And The Word Came With Power

This missionary story is a read aloud in our Core C Curriculum with Sonlight.

Where do I even begin! If you claim Christ, you NEED to read this book. If you don't claim Christ I highly recommend you read this book. 

I have known so many foreign missionaries in my life, and all of them have amazing stories of the work God is doing in the areas where they are serving. This book is no different. Joanne is called to go to the mission field  and after many interesting adventures God calls her to the Philippines to work on Bible translation. How she gets there shows you how God works in all kinds of ways to prepare us for the work He has planned for us to do. 

After she and her translation partner, Anne, reached their people group, they saw just how much work there was to be done. They had to learn a new language, culture and help in many ways, especially medically, in this remote island village. They were among a head hunting, fierce group of people, that welcomed them into their area with hesitation because of them being women. A local leader adopted them and through many a blunder, they became part of his family. 

Jo tells how she worked and told the Gospel as she learned the language. She tells of her difficulties and her sin as she learned a new culture. She learned about the spirit world, the one we westerns like to pretend doesn't exist. She learned what demon possession and oppression looked like first hand and she learned how to pray as she taught others about the God who is over all of the evil spirits. 

To hear the power of God told in such a simple yet powerful way was overwhelming and absolutely beautiful! Tears often filled my eyes as I read the miracles of God told again. This book is a must read for anyone who wants to know more about the power of God who defeats the devil and gives salvation to sinful man. 

Words are not adequate enough to explain the extraordinary story in this book that so seamlessly weaves in the THE Grand story of all time woven and told by the God of the universe. I cannot recommend it enough!

10 Stars for this powerful read!

Gladys Aylward: The Adventure of a Lifetime

 This missionary biography is a part of our Core C history read aloud with our Sonlight curriculum.

I have heard bits of Gladys Aylward's story before, but this book was absolutely mind blowing! This little woman who was rejected my mission agencies because of age and lack of proficiency in anything but house cleaning worked hard and bought her own ticket to China. On the way she is derailed by the war between Russia and China. Held essentially hostage by the Russians, God miraculously gets her to China where she travels nearly the length of the country north to south to find the woman she is planning to work with. After establishing an inn in a small village with her mission partner, Glady earns the respect of the mandarin of her village and is given a government job with personal security and is able to share the Gospel with thousands all over that region. 

After a few years, WWII breaks out with Japan invading China. At this time Gladys is the "mother" of many orphaned children and she must take care of them in the midst of turmoil beyond comprehension. Near the end of the war she leads nearly a hundred children across the vast countryside of China in a way that only God could lead in. She was an incredible and brave woman of God who was willing to do whatever it took to bring the Gospel to China. We can all learn so much from her. This book had me in tears as I beheld the glory of God shown in the determination of one woman to bring God the glory and honor He alone is due.

5 stars for this incredible biography. I cannot recommend it enough!

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

The sixth installment of the Harry Potter Series was better than I remembered! It is such a challenge to review these books without spoilers in case the reader has yet to experience this fantastic story-telling. 

This one shows us a little more of the pieces that make up Lord Voldemort, the Dark Lord of the wizarding world and what is going to need to be done to defeat him. Alongside this fascinating and even tragic storyline, we see the main characters growing, maturing (or not in some cases) and learning what it takes to do what needs to be done.

Rowling is a master story teller in the secular realm. Even knowing these stories and how the book would end, I was hooked on every page, looking at every detail to piece together the intricacies of this fantasy world. Without knowing it, she gives a nod to THE Master Storyteller as she sets up the final battle of good vs evil. 

As with all books of this nature, parental advisory is warned in reading this book with children. As the characters age so does their language and situations. They are minimal, thankfully, with little to note. If you're reading aloud you can simply skip the words and still keep the message and story of the book.

I absolutely love this book from a secular standpoint and recommend it for enjoyment or study.

5 stars!

QBQ! The Question Behind the Question

 I have so many books to review right now! This one was recommended to me by my sweet friend Katie Hornor and it was what I needed. In fact I read it in September and I already need to read it again!!! I probably need to read it every week if I'm honest. 

This book is super practical, as well as a quick and easy read. It's also extremely to the point and convicting if you have a problem with complaining or blame shifting like me. QBQ! tells it like it is and bust opens all of the lies that we believe or have been taught about personal accountability and doing what we say we're going to do. This book stepped all over my toes as there are so many things that are victim mentality that I did not recognize because they're so ingrained in me and in the culture in which we live. 

I highly recommend this book. It is not Christian in nature, but the concept is certainly Biblical and needs to be applied to all areas of life. 

5 Stars for this life read

My Reading Life Challenge

 As I have posted I enjoy using the categories of several reading challenges to help with my book choices throughout the year. This year is no different. 

However one challenge this year was completely different in its structure: Modern Mrs. Darcy My Reading Life Challenge.

This one surprised me in a very good way. While she has previously given categories for the twelve books in her challenge, this year she left it up to you. But you don't choose just any categories your want, instead she has provided a packet to work through asking about why you want to read more, what you need in your reading life and how to incorporate books into your life in other ways. It is extremely creative and really made me think about reading and why I want to read. 

While I still struggled with my categories, I have selected my twelve for the year that are a reflection of some of the books I'm already planning to read and others that I want to read that I keep putting off. So for accountability I'm putting my categories here and planning to read these types of books this year.

My Reading List:

1. Non Mainstream Classic
2. Fantasy
3. A Book Previously Abandoned
4. A Business Book
5. A Book I've Been Meaning to Read
6. A Biography
7. A Book I Chose for the Cover
8. A Book Chosen by Jim
9. A Book that Intimidates Me
10. Youth Fiction
11. A Book I've Read Before
12. A Classic I Didn't Read in School

While there is certainly crossover in categories from other challenges I'm working on, I chose these because of the answers to the other questions I worked through in the packet. Some of the books I have already picked out as well. Let's see how I do!

If you were making your own challenge, what categories would you chose?

Even More Reading Challenges

 So right now you may thing I'm a bit psycho, but honestly I love reading challenges, seeing the categories and seeing how what we're reading fits or giving me ideas for different things that I might not read. Jami Balmet had links to two other challenges that I took a peek at. 

1. 2021 Intentional By Grace Reading Challenge- This one looks so fun. It has a guided outline if you're wanting to ease into a reading challenge and has three levels of books. Leigh Ann advises walking through the first 13 categories and working into the other two if you are growing in reading up to 52 books for the year. I'm skipping around since I had already started other challenges but there are great categories.

This challenge has many categories that my novel, Together or Apart, would apply to. Why don't you check it out!

2. The Anchored Women Book Club- This challenge has a book each month that they have picked. Because I'm reading books with my children as well as trying to read the books on my shelves, I'm not sure if I will read any of the books this hear, but there are several on this list I would like to read.

So many choices for challenges! I love reading challenges!

More Reading Challenges

Reading! It's one of our favorite past times in the Manor Manor (when we remember that we enjoy it better than watching something! 😆) This year I really want us to get back into reading more both as individuals and as a family. In fact, the kids and I have already read three books this year that are more that a children's book intended for one sitting. 

Per usual I am attempting the Back to the Classics Challenge and I'm excited to hopefully succeed in finishing and posting a summary this year!

For additional challenges I am using the three I have used previously (but I'm also going to look at a couple of others that are recommended for other ideas!)

1. Tim Challies 2021 Reading Challenge has up to 104 books. Though my goal for this year on Goodreads is 55, I hope to read closer to 104. If I count board books I'll definitely reach that number! 😂 But in all seriousness between read alouds with the children and taking a little time to read each day I'd like to blaze by 55 to 104 even if they don't fit his categories perfectly.

If you're needing a book to fit into the category for Book Published in 2020 or 2021 you can get my book Together or Apart in print or on Kindle.

2. Modern Mrs. Darcy The 2021 MMD Reading Challenge is a little different this year. She is providing worksheets to help you figure out your reading goals and design a reading life. I'm not 100% sure what this is going to entail as I have not fully looked at the sheets yet, but I'm excited to delve in and grow in my reading life this year.

3. The Christian Reading Challenge 2021 with Jami Balmet from Young Wife's Guide has always been interesting to me, even when I fail to read the books on her list. This year they have combined the men's and women's challenges into one and have not given book titles for the specific categories. Instead there are recommendations for each category listed on the website which I may or may not read this year, but will take note of for the future if I don't. 

My book, Together or Apart, can be used for Christian fiction, which is a new category for her challenge this year!

Jami has listed other challenges I'd like to check out, but this is a good start as between the three a LOT of ground is covered!

So what are you reading??? Join me, won't you!