Tag Archive | Bethany House

In Search Of A Prince by Toni Shiloh

Sep7

Trust In His Leading

In Search Of A Prince by Toni Shiloh is a contemporary Christian novel that completely enthralled me. It is a modern-day fairytale set in a fictional African island. There are all the elements of a traditional fairytale to entertain the reader, with the added bonus of being grounded in God.

We see the importance of knowing God and walking with Him daily. “Lord God, please be there in the midst of us.” We know that when God is beside us, all will be well. “God had us in the palm of His hand, I didn’t need to worry.” When we have faith in God, there is no room for worry or fear.

A character has to make a life-changing decision. She seeks God, who ‘speaks’ through dreams. She knows that “whatever He called me to, He would equip me.” God will always give us just what we need as we walk through life with Him.

When God has called us, He will help us to fulfill His will for our lives. “Please empower me with Your words.” Being inside the will of God is the safest place to be.

Even when we do God’s will and follow His plans for our lives, life is not always easy. “God did not promise easy, but He did promise to be with us.” God will never leave us to face life alone. When we walk through the fires, He will be with us. We must “have faith in God’s calling.”

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A Season Of Harvest by Lauraine Snelling with Kiersti Giron

Aug26

Blessed Beyond Measure

A Season Of Harvest by Lauraine Snelling with Kiersti Giron is the final book in Leah’s Garden series. It is a wonderful, warm historical Christian novel and set in 1868.

Each book in the series has focused on one of the four Nielson sisters, it is the turn of Lark, the eldest, in this book. Lark has always been a mother hen, looking out for others. She feels that she is destined to be alone, locking her heart up inside in order to protect. Her independence even draws her away from the gifts that God has for her, as she does not believe she is worthy to receive them.

Another character is also a loner, riddled with guilt that is left over from the American Civil War. He believes that he does not deserve love, finding it easier to keep moving – but he, too, will miss out on God’s best for him.

We all have a past. We must not live there but we can learn lessons from our past. “The past is behind us, but it mold shapes us.”

Prayer is important. “Lord… too much swirled in his mind and heart to find the words to pray just now. Good thing the Almighty didn’t require them.” Sometimes there are no words, but God knows just what is in our hearts.

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Fields Of Bounty by Lauraine Snelling with Kiersti Giron

Aug26

A Fresh Hope For Tomorrow

Fields Of Bounty by Lauraine Snelling with Kiersti Giron is a marvellous Christian historical novel that will leave you smiling. It is the third book in Leah’s Garden series but can be read as a stand-alone. I recommend reading the books in order as each one follows on from the previous books. This one is set in 1867.

Once more we join the four Nielsen sisters as they continue to make their lives in a new prairie town. Each book focuses on a different sister. It is Lilac, the youngest, in this book.

We see how life is not always fair, but God is always faithful. We question why bad things happen to the faithful people of God. We do not know the answer but “this hasn’t taken Him by surprise.” God sees our end from our beginning. It is in the hard times that we learn and we grow.

New life is springing up in all its forms – from livestock to crops to babies. Everything is multiplying. We need to remember that all good things come from our Father. “I can’t say thank you enough. Our Father is so gracious.” God longs and delights to give us good gifts.

It is important to start the day right and to dedicate it to God. “He headed over without his usual morning time of devotions today… It was never wise to head into battle unprepared.” Each day presents us with challenges. We need to be grounded in God in order to have the right frame of mind.

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A Time To Bloom by Lauraine Snelling with Kiersti Giron

Aug19

Trusting In His Timing

A Time To Bloom by Lauraine Snelling with Kiersti Giron is a most delightful Christian historical novel that I adored. It is the second book in Leah’s Garden series but can be read as a stand-alone. I recommend reading book one first as book two starts where the former book ended in 1866.

As the novel opens, the four sisters are settled in the ever-growing frontier town. A wonderful community pulls together but the town is not without its’ problem element. An alcohol tent attracts those looking drown their sorrows as well as those who just like drinking. We see the dangers of alcohol as it changes characters, blighting the lives of others.

Prairie life is hard. Crops face the elements of nature and natural pests. Farmers and their families have to be built of firm stuff, able to pick themselves up and start again.

The church is important and the building is already built. It shares its space with the village school but the teacher desires her own building. She is persistent with her wishes.

We see that the church is so much more than bricks and mortar. The church is the people. It is people who serve each other and God.

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