosing to SEE
Mary Beth Chapman
with Ellen Vaughn
Revell Books
ISBN: 978-0-8007-1991-3
September, 2010/Hardback/288 pages/$21.99

From the beginning, Mary Beth Chapman's life was not how she planned. All she wanted was a calm, peaceful life of stability and control. Instead, God gave her an award-winning singer/songwriter husband, crazy schedules, and a houseful of creatively rambunctious children. Most difficult of all, God's plans for her also included tragedy.

In Choosing to SEE, Mary Beth unveils her struggle to allow God to write the story of her life, both the happy chapters and the tragic ones. And as the story unfolds, she's been forced to wrestle with some of life's biggest questions: Where is God when things fall apart? Why does God allow terrible things to happen? How can I survive hard times?

No matter where you find yourself in your own life story, you will treasure the way Mary Beth shows that even in the hard times, there is hope if you choose to SEE.


ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Mary Beth Chapman is the wife of Grammy and Dove Award winning recording artist Steven Curtis Chapman. Together they began Show Hope, a nonprofit organization dedicated to caring for the world's most vulnerable children by providing financial assistance to families wishing to adopt, as well as increasing awareness of the orphan crisis and funneling resources to orphans domestically and internationally. Mary Beth serves as president of Show Hope and is a speaker for Women of Faith 2010 with her husband. She is also coauthor with Steven of the Shaoey and Dot series of children's picture books. Mary Beth and Steven have six children: Emily, Caleb, Will Franklin, and adopted daughters Shaohannah Hope, Stevey Joy, and Maria Sue, who is now with Jesus. The Chapmans live in Tennessee. Visit her website

Ellen Vaughn is a bestselling author and inspirational speaker. Her recent books include It's All About Him with Denise Jackson (wife of Alan Jackson), which debuted at #1 on the New York Times nonfiction list. She is also coauthor with Chuck Colson of Being the Body. In addition to her nonfiction work, Vaughn is an award-winning novelist. She lives in the Washington, D.C., area with her husband, Lee.







Available September 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

MY THOUGHTS:
I don't even know how to put into words how special this book is. I knew it would be, and yet it has even exceeded my expectations. Mary Beth Chapman has spilled her heart out onto the pages and given us a wee glimpse into her journey with God through the years, both before and since Maria's tragic death, although that is obviously a huge part of her story. As she says in chapter two,

What do I do with God? In the midst of such heartbreak, do I really believe that all things work together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose?

The answer to that question has come at a great cost. It has been agonizing to choose to see God at work through the tears of losing my daughter. I have, however, experienced the kindness, sweetness, faithfulness, and redemptive heart of God. I believe none of my tears have been wasted.

But I need to be clear. This book isn't just about the spring day when Steven and I lost our precious Maria Sue in a terrible accident. It's about a story . . . a story God is writing. All along the way, He has changed my story in ways I didn't like. I've had whole chapters added and deleted and strange plot twists that I never saw coming....What I've found is that it's in the most unlikely times and places of hurt and chaos that God gives us a profound sense of His presence and the real light of His hope in the dark places.

So this book isn't so much about me and Steven, as broken and crazy as we are. It's about God . . . and how He can comfort, carry, and change us on our journey, no matter how hard it is. (Excerpted from pp 23-25)

This book will cause you to both mourn and rejoice: mourn over the unimaginable heartbreak experienced by the Chapman family beginning on May 21, 2008, and rejoice that God is still God and is bigger than their pain.

In the midst of it all, God really is with us and for us. I have found that even during those times when the path is darkest, He leaves little bits of evidence all along the way--bread crumbs of grace--that can give me what I need to take the next step. But I can only find them if I choose to SEE. (p. 26)

Don't miss this incredible book.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell as part of their Blogger Review 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.”

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TSMSS - Words of Comfort

I've posted this one before, but it's been almost two years, so I guess it's okay to repeat it. I needed to be reminded of the truths found in these two beautiful hymns.

DOES JESUS CARE?

Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song?
As the burdens press and the cares distress
And the way grows weary and long?

Oh yes! He cares! I know He cares
His heart is touched with my grief
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary
I know my Savior cares.

Does Jesus care when my way is dark
With a nameless dread or fear?
As the daylight fades into deep night shades
Does He care enough to be near?

Does Jesus care when I've said goodbye
To the dearest on earth to me?
When my sad heart aches 'til it nearly breaks
Is it felt by Him, does He see?

WORDS: Frank Graef, 1901
MUSIC: J. Lincoln Hall, 1901

GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU

Be not dismayed whate'er betide,
God will take care of you;
Beneath His wings of love abide,
God will take care of you.

God will take care of you,
Through every day, over all the way;
He will take care of you,
God will take care of you.

Through days of toil when heart doth fail,
God will take care of you;
When dangers fierce your path assail,
God will take care of you.

All you may need He will provide,
God will take care of you;
Nothing you ask will be denied,
God will take care of you.

No matter what may be the test,
God will take care of you;
Lean, weary one, upon His breast,
God will take care of you.

WORDS: Civilla D. Martin
MUSIC: W. Stillman Martin

Go visit Amy's to be blessed by more songs!

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Crossing Oceans - A Must-Read

If you're looking for a stellar book, this is it!

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Crossing Oceans Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (May 1, 2010)
by
Gina Holmes

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Gina Holmes began her career in 1998, penning articles and short stories. In 2005 she founded the influential literary blog, Novel Journey. She holds degrees in science and nursing and currently resides with her husband and children in southern Virginia. To learn more about her, visit May 2010's issue of CFOM at Interview with Gina Holmes or Novel Journey.



ABOUT THE BOOK

Jenny Lucas swore she’d never go home again. But being told you’re dying has a way of changing things. Years after she left, she and her five-year-old daughter, Isabella, must return to her sleepy North Carolina town to face the ghosts she left behind. They welcome her in the form of her oxygen tank–toting grandmother, her stoic and distant father, and David, Isabella’s dad . . . who doesn’t yet know he has a daughter. As Jenny navigates the rough and unknown waters of her new reality, the unforgettable story that unfolds is a testament to the power of love and its ability to change everything—to heal old hurts, bring new beginnings . . . even overcome the impossible. A stunning debut about love and loss from a talented new voice.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Crossing Oceans, go HERE.


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MY THOUGHTS:
This is an amazing novel for any author to have written, but the fact that it's Gina Holmes' debut novel makes it that much more incredible. Just be sure to have one thing by your side at all times as you read it:


I am not kidding you. I have never had a book break my heart like this one did, nor cause me to mull over it so long after finishing it. (What is a reader to do when she longs to pray for and hug the neck of fictional characters?!) Not that it is morose in its telling. On the contrary, it is an achingly tender story. Jenny and her precious daughter, Isabella, walked right off of the pages and into my heart. As I progressed further into the book and the layers of sorrow and love intertwined, I couldn't fathom how the story could end in any satisfying manner. And if this were a secular title, that would be true. But God infuses hope and grace at each of life's most fragile turns for the believer, and Gina Holmes has gently and expertly woven Truth into this book. While the book literally made my heart hurt and brought me to tears, the last sentence left me with a smile. And that is all I will tell you! You absolutely MUST get this book.

My blogging reviewer pal Kim at Window to My World interviewed Gina for this month's issue of Christian Fiction Online Magazine. You can read that interview here.

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