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The Grumble-Free Year by Tricia Goyer

Nov5

Change Your Life

The Grumble-Free Year by Tricia Goyer is a powerful book that has the power to change your life. For a whole year Tricia Goyer and her family practiced being grateful and tried not to grumble. Their results are recorded within the book.

Grumbling can destroy relationships. It achieves nothing. Having an attitude of gratitude in us will build others up. This book explains what the Goyer family did and what they learned along the way.

Tricia Goyer writes in a personable way. The book feels like a letter from a friend as we eaves drop on the Goyer family. Each chapter ends with reflective questions and suggestions as to how we can live grumble free.

It is important to set goals. We can always choose our responses. So choose joy and do not grumble. Remember “our thoughts are just thoughts, not facts.” Do not let your thoughts drag you down.

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Many Hands Make Light Work by Cheryl Stritzel McCarthy

Oct27

The Family That Works, Rests And Prays Together

Many Hands Make Light Work by Cheryl Stritzel McCarthy is a wonderful family memoir about growing up in a Christian family in the 1960’s and 1970’s.

The author is one of nine children who had what sounds like The Waltons type childhood. Mum and Dad happily welcomed strangers into their home in the form of a series of college students needing board and lodgings.

As with all large families, a degree of organisation is needed to function. The family all pulled together to keep everything running smoothly.

I loved the idea that the family sang together as they worked together. I even found myself singing along in my head as I read! Some songs did create moments of hilarity too.

Prayer, church attendance and God were all present in the children’s lives as good strong influences on the adults they became.

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52 Weekly Devotions For Families Called To Serve by Karen Whiting

Sep21

A Real Gem

52 Weekly Devotions For Families Called To Serve by Karen Whiting – wow what an absolute gem for families. It is beautifully presented with colour to draw the reader in. It is recommended for families with children aged 4 – 12 years but I think you could push those boundaries as you are never too old or too young to learn about God. The devotional is aimed at families who serve but all families would benefit from time spent with God.

As the title suggests there are 52 devotions to cover the whole year. There is no official starting point so you can begin at any time of year. Each devotion has a family beatitude, focus and weekly Bible verse as a header. Then there are activities, a read aloud devotion and a Bible story connection. Then there are Biblical quotes with discussion points or questions as starting points for conversation. Each devotion ends with scrapbook suggestions, tips and a prayer. It may sound like a lot but each devotion is spread over just four pages for the whole week. You can do as much or as little as you have time for.

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Test Of Faith by Bonnie S Hirst

Sep21

Inspirational Faith

Test Of Faith: Surviving My Daughter’s Life Sentence by Bonnie S Hirst is the true story of the remarkable faith of a mother whose daughter is serving a life sentence. This book is truly inspiring. At times there are naturally wobbles in the author’s faith but she clings to the hope that God is good. Circumstances may be awful but God is still good.

There are times when Bonnie Hirst asks “Where are You, God?” Sometimes it feels like God is absent but God never leaves us. He sends people alongside us at just the right time to support us.

Prayer is important. When our prayers are seemingly unanswered, it is normal to wonder “Did I not pray correctly?” Prayer is not a magic formula nor a lamp to be rubbed. Prayer is always answered in God’s way and in His timing. Prayer should come from the heart. It may be as simple as “Dear Lord be with us.”

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