Friday, October 28, 2016

An Amish Family Christmas by Shelley Shepard Gray





















From the publisher:
In Shelley Shepard Gray’s fourth book in her Charmed Amish Life series, an unlikely Amish romance reveals that Christmas is a time for family, miracles—and love. 

Ever since his father died in a tragic fire, Levi Kinsinger has felt adrift. Newly returned to Charm, Ohio, Levi is trying to fit into his old life, only to discover he seems to have outgrown it.
But when Julia, his young widowed neighbor, asks for his help with a Christmas project, Levi finds a sense of purpose for the first time in months. She and her daughter are new to Charm and could use a friend, a job Levi takes personally. Soon enough, friendship grows into attraction, but Levi can’t help having doubts. There’s something about Julia that doesn’t ring quite true…

Like Levi, Julia Kemps has survived her fair share of hardships—but only by hiding the truth of her past. Being an unmarried mother in an Amish community was unthinkable. Feeling hopeless, Julia did the only thing she could do: she moved to a new town and pretended to be a widow. But meeting Levi, she’s hopeful for the first time. Little by little, she begins to imagine telling him her darkest secret, and eventually…perhaps even sharing her life with him.
Christmas is a time for family, and as the holiday draws closer, Julia and Levi will have to face their pasts together…in order to find the healing, support and love they so desperately desire.

____________________________

This is the final book in the Charmed Amish Life series and does a nice job of not only telling Levi and Julia's story but wrapping up the other siblings stories and leaving them all together as they should be.

Julia's story is one that is a little more intense as she has a past she is running from that could harm her but as the readers find Levi there to befriend and help her they will feel relief in their friendship for protection for Julia.

I liked that this story taught a lot about not judging others and instead finding ways to support and accep0 tpeople for who they are and where they are emotionally.  Often we try to hide ourselves in order for others to like us but that shouldn't be the case.  I was glad that Gray brought this out in her novel.

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

A Sister's Wish by Shelley Shepard Gray





















From the publisher:

In Shelley Shepard Gray’s third book in her Charmed Amish Life series, a respectable young woman finds herself falling for an Amish man from the wrong side of the tracks.
Amelia Kinsinger is the perfect Amish woman—at least according to her neighbors. And while Amelia takes pride in her role as homemaker, she’s also harboring a secret: She’s been in love with bad boy Simon Hochstetler for as long as she can remember. Too bad he’s about as far from “perfect” as an Amish man could get… but that’s exactly why she’s so drawn to him.

Life hasn’t been kind to Simon. He ran away from an abusive home at fifteen and things went downhill from there. Eventually, Simon landed in prison. But the experience changed him. Now back in Charm as a grown man, he’s determined to make a new life for himself and not think too much about his wild past…unless it pertains to Amelia.

He’s loved Amelia for years. To him, she represents everything good and kind in the world. When he realizes that she returns his affections, he starts calling on her in secret, even though her older brother Lukas—who just happens to be Simon’s best friend—has made it perfectly clear that Amelia deserves better. Simon disagrees and believes he’s the only one who can truly make her happy.

But when Amelia gets hurt, it sets off a chain of events that forces them to consider their future together—and face their past mistakes. There’s a chance for love… but only if Simon dares to trust Amelia with the secrets of his past.

_____________________________

If you have not read the other two book in this series, I highly recommend you reading those before reading this book.  It will help with all the characters and the situations that are dealt with in the book much easier.

This is a small book, like the other three.  Which makes it feel more like a novella than a novel.  For that reason there isn't as much plot development or character depth as a longer novel would have.  However, for what it is, the book is well done.

Readers will cheer for Amelia and Simon and for the things they have to deal with.  Simon's sister Tess is just as much a part of this book as Simon is and it adds to the story by bringing in other view points.

It was hard for me to read about Lukas and Rebecca being so mean, it seemed a bit out of character after reading the other books.  Also, Amelia is a lot more likeable in this book than the others, which could be what the author was going for to help you have different ways of looking at each situation.

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.



Thursday, October 27, 2016

40 Days to a Joyful Motherhood by Sarah Humphrey



This is a perfect gift to give a mother.  Truly, as a mother it is hard to find quiet time but this book might be just what a busy mother needs. 

40 days of one page devotionals along with a page to color and sometimes embellish with your own additions of words or pictures. 

I love that the devotionals do more than just provide a quick read.  They challenge the mother to do something with what they have read.  It could be finding who they are and treating themselves well, or it could be about giving generously to those in their lives.  This sweet book is just about perfect.

I received this book free from the publisher.

Saturday, October 22, 2016

Sound of Silver Birthday Giveaway!

 
Hello and welcome to The Sound of Silver birthday blog tour! I’m posting today about Rachelle Rea Cobb’s second installment in the Steadfast Love series, an inspirational historical romance set during the 16th century!

Rachelle is also the author of The Sound of Diamonds, the first book in the series, and a newlywed! This summer, she married a man with the same first name as the hero of the series! I’m joining in this blog tour to tell you a little more about Silver and spread the news about the rocking giveaway Rachelle is hosting—make sure you enter using the Rafflecopter form to win the lovely necklace pictured and your choice of any of the Steadfast Love titles!



ABOUT The Steadfast Love SERIES

In 16th-century Europe, the Reformation rages between Protestants and Catholics. Gwyneth, half-Dutch, flees from England to Holland to escape the man who murdered her parents. When he follows her there and insists he came to rescue her, will she trust this man called Dirk? When tragedy strikes, will their steadfast love erode?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Times gone by snatch Rachelle Rea Cobb close, so she reads and writes about years long ago--her passions include the Reformation, Revolutions, and romance. Rachelle wrote the Steadfast Love series during college. Five months after she graduated, she signed a three-book deal with her dream publisher, WhiteFire. She's a homeschool grad, Oreo addict, and plots her novels while driving around her dream car, a pick-up truck. In June 2016, she married a man with the same name as her fictional hero, and they live happily ever after in Small Town, South.

AUTHOR LINKS

Instagram: @RachelleReaCobb


ABOUT The Sound of Silver




The stalwart saint and the redeemed rebel. One fights for faith, the other for honor…

After Dirk rescues Gwyneth from the Iconoclastic Fury, she discovers that faith is sometimes fragile—and hope is not as easy as it may seem. Gwyneth continues her quest to learn more about the love of God preached by Protestants she once distrusted.

Meanwhile, Dirk’s quest is to prevent his sullied name from staining hers. Will his choice to protect her prove the undoing of her first faltering steps toward a Father God? Once separated, will Dirk and Gwyneth’s searching hearts ever sing the same song?

Find The Sound of Silver on…
Amazon Paperback: http://is.gd/1HwJoi
Barnes & Noble: http://is.gd/qhoCTc
Books a Million: http://is.gd/M2y5P2

>> And if you want to learn more ABOUT BOOK ONE, The Sound of Diamonds
 



 















 Her only chance of getting home is trusting the man she hates.

With the protestant Elizabeth on the throne of England and her family in shambles, Catholic maiden Gwyneth seeks refuge in the Low Countries of Holland, hoping to soothe her aching soul. But when the Iconoclastic Fury descends and bloodshed overtakes her haven, she has no choice but to trust the rogue who arrives, promising to see her safely home to her uncle's castle. She doesn't dare to trust him...and yet doesn't dare to refuse her one chance to preserve her own life and those of the nuns she rescues from the burning convent.

Dirk Godfrey is determined to restore his honor at whatever cost. Running from a tortured past, Dirk knows he has only one chance at redemption, and it lies with the lovely Gwyneth, who hates him for the crimes she thinks he committed. He must see her to safety, prove to the world that he is innocent, prove that her poor eyesight is not the only thing that has blinded her, but what is he to do when those goals clash?

The home Gwyneth knew is not what she once thought. When a dark secret and a twisted plot for power collide in a castle masquerading as a haven, the saint and the sinner must either dare to hold to hope...or be overcome.

Find The Sound of Diamonds on…
Barnes & Noble: http://is.gd/qhoCTc
Books a Million: http://is.gd/M2y5P2
Goodreads: http://is.gd/F7HILk
 

 
Enter using the Rafflecopter form below to win a beautiful necklace created by Baubles, Beads, and Stuff and your choice of any one of Rachelle’s three books (the series begins in Book One, of course, but in case you have one or two of her books already, Rachelle will gladly send you the next one to read!).


International friends, the paperback & necklace giveaway is open to continental U.S. addresses only (sorry!). But do still enter, because one international winner will also be chosen to receive an e-book.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Link: https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e8cfa9569/

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Where Two Hearts Meet by Liz Johnson




















From the publisher:
In her kitchen at the Red Door Inn, executive chef Caden Holt is calm, collected, and competent. But when her boss asks her to show off their beautiful island to impress a visiting travel writer and save the inn, Caden is forced to face a world much bigger than her kitchen--and a man who makes her wish she was beautiful.

Journalist Adam Jacobs is on a forced sabbatical on Prince Edward Island. He's also on assignment to uncover a story. Instead he's falling in love with the island's red shores and Caden's sweets.

When Caden discovers Adam isn't who she thought he was, she realizes that the article he's writing could do more than ruin the inn's chances for survival--it might also break her heart.

Readers will discover hope for the hurting, joy for the broken, and romance for the lonely at the enchanting Red Door Inn.
_____________________

I finished this book today and I really cannot think of enough ways to say it was wonderful.  I love the writing and story telling of Liz Johnson.  Her depiction of Caden and Adam and their connection was sublime. 

Caden is impact and yet perfect.  She isn't slim and sexy, but loves to cook and eat.  She is human like we all are. Her insecurities are something readers will relate to.  I love that Adam looks not "beyond" Caden's outward appearance but instead sees her as she is and calls her beautiful.  The development of their feelings for each other was well done and realistic.  I loved it.

There was some deep spiritual issues in this book as well.  About self-worth, forgiveness, and grace.  Liz Johnson handled these with care and grace.  This book is truly stunning. 

I highly recommend this book (and the one before it!)

I wish the Red Door Inn was real and I could go visit.

I received this book free from the publisher and was not required to write a positive review.

The Cottage by Michael Phillips



From the publisher:

Michael Phillips Continues His Sweeping Shetland Islands Saga
When Loni Ford is informed that she has inherited property in the Shetland Islands, she laughs. She wants nothing more than to sell it and be done with it. But when she arrives in the North Sea enclave, she is stunned to find that "the Cottage" is not at all what she expected, nor is David Tulloch, the man most of the islanders believe to be the rightful heir.

The locals could hardly be more surprised that the heir is a woman--and an American. Loni, in turn, finds the islanders quaint and a bit behind the times. Expecting David to be as provincial as the rest of his clan, she discovers that there is far more to the man than meets the eye. And there is something about the peaceful atmosphere of the place--and the character of its most prominent citizen--that soon gets under her skin. 

Beneath the peaceful surface, however, change is threatening the island of Whale's Reef. David's cousin Hardy Tulloch, whose claim to the inheritance now in Loni's hands was backed by oil investors, has not been deterred in his aim to control the island. But his co-conspirators have plans of their own, plans that put Loni's very life in danger.

____________________________

Do you long to roam the countryside of the Shetland Islands?  Do you want to take your time strolling through the hills and country and really soak up the history?  If you are looking for that, then this is your book!  Michael Phillips lets the story flow like a quiet stream.  There are a few rocks along the way but it isn't in any rush to just tell the story.  Instead there is a weaving in and out, the language and artistry in his writing allow the reader to slow down and keep pace with the unfolding story.  You must let the story unfold to really enjoy it. 

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Wild Montana Skies by Susan May Warren



From the publisher:

Search and rescue pilot Kacey Fairing is home on leave in Mercy Falls, Montana, twelve years after she joined the military to escape the mistakes of her past. With a job waiting for her as the new lead pilot of Peak Rescue in Glacier National Park, Kacey hopes to reconnect with the now-teenage daughter she sees only between deployments. What she doesn't realize is that someone else is also back in town.

Ben King has been building his country music career since the day Kacey shut him out of her life. Now all of that's on hold when his injured father calls him home to help run Peak Rescue until he's fully recovered. It doesn't take long, though, to discover his father's ulterior motives as Kacey Fairing walks into the house and back into his heart.

With Mercy Falls in a state of emergency due to flash floods, Kacey and Ben are forced to work together to save lives. But when floodwaters turn personal, can they put aside the past to save their future?

______________________

I was drawn in by the first chapter and loved this story.  I enjoy stories about lost loves and then having the chance to find them again.  This had many added twists to that simple idea but I enjoyed them.

I liked that Kacey was strong, she flies rescue helicopters, and yet is also soft and open to love from her daughter and possibly Ben King.  Kacey and Ben's story will have you rooting for them to really come to terms with the past and see into a new future.

There are a lot of characters in this first book but I believe that's because Susan May Warren is setting them up for other books. And for that I am VERY excited! 

There was a secondary plot line about Sierra and Ian and I am eager to read more about their story and Sam's. 

I received this book free from the publisher and was not required to write a positive review.

A Royal Christmas Wedding by Rachel Hauck



From the publisher:
College volleyball star Avery Truitt has not seen her former flame, Prince Colin of Brighton Kingdom, since he suddenly pushed her away five years ago. But now, the sadness of losing her father and the joy of her sister Susanna’s pregnancy have brought Avery back to Brighton just in time for Cathedral City’s enchanting Christmas season.
Avery knows she can’t avoid seeing Colin—now the Kingdom’s most eligible bachelor—whether or not her heart is ready to relive the pain. But seeing him again might bring her the closure she needs after all this time.
When Colin finds himself at the center of a centuries-old Brighton tradition, he must decide whether to follow the path laid out before him or follow his heart to the only woman for whom he would ring the Pembroke Chapel Bell.
Can Colin convince Avery to meet him at the chapel on Christmas morning—as tradition dictates—or will Avery run back to her St. Simons home and pursue a coaching career as planned?
In the fourth installment of the Royal Wedding Series, New York Times bestselling novelist, Rachel Hauck, weaves a charming story of holiday romance as two broken hearts seek the love they once knew.

_____________________________

Rachel Hauck is my go to for happily-ever-after.  And I have adored her Royal Wedding Series.  So I was extra pleased to see this book come out, because if you have read the first book then you know that Avery and Colin's romance began then.

That being said, I definitely recommend reading all the previous books before this book--not only because it will help you understand the characters better but because they are wonderful as well. 

Avery and Colin are enchanting and makes you want to be swept into their world.  A lot has changed for them in five years yet true-love remains.  There is romantic tension in the book and through out you will be cheering them on in their quest to find and keep true-love.

I received this book free from the publisher and was not required to write a positive review.

Book Pack Giveaway!

https://promosimple.com/ps/a725

https://promosimple.com/ps/a725

Everything Beautiful: A Coloring Book for Inspiration and Reflection




This beautiful book can be a way for you to find that peace a quiet you need.  I know that sometimes I feel like my head is just spinning from all that needs to be done but what I really need it to be quiet and focus on God.  This coloring book can be a way to do that.

Each page has quotes from either hymns, Scripture, preachers, writers, or teachers.  The quotes might be what you need for that day or week and as you color it you can allow that truth to seep into your soul.

I like to listen to my audio Bible when I color but another beautiful part about this book is that they have a Spotify playlist for you to listen to while you color.  This music will draw you closer to God and quiet your soul as you color.

I received this free from the publisher.

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Cautious Maiden Prize Pack Giveaway!



There are TWO prize packages for The Cautious Maiden by Dawn Crandall.  Enter below until November 4th!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

The Cautious Maiden by Dawn Crandall





















From the publisher:
Violet Hawthorne is beyond mortified when her brother Ezra turns their deceased parents' New England country inn into a brothel to accommodate the nearby lumberjacks but when Violet's own reputation is compromised, the inn becomes the least of her worries. In an effort to salvage her good name, Violet is forced into an engagement with a taciturn acquaintance;Vance Everstone. As she prepares for a society wedding, Violet learns that her brother had staked her hand in marriage in a heated poker game with the unsavory Rowen Steele, and Ezra had lost. Now Rowen is determined to cash in on his IOU. With danger stalking her and a new fiancé who hides both his emotion and his past, Violet must decide who to trust; and who to leave behind.
_____________________

This is the fourth book in the Everstone Chronicles and it is my favorite! 

Vance.  I know you are supposed to hate him at least in book two of this series, but I had a soft spot for him.  And then, to read this book....brilliance and totally happiness for my romantic heart.

Violet Hawthrone is a perfect character.  She is genuine and her character was a pleasure to read.  She isn't defeated by the changes in her life and instead innocently and bravely goes forward.  The coming together of her vulnerability, innocent, and bravery with Vance's dark past, his present conversion, and intensity is something amazing to read.  Both characters have flaws in them that conflict with the other but you cannot help but cheer for them.  I devoured this book as I wanted to know the finishing story for Vance and Violet and loving each page as I read.

I love the lessons Vance and Violet learn together.  Spiritually forgiveness and redemption and new life are things all Christians have to deal with and it was well written and dealt with, especially with some difficult topics.

I enjoyed reading more about previous characters from the other books and learning more about their stories.  As the Everstones are family it was great to read more about them.  Again, Dawn Crandall is great with secondary characters and it left me hoping and wanting her to write more to this series to bring other character's stories to life. 

I loved Vance and Violet's story and I think you will too!

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Waves of Mercy by Lynn Austin





















From the publisher:

Geesje de Jonge crossed the ocean at age seventeen with her parents and a small group of immigrants from the Netherlands to settle in the Michigan wilderness. Fifty years later, in 1897, she's asked to write a memoir of her early experiences as the town celebrates its anniversary. Reluctant at first, she soon uncovers memories and emotions hidden all these years, including the story of her one true love.

At the nearby Hotel Ottawa Resort on the shore of Lake Michigan, twenty-three-year-old Anna Nicholson is trying to ease the pain of a broken engagement to a wealthy Chicago banker. But her time of introspection is disturbed after a violent storm aboard a steamship stirs up memories of a childhood nightmare. As more memories and dreams surface, Anna begins to question who she is and whether she wants to return to her wealthy life in Chicago. When she befriends a young seminary student who is working at the hotel for the summer, she finds herself asking him all the questions that have been troubling her.

Neither Geesje nor Anna, who are different in every possible way, can foresee the life-altering surprises awaiting them before the summer ends.

___________________________________

This period of history is not something I have read a lot about but my heart resonated with the immigrants from the Netherlands as my heritage is from the Netherlands.  To read the history and lives of these strong and beautiful people was an honor. 

Lynn Austin is an author who writes real life.  Her stories are ones that show the pain of life, the struggles of faith, and the love of God that holds onto us even when we ignore Him.

This isn't the story where life is tied up in a neat bow at the end of it.  It is a story of struggle and heartache.  Yet, isn't that where so many of us are?  In the midst of pain and suffer that we cry out to God for direction and comfort? 

Anna and Geesje are woman who have been disappointed with love, faith, and life but they continue despite it all.  The journey that they take you on will not be easy but it can give you hope.  With Lynn Austin's masterful storytelling the lives of Anna and Geesje will come to life and in their stories I believe many will find hope for themselves.

I highly recommend you taking this journey with Anna and Geesje.

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Newton and Polly by Jody Hedlund





















From the publisher:
Now remembered as the author of the world’s most famous hymn, in the mid-eighteenth century as England and France stand on the brink of war, John Newton is a young sailor wandering aimlessly through life. His only duty is to report to his ship and avoid disgracing his father—until the night he hears Polly Catlett’s enchanting voice, caroling. He’s immediately smitten and determined to win her affection.

An intense connection quickly forms between the two, but John’s reckless spirit and disregard for the Christian life are concerns for the responsible, devout Polly. When an ill-fated stop at a tavern leaves John imprisoned and bound, Polly must choose to either stand by his side or walk out of his life forever. Will she forfeit her future for the man she loves?

Step back through the pages of history, to uncover the true love story behind a song that continues to stir the hearts and ignite the faith of millions around the globe.

___________________________________

Jody Hedlund always impresses me with her historical research.  I had no idea that John Newton was ever married or that it played such a role in his salvation and change of heart.

I learned a lot about sailors and shipping routes and the lives that many sailors led.  I also felt that my eyes were opened to the history of the times that Newton and Polly lived.  Readers will be gripped with the story of John and Polly.  Besides their growing love there are world events happening that are shaping the world around them.

Hedlund's author notes at the end of the book surprised me as I learned more about Newton.  She makes me want to get a biography of John Newton's life and reader it and I feel that is one of the best compliments a reader can give, when they make you want to dig deeper into the lives of the characters.

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Q & A with Francine Rivers author of Earth Psalms

Q & A with Francine Rivers
Author of Earth Psalms

Image result for francine rivers
New York Times bestselling author Francine Rivers has published numerous novels—all bestsellers—and she has continued to win both industry acclaim and reader loyalty around the globe. Her Christian novels have been awarded or nominated for numerous honors and in 1997, after winning her third RITA Award for Inspirational Fiction, Francine was inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame. Francine’s novels have been translated into over 40 different languages, and she enjoys bestseller status in many foreign countries.

1.    What motivated you to venture into your first nonfiction title?

I love reading nonfiction but had never tackled it. When I shared with someone in South Africa about doing “earth psalms” about the way God speaks to me through His creation, someone mentioned turning those essays into a devotional. I love devotionals and read a new one every year, so the prospect of writing one was exciting. Tyndale partnered me with Karin Stock Buursma and we worked together as a team. I thoroughly enjoyed everything about the project.

2.    Was it hard to share personal stories about how God has worked in your life without the safety net of fictionalization?

Sharing personal stories about how God works in my life is a pleasure, and I love hearing how God has worked in other people’s lives, too. It’s the life experiences and hope we share with one another that brings God even closer. It shows how personally involved the Lord is in His children’s lives.

3.    Explain the title. How did you come up with the idea of Earth Psalms?

A psalm is a song, and the earth and everything on it, in it, above it, and beyond it is God’s creation. Everything God created sings praise to Him, and I believe also teaches us many lessons about our Creator as well. It’s exciting to look at things we might have taken for granted and see what they teach us about the Lord. We are never to worship any created thing or even creation itself. We are to worship the Creator, Jesus Christ, the Word that created it all.

4.    What will readers find inside the pages of Earth Psalms?

Readers will find an earth psalm (essay) about something God has created and a lesson God has taught me through it. There are questions for readers to ponder or use for journaling: Reflect, Apply, Connect with God. There are also some additional facts, Scripture, and hymns, as well as beautiful pictures. The earth psalm essay was my part. The enriching questions and details are Karin’s, and the beautiful artwork was put together by Jennifer Ghionzoli at Tyndale.

5.    What was it like working with a collaborator for the first time?

Working with Karin Stock Buursma was a pleasure. We talked about any editing that needed to be done, the questions and elements of the devotional. I hope to work with her again.

6.    What is your hope for this book?

I hope readers will look at ordinary things (and some not so ordinary) in a new way and search for ways God speaks to us through His creation. Just as an artist reveals himself through his art, God has given us evidence of Himself in everything He’s created. We are to be good stewards of what God has given us. Nature is to be enjoyed and appreciated. It all points to Him.

7.    Why do you think Christians need to hear this message?

We live in a busy world, and even Christians can get in such a rush they forget to “stop and smell the roses.” Imagine that wonderful scent reminding you that the prayers of believers are like the scent of incense to God. I hope readers will slow down, look around, discover the beauty, and then praise God for all the many blessings He has given us. And then, start looking for ways God speaks to each individual through His creation. The essays I’ve written are lessons I’ve learned, but God has things to point out to each individual that speak to their personal lives.

8.    How do you hope your message will resonate with your readers?

I know many other people who love the natural world and see how it is evidence of God as Creator of all. I hope this devotional will encourage them to rejoice and look for and share how God speaks to them. There are so many mysteries that can’t be explained by evolution, but can easily be explained by God. We have the inside story of how the earth was made, and our place in it.

9.    What first sparked your love of the natural world and when did you begin to connect its role to your faith walk?

Both of my parents loved nature. My dad loved to fish. So whenever we traveled, we camped by a stream, lake, or the ocean. While Dad and my brother fished, Mom and I wandered the shore, looking at rocks and flowers, keeping an eye out for animals. We also lived a couple miles outside a small town, and our entertainment was hiking and exploring. My parents were Christians, active in the church, so I grew up knowing God created the world and everything in, on, and above it. My views temporarily shifted in high school and college, where evolution was (and still is) being promoted as “the answer” to how things came to be. But the closer you look at that theory, the more illogical it becomes, the more holes you find in the thinking. Looking for evidence of God in creation became important because I wanted to pass along that mind-set to my children and grandchildren.

10.  How can exploring nature and God’s creation help to expand our love for Him and result in a closer relationship with our Creator?

I start with the thought: God created this thing, and there is a purpose in it and for it. What does this unique creation say about God? What lesson might He be trying to teach me through this plant or animal? The world is full of evidence and clues, and they all point to Him. It’s a treasure hunt! You have to spend more time with the Lord to find answers. As we ask our questions and seek answers from Him, He gives us the ability to find what He wants us to know. We are blessed that God wants us to have a personal, intimate relationship with Him and has made that possible through His Son, Jesus.

11.  What does nature reveal about our creative and generous God? How might these lessons and observations shape our faith?

Searching for earth psalms has encouraged my faith in the Lord. God has been generous in His creation. He’s given us vast variety and diversity. He’s given us color and shape and texture. We haven’t even begun to fully explore the wonder of His creation. It’s only been in recent history that we’ve “discovered” black holes and nebulae and dwarf stars. We haven’t even seen all the things on the ocean floor. Everything was made by God, an endless wonderland of things to study and explore, all to the glory of God, who made it all.

12.  How have you seen God’s character and faithfulness demonstrated in nature?

The seasons play out the Gospel every year. He gives us the air we need to breathe, the rain to grow the food we eat, the time and eternity to know Him. The one constant is the Lord, who existed before creation and will always be.

13.  God’s glory is manifested in nature all around us. How can we tune into His glorious message? What do you do to discover Earth Psalm moments?

We tune in by praying and reading His Word and asking Him to open our eyes, ears, and hearts to what He has for us. Then we look and listen with hearts fixed on Him. When we discover something that has a lesson for us, we give thanks to God for that lesson. And then we share it with others.

14.  What have your observations about nature taught you about God?

My observations about nature have taught me how much God loves me and every person on the planet. He could have created a simple, functional, plain planet for us to live on. Instead, He created one filled with beautiful, interesting things from the bottom of the oceans to the mountaintops and beyond. It makes my heart ache sometimes that my love is so limited by my human nature. He’s given us so much, gifts beyond counting. Enjoying nature makes me love and praise Him all the more.

15.  What lessons have been most surprising as you dig into the world God created?

God even teaches us valuable lessons through beetles and worms!

16.  You’ve traveled a lot. Do you have favorite places you love to explore over and over again?

My own backyard.

17.  What’s your favorite destination, and do you have a place you’ve always wanted to go?

After Rick’s diagnosis of Parkinson’s, we decided to travel as much as possible while we are physically able, and have done so extensively over the last ten years. We still have a list of places we’d like to visit, many of which are right here in California. The favorite destination of any trip always comes at the end—home. And the one place I’ve always wanted to go—and stay—is heaven.

Image result for francine rivers earth psalms
Earth Psalms by Francine Rivers
ISBN: 978-1-4964-1485-4 
Hardcover: $16.99 | Pages: 224
October 2016
Tyndale.com