Some Things Last Forever by Lance Wubbels

Some Things Last Forever is the final book in a four book series entitled The Gentle Hills.  I actually read this book first but when I finished, I really wanted to go back and read the earlier three.  I loved the way that these books were written.  They are Christian fiction and are filled with little nuggets of wisdom for the common person.  I wanted to wait to post this because I didn’t want to ruin the first three books for anyone so I decided to write about them before posting this one.

These books are around World War II.  The Livingston’s are a family made up of two sons, Paul and Terry, and a daughter, Marjie as well as their recently widowed mother, Sarah.  Their family intersects with the MacMillan family consisting of father, Benjamin, and sons, Jack and Jerry.  All the sons in these two families are either currently serving or have served in the military except for Jack.  In this final book of the series, Marjie is married to Jerry and has a little girl named Martha and another on the way.  Benjamin and Sarah have also gotten married.  In this book, the war ends and everyone finds their way back home. 

During the course of these world events there is a couple in the church that is leaving to become missionaries in Japan.  This creates a lot of turmoil since Japan was who bombed Pearl Harbor in World War II.  However, throughout the course of this book you find the characters constantly trying to figure out what in life really matters and what does last forever.  In the end they find that family, friendships, and love are the only things that do indeed last forever.  

You can Buy it here.

Keeper Of the Harvest by Lance Wubbels

Hello again fellow readers!! I have written in the past about the first two books in Lance Wubbels’ The Gentle Hills series.  I have just finished reading the third book in this series entitled, Keeper of the Harvest.  I have really enjoyed all of these books, this one included.

World War II is still raging, while on the Macmillin farm a different war is being waged.  Can the young family survive through an awful thunderstorm causing fire and damage, the sudden stroke of the pastor of the small tightly knitted flock of Christians in the area, and two brothers in the army with one just reported missing in action?  Marjie and Jerry lean upon their faith as time after time they are forced to make a choice between giving up and going on believing that God is in control no matter what the circumstances.

This is a great book that I would highly recommend! You can buy it here.

The Encounter by Stephen Arterburn

“How do you tear down a wall you’ve been building for most of your life? One brick at a time.”  In The Encounter, Stephen Arterburn shares a touching story about betrayal and forgiveness. Although this book is fiction, it was based off of real life events witnessed by the author himself. 

This story is about Jonathan “Gold” Rush; talented, successful, wealthy, but inside something is not right.  After three failed marriages and a suicide attempt, Jonathan goes and speaks with his pastor. The advice he was given; forgive his mother that abandoned him at the age of four. For Jonathan Rush, that was impossible, but something had to change or the hate and anger was going to destroy his life. So at his pastor’s request he travels home to Fairbanks, Alaska to try to locate his mother and somehow understand why she had abandoned him. He learns, in this search for someone he barely knew, that sometimes the things we remember are not exactly how things happened.  With the help of a humble lady named Mercy, Jonathan finds the courage to forgive and make things right with his mother.

Not only is this book about forgiving those that have hurt you; it is also about making amends and forgiving yourself for hurting others.

In many places while reading this book, it could have been me in these situations.  But when someone hurts us, we have to forgive and understand why they did what they did.  Only through forgiveness can we get past the hurt and lead a normal life where the anger and bitterness doesn’t rear up at inopportune times. 

As the author points out, maybe you are rich, able to give blessings to others or maybe you are the poor and can only receive another’s kindness.  But it is possible that you are the person in the middle of the chain of giving. Nobody knows your name but you are being used by God to channel blessings to his most loved children.  God is no respecter of persons, so no matter which one you are; you will be blessed as long as you follow God’s assignment for your life. Always remember to be quick to forgive and slow to anger. You are forgiving not as much for the other person as for your own well being.

I would recommend this book to anyone that has been hurt in the past.  It serves as a good reminder to all of us.  You can buy this book here.

Nearing Home By Billy Graham

There is a way to grow old gracefully. Not all people who age are cantankerous.  There are some people that seem to have that spark, that part of their soul that remains young and no matter how old they become, they still remain sweet and loving, letting the love of Christ shine through.

In his new book, Nearing Home, Billy Graham shares some of the things he has learned on the road to reaching the age of ninety-two.  He starts out this book by stating that “Growing old is not for Sissies.” There are many people that think that death is the absolute end.  But for people that have a relationship with Christ, we know that death is only the beginning of a life that is so much better than what we have here on earth.

He points out that it is the job of the older generation to share their wisdom gained by experience with the younger generation.  Although the body may get weak and tired, there are still many things that an aging person can accomplish.  Graham highlights the lives of many Biblical characters that, even in old age accomplished great things.  Abraham and Sarah had their son of promise at one hundred years old. Barzillai gave shelter and food to King David’s men in the heat of battle during his old age.  David wanted to repay him for his kindness by taking him into the palace and taking care of him for the remainder of his life. 

When I first got this book, I thought I wouldn’t enjoy it. I thought, I’m young; I don’t need to read a book about growing old gracefully. Having read this book, my point of view has changed.  I would recommend this book to anyone. It is easy to read with great stories in a classic Billy Graham style.

You can buy this book here.

Sophie's Merry Christmas by Ruth Driscoll

Sophie’s Merry Christmas by Ruth Driscoll is a book that makes up in depth and wisdom what it lacks in size.  This book is only 40 pages but in those pages, the will of God for His children is abundantly clear. 

Sophie is a tiny speck of moisture that was hand picked by the Father to come to Earth.  On her descent to her “Destiny” the wind slices and cuts through her causing much discomfort and pain but when she looks at herself she realizes that she has transformed from a glob of moisture into a beautiful sparkling snowflake. 

Sophie always had a dream of going and joining all the water in the ocean.  Along the way, all her friends find their destinies riding the wind, sitting on top of a majestic mountaintop, or being thrown by a small smiling child.  Sophie battles the emotions that we all feel of self-pity and fear as she wonders if she will find her “Destiny.”

But as shown in this touching tale, what we think our destiny will be sometimes takes shape in a different shaped package.

 

I think this book is a wonderful reminder that if God cares so much about tiny droplets of water, birds or a horse pulling a sleigh, then how much more does he care for us.  God has deposited gifts and talents in each one of us that will help us on the way to our destiny. Sometimes we must be like Sophie and let go of our comfort zone and relax and ride the wind of God’s presence as He carries us to the place he wants us to land where we can make the most impact.

This book is a must read and I’m sure it will touch your heart as it did mine. I would recommend this book for all ages.  It serves as a good reminder no matter where you are in your journey to your destiny. 

You can visit the website and buy this book here. 

Your Life is Like a Good Book!

Hello again everyone.  I want to take a moment and just share something I have been thinking about these last few days.  I hope it will encourage you.

Life is like a good book.  Everyone has a beginning and an ending but it is what is between the covers that means the most.  When a person gets saved, God takes a pen and writes their name in the Lamb’s book of Life.  All sins are washed clean by the Blood of Jesus.  Getting saved is the first chapter in a great book.

Our lives are like a story.  Each year represents a chapter in this great story.  We have the power to make our story positive or negative by the people we hang out with or the decisions that we make.  Like all good books, there will be tough times and there will be wonderful times.  But just remember to compare your life with the greatest book of all time, the Bible.

God has a great plan for your life.  Seek after him and he will show you which way you are to go.  Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

Let your life be an uplifting, encouraging book to read for everyone who crosses your path.