A Christmas Haven by Cindy & Erin Woodsmall

This was a beautifully written story about the Amish sects and how they overcome obstacles to achieve their dreams. The main characters are portrayed with all of their hopes and their faults. 

It shows how important the grace of God is in times of hardship. It brings together two very opposite sects of the Amish and breaks down the barriers. It shows the importance of modern medicine to all of the main characters. The underlying theme of Christmas shows the beauty in the marriage and friendships that develop with the main characters. It’s a very quick and enjoyable read. I love how it brings back characters from her past Christmas books. 

I would highly recomend this book

* Disclaimer.  I received a copy from Waterbrook and Multnomah to review #Christmas Haven

Book Review

This book was quick and enjoyable. The authors make the characters believable and relatable. The main character, Holly, is a modern Amish woman who has a passion for her community as well as a career. She ends up finding her love interest while working to help her boss through a crisis in hi health and his business. There is a mystery and she helps a father and son come together and discover that family comes first.  

I received this book free with no obligation to post a review

“As The Tide Comes In”

A beautiful story that connects present to the past with joy and sadness. It has a mystery to it with a cast of colorful characters. The authors do a great job in telling the story so that it draws you into the story. It flowed easily and read quickly. I didn’t want to put it down.  There is a strong faith and resilience in the main character, Tara. She overcomes adversity in childhood and adulthood. The setting,St. Simon’s Island, gives a background that ties into the title with the use of the ocean. Although the end has some predictability, I like the way the characters have a sense of humor as well as wisdom in their life choices.

**Disclosure**This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

@WaterBrookMultnomah #Partner

Review of "Gathering the Threads" by Cindy Woodsmall

This is the third book in the Amish of Summer Grove Series. Ariana has returned to her Amish family but not without struggles.She has become an independent thinker which has created conflicts with her Amish parents, boyfriend, and the church. She struggles with her Amish faith and way of life and the new English ways she has learned from her birth parents. She struggles to find who she really is in her work and in love. The book does a great job in exploring the characters and all the relationships between the Amish characters and those who have left the faith. It also brings a close to the mystery of why Quill and Freida had to leave and how the Amish culture is impacted by the laws of the English world. The relationship of the 2 girls who are switched at birth is also developed. The story is a feel good , positive story with twists along the way. I would highly recommend the entire series. Disclaimer. I received the series from the publisher at no cost to review

"Fraying the "Edge". #2 The Amish of Summer Grove"

I enjoyed the second part to this trilogy even more than the first book. It took the two girls, who were switched at birth, and put them with their biological families. How they adjusted and their experiences in their new worlds were detailed and emotional. I really felt connected to Arianne and Skylar. The side stories of both sides and their interactions with family members made the stories move fast. The ending with the girls returning to their original families left them confused with their beliefs and feelings. I can't wait to read the third book to see which life they choose. I love how the culture and faith of the Amish is included.

Ties that Bind by Cindy Woodsmall

I really enjoyed this book as much as her others I have read. She has a great way of developing the characters . With the mystery of the switching of the babies and the impact on the entire family, I wanted to keep reading to find out what happened. The ending leads into the next book. The Amish lifestyle, faith, and language are special additions to the story. I can't wait to read the 2nd in the series

Christ in you

My notes from the sermon by Rennes Bowers on 11/27

Nothing is coincidence
The Son can do nothing of his own accord.
How did Jesus live his life?
Need to look at the root not just his fruits
He lived as a man.he did these miracles as a man in dependence of his Father
John 20 Father sent Jesus and Jesus sends us with the indwelling presence of Him in us
He breathes into them the Holy Spirit.
Jesus teaches on:
1. Kingdom 2. Father 3. Life
Creation...author of life
Plan..eat from the tree of life
We ate from the wrong tree...the tree of knowledge of good and evil
The Christian life is not to pursue good and avoid evil
It's to live with God in us
Gospel of John is about life
bios=measurable life
psuche=soul life
zoe=God's eternal divine life
Passover..blood
lamb=they eat if for strength for the journey
blood=salvation
zoe=life
lamb(Christ) in you
Jesus is Zoe
Galations 2:20
You can't live robotically
We are the vessel He lives in
Broken vessels..God flows through you to others
God puts lambs in our lives

"John 9:1-17"

My notes from Jasons' sermon on 11/20

No reference to healing with blindness by God in the Old Testament
No reference to disciples healing blindness in the New Testament

In the gospels, there are many examples of Jesus healing the blind
Isaiah The Messiah gives sight to the blind
Jesus is showing He is the Messiah to the Jews

Observation #1
The blind man could not see Jesus but He could see him
Jesus stops and helps those who are blind..even spiritually blind. We don't seek God if left to ourselves
To be like Jesus....don't overlook the disabled

Assumption in that cultrure..specific suffering results in specific sins that caused it
God has a purpose for all of us...there is no accident or mistake
Look at the world through the lens of the WORD
Exodus 4:11

Observation #2
This man's blindness as purposed by God
Differently enabled..not disabled
Doesn't mean you can't pray for healing
Life with disability with Jesus is better than life without disability without Jesus

Observation #3
Jesus wants his disciples to co-labor with Him in the works of God
Ephesians 2:10

Observation #4
Jesus wants his disciples to do God's works with a sense of urgency
There is an enemy working in this world
Don't waste your life
Jesus got his hands dirty to heal a man
Pool of Siloan=sent
Jesus=sent

Observation #5
The pool of Siloan is a picture of Jesus
Need to be washed whiter than snow

Observation #6
The changes in the blind man's life caused the crowds to ask questions
Started off thinking of Jesus as a man then sees him as a prophet...later in John he sees him as the Messiah

John Newton
By the grace of God I am what I am..no longer a slave to satan and sin