Monday, November 20, 2017

The Sacred Slow by Dr Alicia Britt Chole

The Sacred Slow by Dr Alicia Britt Chole is a book which can be used as a personal devotional or a guide for small groups to use.  This guide book will help you to get close to God in a way you never have completed before.  This book will guide you to finding the love that only God has for you.  This book is divided into 52 experiences which you can divide into 52 weeks of study or 12 weeks of study.  Personally I divided it into 12 weeks of study as I went through the series.  This book invites you to look inside yourself and see the true you--not the you that you wish you were nor the unlovable you--but rather the you that God loves.  Honesty is hard to see in oneself but God sees you honestly every day and loves you more than anyone can.  You are worth it but you must look at yourself and see it for yourself.  You cannot look at yourself honestly in the next 2 hours however so this book helps you with exercises to look at yourself honestly and love yourself as God does.  There is no reason to lie to God since He knows everything about you and He loves you.  God doesn't however work on our timetable.  He works in the endless period of time for all eternity.  This books starts with making your own Life Scroll from the toolbox in the back of the book and then working on this scroll throughout the book to help you see yourself more clearly and honestly.  I found myself as I worked through the book finding that the honest me changing as I found the me that God loves.

Read this book if you are looking for a change in your life--a change that will bring you closer to God. 

An Amish Christmas Love by Beth Wiseman, Amy Clipston, Ruth Reid, and Kelly Irvin

An Amish Christmas Love by Beth Wiseman, Amy Clipston, Ruth Reid, and Kelly Irvin is a collection of Christmas Amish love stories all in one big book each written by a different author.  The first novella is by Ms. Wiseman and of course is well written as always.  Naomi, her mother Barbara and her Grandmother Ruth all find themselves living together.  Ruth has been desperately searching for a new husband after the death of her husband 10 years ago. Not only is she looking for herself but also to the embarrassment of both Barbara and Naomi for them also.  The 3 rent out the daadihaus to 3 non suspecting men and Ruth immediately pounces on them.  This story will keep the reader giggling at Ruth's antics to procure a man for each of them as they head to a surprise ending for Christmas.

Next is the story of Emma Bontrager preparing to spend her first Christmas alone after the death of her husband of 45 years.  Emma has been invited to spend Christmas with others but a freak snowstorm forces her to stay home alone. Not only that but this cat has come into the house and has made itself at home even though Emma has never would let an animal in the house nor wants this one in either. A friendly group of 6 teenagers stop by to check on her but the snow makes them have to spend the night with Emma and now her cat.  This unlikely group help Emma find hope to embrace her future without her husband and enjoy the holidays with the teens as well as enjoy her new housemate, Henry the cat.

In this next novella David Byler finds himself preparing to wed his beloved Molly Shrock.  David had returned to the Amish community after living for a couple of years as "English".  During his English years he had fallen in love with Bobbie.  Bobbie then left for college but David was unwilling to leave and so the relationship had ended.  But now Bobbie was back to help her father after his heart attack and David found himself drawn to her.  David still loved Molly but Molly had seen David drawn to Bobbie and so retreated until David decided what he would do.  Will David go English to be with Bobbie, his old love, or will he stay with the Amish community and marry Molly?  Read this book to find the answer.

Ellie Whetstone has inherited her aunt's property and so following the GPS finds herself in the wrong house by accident.  Ezra, the widowed owner, finds her in his home and points her in the direction of her own freezing cold house.  Ellie starts a fire to warm the place up and smokes the whole house.  Ellie opens windows and settles in for the cold night with her show dog, Lulu.  After a freezing night Ellie lets out Lulu and she heads out in the woods and doesn't return.  Ellie heads out in her pajamas through the snow to find her beautiful expensive show poodle.  Following the tracks she finds her in Ezra's house with his young daughter, Allison.  Ezra is aggravated that not only is Lulu in his house again but is lying on his daughter Allison who needs to be watched closely for her frequent seizures.  This begins the love affair of Allison and Lulu but also increased seizure activity.  Read this book to find out how Ezra teaches Ellie to live in a house not equipped with electricity as she prepares to sell her aunt's property.

All 4 of these books will work their way into your heart as you read.  I loved all 4 and they all make quick reads.  I would recommend them to anyone who loves reading Amish love stories.
I received this book from Booksneeze for this review.