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Monday, February 28, 2011

Mercy Rising by Amber Robinson


This book is a book packed full of resources right at your finger tips.  If you want to know how you can help make a difference in Global justice then this is the book for you.  The author gives the reader simple ways to practice justice and compassion.  Robinson helps you to see how you live out our faith in a hurting world.  Through simple acts of compassion you can practice justice and show love to a world of people that is hurting.  Share your faith helping others at home and abroad.  Robinson shares with you the why? what? and how? to get involved and do something.  This book is packed full of good information. 

Click here for more information about this book.

A copy of this book was provided for this review by...


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Mailbox Monday ~ Feb. 28, 2011


Join Mailbox Monday meme




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Friday, February 25, 2011

The Touch of the Master's Hand by Myra Brooks Welch



Illustrator Greg Newbold has taken Myra Brooks Welch's 1921 poem The Touch of the Master's Hand and added beautiful illustrations.  This poem is so touching and the illustrations just add to it.  The illustrations are very nostalgic and whimsical as well as colorful. I am so into color and this book has just beautiful pictures.  The pictures are so vibrant and real like.   This classic poem book is one you'll treasure for a long time.   I can't say enough about how well Newbold has brought this book alive with his artistic ability.  You may visit Greg's website here.



Thanks to MediaGuests I am able to give away one copy of The Touch of the Master's Hand to one of my readers.  I will choose one person who leaves a comment.  Visit Greg's web site here and come back and tell me something you found of interest there. I will draw a winner for this book on March 12th.  Be sure to leave contact information. 

Bonus:
+1  follow my blog
+1  subscribe to my blog
+1  follow my Scraps of Life blog
+ 5  post about this giveaway (be sure to leave a link where it is posted at)




to winner

www.bigoo.wswww.bigoo.wswww.bigoo.wswww.bigoo.wswww.bigoo.wswww.bigoo.wswww.bigoo.wswww.bigoo.wswww.bigoo.ws



A copy of this book was provided for this review by Media Guest

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Thursday, February 24, 2011

Operation Bonnet by Kimberly Stuart






This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Operation Bonnet
David C. Cook; New edition (February 1, 2011)
by
Kimberly Stuart


ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Kimberly says:

I am a writer of comedic fiction, and would like to suggest that you laugh regularly when reading my books. Let’s also try for one to two teary moments. If you are crying more than that, you don’t understand my sense of humor and should move on to another author.

I grew up in a book-loving home. Actually, that’s not entirely accurate. My mom loves books. My dad loves to read the first chapters of books and then make us all listen as he recites his favorite passages. I, however, enjoy reading books in their entirety and came into writing as a result of book-love. After earning two fancy degrees in education and Spanish, I promptly let the thinking part of my brain take a breather and instead became pregnant. (I’m sure a lot of other things happened between early literacy and pregnancy but I don’t really remember any of that. If you also have shared your uterus with another human, you understand.)

In an effort to author a book that would entertain my sassy, irreverent, breast-feeding/drooping friends, I wrote my first novel, Balancing Act. People were so nice to me after that, I decided to continue with writing. Also, I can’t craft, knit, or scrapbook, so what else was a nice, Christian girl to do?

In addition to writing books to make my friends laugh and cry, I observe the chaos at the home I share with my unfailingly supportive husband and three offspring. We’re doing our best and so far, no one’s been to prison.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Twenty-year-old Nellie Monroe has a restless brilliance that makes her a bit of an odd duck. She wants to be a private investigator, even though her tiny hometown offers no hope of clients. Until she meets Amos Shetler, an Amish dropout carrying a torch for the girl he left behind.

So Nellie straps on her bonnet and goes undercover to get the dish. But though she’s brainy, Nellie is clueless when it comes to real life and real relationships. Soon she’s alienated her best friend, angered her college professor, and botched her case.

Operation Bonnet is a comedy of errors, a surprising take on love, and a story of grace.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Operation Bonnet, go HERE.

Watch the book video trailer:





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Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Chuck Swindoll's Paws & Tales: God Cares for You DVD


I was so excited after watching the first story on this DVD.  The bible story message is there in cartoon form that is bound to hold your child's attention.  This DVD has two stories on it The Good Shepherd and A Good Foundation.  There are also bonus features of songs the words pop up on the screen with a dot that moves so a child that reads can sing along with the song.  There are also some activity sheets that can be printed off if you put the DVD into your computer and open the adobe file along with adult teaching resources to use with the movie as discussion starters.  The movie can be watched in English or Spanish.  Each movie is about 25 minutes in length.  I applaud Mr. Swindoll and all that had a hand in producing this wonderful Christian bible story movie series.  I look forward to more to come.  Read to the end of this post and find out how you can win a copy. 



Thanks to Tyndale publishing I have a coupon for one of my readers.  You can redeem the coupon at any Christian bookstore that sells Paws & Tales DVD for one free dvd.  This coupon expires April 1st so must be redeemed quickly upon receiving it; therefore, this is going to be a quick giveaway.  I will draw a winner for this coupon on Friday March 4th.  (On the back of the coupon is information for ordering from Tyndale if you don't have a Christian store available.)  Please US residents only thanks.  Please fill out the form below.  Extra entries for being a subscriber and follower to my blog.  bonus entries if you were a follower or subscriber before this giveaway.  **if you came from my Scraps of Life blog tell me in the address section along with your address because I forgot to put a spot in the form for that entry.      


Visit Paws and Tales games here.



to winner


www.bigoo.wswww.bigoo.wswww.bigoo.wswww.bigoo.wswww.bigoo.ws



I copy of this dvd was provided for this review by...

I Review For The Tyndale Blog Network


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Whatcha Reading ~ The Me Project


This is how "Whatcha Reading Wednesdays" works this week...

Go to page 1 type in the first sentence. If it is a spoiler at all be sure to put **Spoiler Alert** at the top of your comment (like if the selection announces the death of an integral character or something).


Link up over at Busy Moms Who Love to Read




Is it possible to have a real life and pursue a dream at the same time?

Visit this book's tour and grand prize giveaway here.


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Tuesday, February 22, 2011

The Me Project by Kathi Lipp



Three Super-Simple Kick Starts to Living Your Dreams
– in the next 15 minutes
by Kathi Lipp

Is there a dream that God has given you, but you are waiting until the kids are grown and you
have money in the bank before you get started?

You may not be able to enroll in a month long pastry making class or take a week off of work to
get started on your novel, but today you can take three little baby steps to making your dream a
day-to-day reality.

1. Go Public with It
It’s a little scary to tell the world what you want to do when you grow up—but this is one
little step could get you closer to living your dream than almost any other. Plus—it takes
very little time and you don’t have to raid your kid’s college fund to make it happen.
When you gather up all your courage and tell your best friend, “I want to learn how to
paint,” suddenly she remembers an old art book she has laying around she would love to
give you, or her friend from church who teaches art classes. The people you know and
love want to be a resource. Give them the privilege of being a part of making your dream
happen.

2. Join an Online Group
This is one of the simplest—and cheapest—ways to start exploring your passion. Find out
who else is talking about restoring antiques and listen to their conversation. Start by
Googling your interest along with the term “online groups.” You will be amazed with the
number of people who want to talk about the proper way to care for 1950’s lunchboxes as
much as you do.

3. Don’t be Afraid to Pray
I remember the first time I put an offer in on a house—I wanted it more than I had
wanted almost anything else in my life. While I knew that I had dozens of other people
praying on my behalf, I was too scared to pray.
I didn’t want God to tell me no. I was afraid to pray until my co-worker Kim asked me
(in a loving, kind way), why I didn’t believe that God wanted His best for me. Don’t be
afraid to pray—as with anything amazing in my life, the path is never what I expected,
but it has always been obvious that God’s hand has been on it the whole way.


21 Days to Living the Life You’ve Always Wanted
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
ISBN-10: 0736929665, ISBN-13: 978-0736929660
Release Date: February 1, 2011
Paperback: 224 pages, Retail: $12.99
(San Jose, CA) Has that rush to make (and break) New Year’s resolutions already waned? According to Daniel Pink, author of Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, taking small steps every day will not only help you stay committed to your goal, but will also help you ultimately achieve that goal when obstacles come up. Author Kathi Lipp wants you and your friends to live out those dreams—and have some fun along the way.

As women, we forget the goals and dreams of our younger years. The busyness of everyday life gets in the way. To-do lists replace goals. The Me Project provides women with fun and creative ways to bring back the sense of purpose and vitality that comes with living out the plans and dreams God has planted in our hearts. Kathi Lipp’s warm tone and laugh-out-loud humor motivates women to take daily steps toward intentional goals. The end result? We get back our lives and enjoy living in the confidence of a purposeful life in spite of our chaotic schedules.

This handy guide coaches women to do one simple thing toward achieving our goals each day for three weeks. A woman experiencing the exhilaration of a rediscovered life offers more as a wife, mother, friend, volunteer, career woman.

Finding the balance between living day-to-day with purpose while pursuing the passions God has placed in our hearts is a delicate pursuit. In this refreshing, insightful book, Kathi lays out a doable plan that makes sense and helps make our God-given dreams a reality. Never stop dreaming, because women who dare to dream do make the world a better place.
—Jean Blackmer
author of MomSense: A Common Sense Guide to Confident Mothering
Publishing Manager, MOPS International www.MOPS.org
Carving some time for your self in the world of multi-tasking modern day women.  Well, Kathi has written a book to help you realize you can have a real life and pursue your dream.  The purpose of Kathi's book is to help women be all that God has designed them to be.  To use your God-given talents and passions.  You gain ideas, strategies and perspective from reading The Me Project.  Kathi gives you tools to get started on that lifetime dream.  Lipp walks you through 21 days of inspirational and encouraging chapters on getting to the ultimate goal, your dream.  She offers you 9 quick steps on getting started on that project you've always dreamed of but never found the time to...So if you love to move toward living a life you've always wanted then pick up a copy of The Me Project and get started. 


Kathi Lipp is a busy conference and retreat speaker, currently speaking each year to thousands of women throughout the United States. She is the author of The Husband Project and The Marriage Project, serves as food writer for Nickelodeon, and has had articles published in several magazines, including Today’s Christian Woman and Discipleship Journal. Kathi and her husband, Roger, live in California and are the parents of four teenagers and young adults. For more information visit her website: www.kathilipp.com

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Grand Prize Giveaway:
Deluxe Starbucks Coffee Gift Basket

* Three 2.5-oz. bags of Starbucks coffee
(Sumatra, House Blend, and French Roast)
* Tazo black tea
* Starbucks marshmallow cocoa
* Almond roca
* Almond roca buttercrunch toffee cookies
* White chocolate and raspberry cookies
* 2 Starbucks mugs
* Keepsake black bamboo basket

$62 value

One person's name who comments on my blog will be selected to go into the grand prize drawing held through KCWC.  I will draw this name on Mar. 4th to send to KCWC for the grand prize drawing to be held on Mar. 7th.  In order to enter the drawing head over to Kathi's website here and look around.  Come back and tell me something interesting you found on her site.  Be sure to leave a way of contact.  Thanks. Open to internationally. 


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A copy of this book was provided for this review by ...


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