Wednesday, December 2, 2020
Rejoice! Sing Loud!
Tuesday, December 1, 2020
Children's Picture Book Review: I'm Going to Give You a Polar Bear Hug by Caroline B. Cooney, Illustrated by Tim Warnes
Book
Description:
Let’s get ready to snuggle! This highly engaging sequel to the bestselling and
beloved I’m Going to Give You a Bear Hug! imagines all the cozy, warm
hugs little ones love to receive on cold, blustery days.
The story
encourages parents and grandparents and their children and grandchildren to
giggle and play as they cozy up for their own celebration of the winter season.
Imagine who might stomp, sled, and swish through the snow to give a warm hug in
these whimsical rhymes and sweet, playful illustrations.
My Review:
As I read I'm Going to Give You a Polar Bear
Hug, the snow was falling outside my window. Winter is a magical time for
children, a let's build a snowman, make snow angels time. So why not be
creative and play polar bear hug in the winter wonderland of pretend with
"a shivery, quivery, forty below hug." Caroline B. Cooney, known for
her young adult novels, has created a lovely, rhyming story celebrating the
importance of hugs. In this fun story, the child is hugged by all kinds of
animals, at the end, the little one shares a hug with someone special. Tim
Warnes colorful illustrations show the story's whimsical words in bright,
energetic drawings. This is a great read for 4 to 8 year olds and would make a
wonderful holiday gift. Snuggle up with your little one and share a polar bear
hug. This book will delight children and adults. I received a complimentary
copy of this item. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Saturday, November 28, 2020
Celebrating Christmas~Joseph
Matthew
1:19-21, 24-25
Because Joseph her [Mary] husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want
to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But
after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a
dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home
as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She
will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he
will save his people from their sins.”
Joseph trusted the Lord.
As a child, I
heard the story of Jesus' birth. We learned of the trek to Bethlehem, angels
singing, shepherds visiting, and of course Mary giving birth to the baby Jesus.
I imagined the animals surrounding the manger, the sheep baaing and cows
mooing. But I didn't give much thought to Joseph. In the story, he knocks on
the inn keeper's door and he leads Mary to the stable. I knew he was present,
yet he disappeared into the background.
What I've learned since:
Joseph was kind, compassionate, and faithful to God. He truly loved Mary. I'm not surprised by any of this. In God's plan to bring Jesus into the world, he chose two people who adored and trusted Him. Joseph and Mary's engagement, as binding as marriage is today, could only be broken by divorce. Rather than expose Mary as pregnant before wedlock, Joseph planned to quietly divorce her and set her free. Otherwise, she could have been stoned to death for adultery.Thank
goodness the angel gave Joseph the low down on God's plan. On hearing the
angel's words, he could have run the other way. Joseph could have laughed in the
angel's face. Instead, he chose to trust God's plan. His faith overcame his
fear.
This year
the holidays don't seem the same. Some traditions may not happen. Gatherings
may look different. Illness may hamper plans. The sadness and stress of 2020
may drag us down. Yet as we celebrate Jesus' birth, let's delight in the Lord
with faith like Joseph. He tossed his fears aside and trusted in God. If Joseph
could do that in his circumstance, surely we can too.
I pray as we
head into the Christmas season, we consider Joseph's faith and his trust in God.
Click to tweet: Faith like Joseph
Wednesday, November 25, 2020
Saturday, November 21, 2020
Sunrise---Sunset
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.
Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to
come to repentance.
Linus, of Charlie Brown fame, starts
each day with a fresh blanket.
Photo by Maggie Wickline-Jowers |
On the days
I fail miserably, I bow my head as the sun sets and ask God to forgive me.
And he does.
The Lord
gives second chances. His patience amazes me. I would have been done with me a
long time ago. Not God. He calls me to repent when sin strangles me and drags
me to the ground. He reminds me how much he loves me and wants me to understand
I'm not alone. Instead I'm loved and accepted as his child.
I'm thankful
for sunrise, a new beginning every morning. I'm even more thankful for sunset,
a time to reflect on my day and seek God's grace.
Jesus calls
everyone to repent, to throw off the burden of sin, and follow him.
If you
haven't accepted Jesus love and grace, he asks us to hear his word (or read it),
believe he is the son of God who died and rose to life, confess our sins,
repent (turn away from a life chasing sinful things toward a life of hope and
joy), be baptized and receive the Holy Spirit (our comfort and guide,) and be
obedient.
Jesus loves us and wants us to live a life of
abundance.
Wednesday, November 18, 2020
A Quiet Joy
Sunday, November 15, 2020
Historical Fiction Review: A Castaway in Cornwall by Julie Klassen
Book Description:
Set adrift on the tides of fate by the deaths of her parents and left wanting
answers, Laura Callaway now lives with her uncle and his disapproving wife in
North Cornwall. There she feels like a castaway, always viewed as an outsider
even as she yearns to belong.
As Laura and a neighbor care for the survivor, they discover he has curious wounds and, although he speaks in careful, educated English, his accent seems odd. Other clues wash ashore, and Laura soon realizes he is not who he seems to be. Despite the evidence against him, the mysterious man might provide her only chance to discover the truth about her parents' fate. With danger pursuing them from every side, and an unexpected attraction growing between them, will Laura ever find the answers she seeks?
My Review:
Cornwall's coast
is fascinating, especially to Laura Callaway. Although she feels like an
outsider in her new home, she fills her days helping others and working to
return lost flotsam and jetsam to the rightful owners. On the day she discovers
a man who has washed ashore, her life changes. Julie Klassen has done her
research in this interesting story of love and loss. I found the characters
compelling and the setting remarkable. Although the book was a bit slow, the
story is well written. Klassen goes into detail to make the reader feel the
chilly coast and the heartache Laura carries. If you enjoy historical fiction
set in England, this is the book for you. I received a complimentary copy of
this item. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.