Hermie - A common caterpillar by Max Lucado

Hermie thinks he is just a common caterpillar.  He has no markings or special features that make him outwardly special.  He knows that inwardly he is very special because he talks to God – even when his friends don’t and make fun of him about it.  He has a friend who does talk to God and this friend’s name is wormie.  Hermie and Wormie can’t see anything special about themselves and when they see all the other creatures God has made with so many special features, they ask God  why He didn’t make them with any other special features.  God assures them that He loves them just the way they are and that they are super special to Him – He also tells them that He is not finished with them yet.

Children and Adults alike might find themselves comparing themselves to others – others who have more than they do – maybe it’s the little girl with the long braided hair sitting in front of us in class or maybe it’s the mom in the car pool who just seems to have it all together.  We look at ourselves and think that nothing we have is of any value – God sees not only those things that make us valuable to Him (which we generally can’t see)  but also that He has a plan for us.

Toward the end of this book – Hermie the common caterpillar becomes Hermie the uncommon butterfly – God wasn’t done with Hermie (or wormie) and He is not finished with us either.

A sweet book with much to teach.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> 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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Thank you God for Blessing Me – Max Lucado

An inspiringly beautifully illustrated poem book for little ones, reminding us how God really does bless us – Jesus said that unless we become like little children, we would not enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 18:3).  This little book (mine was an E book) really just reminds us that the very things that we take for granted are the things we can be super grateful for.  Hermie (the little cattepillar) thinks on all the things that God blesses his life with and he is grateful.  The kind of innocent gratitude that Jesus wants from us (I believe).

Teaching our children to be grateful for these things in this world fueled by “want more, have more” mindset is of the utmost importance. 

My E Book only had 4 pages of prose but it really delivered it’s message in a clear to the point way.  Beautiful.  Max Lucado putting his gifts to work.  Well done.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> 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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Three Cups – Tony Townsley & Mark St. Germain

What a special, special book.  Perfect for starting your children down the road to Financial Management – this story details how a little boy got three cups for his birthday and was taught to allocate his weekly allowance into a savings cup, giving cup and spending cup.  Week by week he allocates his money appropriately and then his lessons begin: 

-          Lesson 1 (saving) -  he gets taught to save his money and goes to visit the bank with his mother. 

-          Lesson 2 (spending) – deciding what he can do with his money and spending it at a store

-          Lesson 3 (giving) – deciding on a need to fulfill in his community and visiting the grocery store to carry this out.

As some of my children are of the same sort of age group – I think this is the perfect way to start teaching them about money management in a way that is exciting for them and builds life long tools for them to use and (as the book finishes) to teach their own children one day.  Simply excellent!

The illustrations were well done – especially loved the illustration when the boy opened his Birthday present and realized that there were three cups in the box that came out of the his kitchen cupboard.  The artist captured the moment perfectly – lovely.

A handy parents guide to getting your children started with their own three cups is included in the back of the book. 

Highly recommend this one for children.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> 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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

 

Raising your kids to love the Lord - Dave Stone

An informative guide to teaching our children to love Jesus.

We all want our kids to grow up in the truth of who Jesus is but that’s not going to happen on it’s own.  As parents, we need to realize that being a parent means being more than just the provider of a roof over our children’s heads, the meals they eat, or the payer of the electricity bill so that they can play their games or watch their television shows.  God has given us our children, to mould them and shape them into the people He wants them to grow into.  

A small step by step guide (mine was an E Book format) of how to pray for, teach the word to and maintain consistent discipline and structure in our children’s lives.  Adding real truths about what it means to be a mother and what it means to be a father and living into the two roles that we are called to.  A well written, helpful guide really outlining what every Christian parent needs to know in living out a life that children can meet Jesus through.  I picked up some valuable tips – now to put them into action. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> 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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Its been a year since I decided to pack in working my backside off for a company where enough was never that.  Better than good enough just that little too short of excellence.  What I can say is that He was in it all along - I didn't see... I couldn't- waking up every morning, exhausted after too little sleep having spent the night worrying about this project or the next.  So glad He was gracious unto me and let me walk outta there.

He's been doing some pretty amazing things with me, despite us having not enough to get by every month - He's provided us with that peace that is beyond human understanding.  In reading all of these books (and soooo many others) in this time off has been an amazing blessing - I've been caught up in the Word of God, been taught good stuff, experienced His Grace, His Mercy, His awesome healing and the best is still yet to come.

I declare in the assembly that my God is a Might God, He is mighty to save, Forever, Author of Creation - he rose and conquered the grave, he congquered the Grave.

Thank you most excellent Jesus for your daily work - for your plan that you alone have for me, for this family. Amen

Next up....

The Christian Zombie Killers Handbook- Jeff Kinley

The theme of Zombie’s doesn’t really grab me but this book was so well written and the parallel  between “the living dead” and our sinful nature is so well drawn that I finished the book in two days (you really have to give thought to the Biblical principles outlined in the book).

Written as a fictional story as well as a commentary on relevant Christian principles, drawing only from the Word of God to make his point, Kinley really does the youth a great service in this book.  The book is aimed at our young adults who are bombarded with “living dead” imagery, literature etc.  He does so well drawing the conclusion that unless we learn to live and walk by the Spirit, we too allow ourselves to fall into the old patterns of our old man – the living dead within each of us.

Its relevant, its truth and it really is practical for young people wanting to understand how to walk in the Spirit and succeed and be victorious on that day when He comes to collect those who truly have overcome.  A great read.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> 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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising