This book, UNSTOPPABLE by Nick Vujicic, is an encouraging read.  Not only does Nick share the wisdom he has gleaned from his own struggles and victories, but he also share numerous stories of the struggles and victories of other people.  With each victory experienced after heartache and struggles, Nick is an example of one who believes every life is a gift from God, and a gift to be lived to the fullest.

He says, “God finds ways for us to use bad things for a good purpose.”  This sentence hit home for me.  There have been some bad things in my life, and it’s been difficult to believe that God will make something good out of them.  But, allowing God to show me how to use the bad things for a good purpose.  That makes more sense.

If you are looking for an inspiration read, this book is a bit long, but definitely inspiring.  Here is a link to the first chapter of the book if you would like a little sample.

How Nick met his wife is found in Chapter 3 (you can read that here) and I love how he uses his experience to encourage those who feel unlovely, unwanted.  Probably most of us have experienced those feelings, but for some people, life has dealt hard blows and feeling unlovely, unwanted are not just a passing emotion.  Nick is a wonderful gift from and for God’s glory, using his life to encourage others.

this review was originally posted in Feb 2013, and is updated here

“I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.”.

“Dear God, Thank You for making me so special.  I love the way You created me!  Amen.”

“You were created in God’s image!  Look in the mirror and thank God for making you.”

Don’t all of us mommas and grandmothers hope to know the sweet girls we love grow up knowing that each is made unique and special?  What a wonderful thing to plant the seeds of knowing she was planned for and made, and to see each of  those young ladies grow loving they way she is created.

This is just one of the prayers and jewel truths written into Bible Stories for His Beautiful Princess by Sheri Rose Shepherd.  This book title caught my eye recently and I requested it from the Tyndale Blog Network. The book is a gentle introduction to God’s Word for the very young, and I will enjoy sharing with it with my grandchildren.  My youngest daughter will probably spend a little time reading through it as well, although she tells me it is for “little kids.”  Oh to be 11, still loving to play, but also stretching into bigger ways.

The illustrations by Shelley Dieterichs are charming and simple.  There are children in the illustrations with diverse features, which I do appreciate.  Bible Stories for His Beautiful Princess is a sweet gentle introduction for to God’s Word for the little girl.

Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review..

A picture to share….

Today I had about 55 minutes of unplanned time.  There is usually a list right by my side directing my next move, but not today due to a few things being up in the air.   After dropping my daughter off for her 1 hour English class I drove away feeling tired, thinking a Starbucks would be in order.  Turning onto the road where the closest Starbucks could be found I decided that a slice of pizza would be so much better.  There is a Marco’s Pizza in that area.

What a treat, a slice of pepperoni pizza, an ice cold root beer, and QUIET.  There was a nice big table by the sunny window so I took it and sat down with pizza, root beer, my spiral notebook and my phone/kindle app.

Forty five minutes of weekly goal checking, eating and reading an ebook was like  mini retreat.  For most of the time there were not even any other people in the shop.  My phone did not ring or beep.  No one asked me a question.  Quiet.  It still strikes me funny that although there was some fun cheery music playing it still seemed….quiet.

Quiet.

linking with the Extraordinary Ordinary

The Lordship of Christ by John MacArthur

A few plans for the rest of the week…we register for our co-op classes this week.  Piano lesson resume after a 3 week break and my Beloved comes home for the weekend.  I have left the folding table out in the living room with some sewing to be able to sit down for 15 minutes here and there, hopefully to mend, refashion and piece together a few different things.

 A little lingering of the Christmas holiday season as my youngest two spent a morning building the gingerbread house and tree, while I worked on school plans, new year’s goals and food preparations for the now and busy season ahead.

It was a brain fog kind of week, but this morning, a clear head has returned.  This new year is wonderfully exciting me as I anticipate the whole lot of LIFE ahead.