Spring for Susannah
By Catherine Richmond
Another fantastic book from Thomas Nelson Publishing. I have to admit that I had reservations about reading a book about a mail-order bride living in the Dakota Territories in the late 1800’s. I am not much of a history buff and don’t really have interest in reading about life on the western front. However, I really enjoyed this book from start to finish. Susannah is like many of us; she has gone through hard times, lost people she loved, had no means to provide for herself, and blamed God for it all. I thought the mail-order bride aspect was a little strange at first, but the author provided a great amount of explanation and understanding about why relationships had to be formed that way in the rough and primitive territory conditions. Susannah eventually broke out of her shell and was able to see that God wasn’t at fault for her pain. The events of her life led her to the place where God most wanted her to be; Susannah had always had the choice whether to use those circumstances to her benefit or wallow in self-pity. That is a message we all need to hear. Bad things happen to good people, but God’s Word says that He works all things to the good of those who love Him. We need to battle against sinful self-pity and realize that He has a plan through all things and we need to trust Him and follow his leading.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
Friday, May 20, 2011
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Book Review: The Seraph Seal
The Seraph Seal
By Leonard Sweet, Lori Wagner
I was really intrigued by the overview of this book: end-times meets Bible prophecy in a futuristic time with a life and death scavenger hunt to find the answer that saves the faithful remnant of humanity. Now, as long as you don’t take this book as “the Gospel”, you’ll really like it. No, it doesn’t correlate with the Bible exactly, but it does take pieces of Revelation and graft it together with ancient astronomy and church history. I generally do not like books that hop around in time or place a lot, and this book did A LOT of hopping….all over the globe! I had to read it slower than I would any other book because of the constant change of location, people, and story line. However, it quickly became apparent to me that this hopping was necessary in order to keep the chronological order of the story and to give the reader insight into the events happening all over the world.
I really enjoyed this book and the characters. The way the author kept the suspense and gave clues to the reader to solve the puzzle on their own wasn’t at all clumsy or aggravating; on the contrary, it was enjoyable and exciting. I was confused by the ending regarding Paul’s life, but it sounds like the author may have kept an open door for a spin-off book. All in all, a great fictional read. Just remember, it’s fiction…..don’t get wrapped up in the liberties the author took with Christian theology.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Cellfire coupons 5/18/11
The offers below are available at Kroger and Kroger subsidiaries, Safeway subsidiaries (not including Dominick's), and Shop 'n Save from 5/17 - 5/30 and they expire on 6/13. Go HERE to get your coupons!
Cortaid Save $2
Save $2.00 on any Cortaid Anti-itch product.
Wonder® Smartwheat Save $.55
Save $0.55 when you one buy one loaf of Wonder® Smartwheat (tm) today!
Fiber One® Cereal Save $.75
Save $0.75 when you buy any ONE BOX Fiber One® cereal listed: Fiber One® Original, Fiber One® Honey Clusters®, Fiber One® Raisin Bran Clusters®, Fiber One® Caramel Delight(TM), Fiber One® Frosted Shredded Wheat.
Cinn Toast Crunch Save $.55
Save $0.55 when you buy ONE BOX Cinnamon Toast Crunch® cereal.
Cocoa Puffs® cereal Save $.55
Save $0.55 when you buy any ONE BOX Cocoa Puffs® cereal.
Chex Mix® Treats Save $.50
Save $0.50 when you buy ONE BOX any flavor Chex Mix® Treats, Golden Grahams® Treats OR Milk ’n Cereal Bars.
Yoplait® Fiber One® Save $1
Save $1.00 when you buy any flavor Yoplait® Fiber One® Yogurt Multipacks.
Gogurt, Trix, Splitz Save $.75
Save $0.75 when you buy TWO any flavor Yoplait® products listed: Yoplait® Go-GURT® Yogurt, Yoplait® Trix® Multipack Yogurt, Yoplait® Splitz(TM) Yogurt.
Cheerios® Cereal Save $.55
Save $0.55 when you buy ONE BOX Original Cheerios® cereal (the one in the yellow box).
PB Toaster Strudel® Save $.60
Save $0.60 when you buy TWO any flavor/variety Pillsbury® Toaster Strudel® Pastries.
Save $2.00 on any Cortaid Anti-itch product.
Wonder® Smartwheat Save $.55
Save $0.55 when you one buy one loaf of Wonder® Smartwheat (tm) today!
Fiber One® Cereal Save $.75
Save $0.75 when you buy any ONE BOX Fiber One® cereal listed: Fiber One® Original, Fiber One® Honey Clusters®, Fiber One® Raisin Bran Clusters®, Fiber One® Caramel Delight(TM), Fiber One® Frosted Shredded Wheat.
Cinn Toast Crunch Save $.55
Save $0.55 when you buy ONE BOX Cinnamon Toast Crunch® cereal.
Cocoa Puffs® cereal Save $.55
Save $0.55 when you buy any ONE BOX Cocoa Puffs® cereal.
Chex Mix® Treats Save $.50
Save $0.50 when you buy ONE BOX any flavor Chex Mix® Treats, Golden Grahams® Treats OR Milk ’n Cereal Bars.
Yoplait® Fiber One® Save $1
Save $1.00 when you buy any flavor Yoplait® Fiber One® Yogurt Multipacks.
Gogurt, Trix, Splitz Save $.75
Save $0.75 when you buy TWO any flavor Yoplait® products listed: Yoplait® Go-GURT® Yogurt, Yoplait® Trix® Multipack Yogurt, Yoplait® Splitz(TM) Yogurt.
Cheerios® Cereal Save $.55
Save $0.55 when you buy ONE BOX Original Cheerios® cereal (the one in the yellow box).
PB Toaster Strudel® Save $.60
Save $0.60 when you buy TWO any flavor/variety Pillsbury® Toaster Strudel® Pastries.
**KROGER ONLY**
Clean & Clear Save $2
Save $2 on CLEAN & CLEAR Maxium strength 10% Benzoyl Peroxide products - Persagel, or Save $2 on CLEAN & CLEAR Maxium strength 10% Benzoyl Peroxide products - Continuous Control Cream Cleanser
Friday, May 13, 2011
book Review: The Promises of an Angel by Ruth Reid
The Promises of an Angel by Ruth Reid was the best book I have read in quite some time. I had never heard of this author before I read this book and was skeptical about what I would find. If you like Karen Kingsbury, you’ll love Ruth Reid. I hope that The Promises of an Angel will be a part of a larger series, because I can’t wait to devour another one of these books.
Her characters were German Baptists (Amish) who lead the old-style life without electricity or cars. Even with their deeply grounded faith and strict living, there are those who stray from the flock and rebel against what they’ve been taught. This story is a real look at faith, forgiveness, and standing up for God regardless of the pressures surrounding you. The main character, Judith, is an example of all of us. She trusts God and His Word, but questions why things happen the way they do. She is unsure of her faith at times, and struggles with envy and resentment. It is through these struggles that she finds her true path of happiness. God wanted her to completely give up herself, her desires, and her ideas of the way her life should work out before He would give her the desires of her heart. That’s so true, isn’t it? We need to give up our preconceptions, our will, and our desires and submit it all to God before He can give us true joy, peace, and happiness. Only through total submission can we find our God-given path.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Book Review: The Final Summit by Andy Andrews
The Final Summit by Andy Andrews isn’t at all what I expected. I was pleasantly surprised when I realized that this book is a blend between religious, fiction, and history (with a little comedy sprinkled in here and there). I had read another book by this author and it was a serious look at the term “slave” as it relates to the Bible and our lives in Christ. I guess I half expected this to be a non-fiction book like the other.
The Final Summit is so interesting in its concept. It takes real people from history that have made great accomplishments and placed them in a summit with a modern day man who has been chosen to lead this summit of individuals God has chosen over time. You meet people like Winston Churchill and Abraham Lincoln and Andrews combines historical fact from their lives with an interesting twist into this fictional summit in heaven. I really like the concept that Andrews has used….so unlike any other books out there right now.
This book is also a great starting point to realizing where we are as humans in God’s plan and how far we are falling from His will. There are certain truths God has set out in His Word and certain expectations for His people. Realizing that we are falling short of these expectations is the first step in the journey that leads us back in the right path; however, we need to find the answer to the one question that will help us as a human race return to His will.
I’d highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a lighter side of Christian reading (along with a few laughs).
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Cellfire coupons 5/3/11 & a Kroger WARNING
First, the warning.....the Kroger's here in SWVA have a new update to their computers that automatically take off your Cellfire coupons and WILL NOT let you use a paper coupon instead. I had a problem last Friday where I apparently had a Toaster Strudels coupon for .60/2 loaded onto my card. When I went to use my .50/2 (which doubles to $1.00), the computer wouldn't let the cashier use it because it'd already used the Cellfire one. I kindly told the cashier that I didn't want to use the Cellfire coupon; I wanted to use the paper coupon instead because it was a higher value. He consulted with customer service and they said they have no way to take the Cellfire coupon off of my order.
So, there it is....be careful when loading these coupons to your card all at once! I plan on contacting Kroger and letting them know of my displeasure of them forcing me to use the eCoupon instead of having a choice. How hard can it be to have the register prompt the cashier to ask or give them a void button to return the eCoupon to your card??
The offers below are available at Kroger and Kroger subsidiaries, Safeway subsidiaries (not including Dominick's), and Shop 'n Save from 5/3 - 5/16 and they expire on 5/30. Go HERE to load them to your card.
So, there it is....be careful when loading these coupons to your card all at once! I plan on contacting Kroger and letting them know of my displeasure of them forcing me to use the eCoupon instead of having a choice. How hard can it be to have the register prompt the cashier to ask or give them a void button to return the eCoupon to your card??
The offers below are available at Kroger and Kroger subsidiaries, Safeway subsidiaries (not including Dominick's), and Shop 'n Save from 5/3 - 5/16 and they expire on 5/30. Go HERE to load them to your card.
Cortaid Save $2
Save $2.00 on any Cortaid Anti-itch product.
Wonder® Smartwheat Save $.55
Save $0.55 when you one buy one loaf of Wonder® Smartwheat (tm) today!
Fiber One® Cereal Save $.75
Save $0.75 when you buy any ONE BOX Fiber One® cereal listed: Fiber One® Original, Fiber One® Honey Clusters®, Fiber One® Raisin Bran Clusters®, Fiber One® Caramel Delight(TM), Fiber One® Frosted Shredded Wheat.
Cinn Toast Crunch Save $.55
Save $0.55 when you buy ONE BOX Cinnamon Toast Crunch® cereal.
Cocoa Puffs® cereal Save $.55
Save $0.55 when you buy any ONE BOX Cocoa Puffs® cereal.
Chex Mix® Treats Save $.50
Save $0.50 when you buy ONE BOX any flavor Chex Mix® Treats, Golden Grahams® Treats OR Milk ’n Cereal Bars.
Yoplait® Fiber One® Save $1
Save $1.00 when you buy any flavor Yoplait® Fiber One® Yogurt Multipacks.
Gogurt, Trix, Splitz Save $.75
Save $0.75 when you buy TWO any flavor Yoplait® products listed: Yoplait® Go-GURT® Yogurt, Yoplait® Trix® Multipack Yogurt, Yoplait® Splitz(TM) Yogurt.
Cheerios® Cereal Save $.55
Save $0.55 when you buy ONE BOX Original Cheerios® cereal (the one in the yellow box).
PB Toaster Strudel® Save $.60
Save $0.60 when you buy TWO any flavor/variety Pillsbury® Toaster Strudel® Pastries.
Save $2.00 on any Cortaid Anti-itch product.
Wonder® Smartwheat Save $.55
Save $0.55 when you one buy one loaf of Wonder® Smartwheat (tm) today!
Fiber One® Cereal Save $.75
Save $0.75 when you buy any ONE BOX Fiber One® cereal listed: Fiber One® Original, Fiber One® Honey Clusters®, Fiber One® Raisin Bran Clusters®, Fiber One® Caramel Delight(TM), Fiber One® Frosted Shredded Wheat.
Cinn Toast Crunch Save $.55
Save $0.55 when you buy ONE BOX Cinnamon Toast Crunch® cereal.
Cocoa Puffs® cereal Save $.55
Save $0.55 when you buy any ONE BOX Cocoa Puffs® cereal.
Chex Mix® Treats Save $.50
Save $0.50 when you buy ONE BOX any flavor Chex Mix® Treats, Golden Grahams® Treats OR Milk ’n Cereal Bars.
Yoplait® Fiber One® Save $1
Save $1.00 when you buy any flavor Yoplait® Fiber One® Yogurt Multipacks.
Gogurt, Trix, Splitz Save $.75
Save $0.75 when you buy TWO any flavor Yoplait® products listed: Yoplait® Go-GURT® Yogurt, Yoplait® Trix® Multipack Yogurt, Yoplait® Splitz(TM) Yogurt.
Cheerios® Cereal Save $.55
Save $0.55 when you buy ONE BOX Original Cheerios® cereal (the one in the yellow box).
PB Toaster Strudel® Save $.60
Save $0.60 when you buy TWO any flavor/variety Pillsbury® Toaster Strudel® Pastries.