A Cloud by Day, a Fire by Night ~ Review

A Cloud by Day, A Fire by Night
By A.W. Tozer
Compiled and Edited by James L. Snyder

This book is a collection of the sermons that Tozer gave to his Chicago congregation before he accepted a call to a church in Toronto - it focuses on how we can find and follow God's will for us. His message, though written quite a few years ago, is still relevant to today.

How can we know God's will for us? One of the first things to do is quiet our hearts - we are all too often caught up in the chaos and noise of what the world throws at us. Technology is always present and a distraction from hearing God's voice. We need to discipline ourselves daily to make time to listen to God. It is only by listening to God's voice that we can obey Him. And obedience gives us the promise of God being our strength and foundation in our battle against our enemies - Satan, sin, and the fallen world around us. And our obedience is a sign of our commitment to God a commitment that has eternal ramifications.

We need to be careful though and not romanticize the positives of following God. We need to be aware that there will be difficulties and trials that will test us. We need to remember that Jesus carried a cross and we are to take it up and follow Him. But it is through these times of obedience during trials that we find the "joy, privilege, and glory of God." And disobedience can have long term effects as we see through Israel's 40 years of wilderness wanderings. Even when it appears that blessings are not something that we're experiencing we have the promise of what is to come. Sometimes the blessing is delayed because we need to learn something from the wait. We must not be discouraged as that is what the enemy wants instead we need to see that we can lean on God to get us through this time of darkness - He is always present waiting for us to listen and take the hand that He is offering to us.

I found this to be an excellent book and one which I plan to read again as there is much to contemplate and to be learned. I liked that each chapter opened with a prayer and ended with a few lines from a hymn. Some of the hymns I was familiar while others were new to me but each was well suited to the chapter that had just concluded. This book is well suited to any Christian whether they be a new believer or one with years to their faith. One can always use encouragement along the journey.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations but that I offer my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.


About the Book:

Discover Where God is Leading You!

How can I know God's will for me, personally? It's a question that haunts us all at times--maybe when we're looking for the right job, thinking about moving to a new city, or deciding whether or not to get married. At every stage we have difficult decisions to make, and we long for God's direction and His warm reassurance that we're heading the right way.

A Cloud by Day, a Fire by Night captures A.W. Tozer's teaching on the will of God. Taken from sermons he preached just before he left his successful church in Chicago, the title comes from the story of God leading His people out of Egypt and into the promised land.

Tozer was no stranger to facing difficult decisions. His wisdom and biblical insight will help guide you in decisions of your own and reassure you of God's presence every step of the way.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A.W. Tozer (1897-1963) was a self-taught theologian, pastor, and writer whose powerful words continue to grip the intellect and stir the soul of today's believer. He authored more than forty books. The Pursuit of God and The Knowledge of the Holy are considered modern devotional classics. Get Tozer information and quotes at www.twitter.com/TozerAW.

Reverend James L. Snyder (www.jamessnyderministries.com) is an award-winning author whose writings have appeared in more than 80 periodicals and 15 books. He is recognized as an authority on the life and ministry of A.W. Tozer. His first book, In Pursuit of God: The Life of A.W. Tozer, won the Reader's Choice Award in 1992 by Christianity Today. Because of his thorough knowledge of Tozer, James was given the rights from the A.W. Tozer estate to produce new books derived from over 400 never-before-published audio tapes. James and his wife live in Ocala, Florida.

Driftwood Bay ~ Review

Driftwood Bay
Hope Harbor #5
By Irene Hannon

Hope Harbor was the perfect place to start over. Noone knew her and she could keep any close relationships at bay. Never again would she experience the pain of loss. At least that was Jeannette Mason's plan until her new neighbors moved in.

Doctor Logan West never expected to take on the role of single dad to Molly his young niece but following the deaths of his bother and his mother he has a promise to keep. A promise that is harder than he ever imagined while trying to fill the hole in a hurting little girl's heart. And when you throw in a rambunctious somewhat naughty Beagle into the mix something is bound to happen. Unfortunately for his new neighbor, she's about to be the recipient of Toby's digging tendencies.

But Hope Harbor isn't the kind of place that lets you withdraw from life. And when the surviving members of a Syrian family are offered a home in Hope Harbor Jeannette finds herself once again having to put herself and her heart potentially in the path of danger. But how can she not meet a need when she can fill it? And when Logan has a need that this new family can fill well let's just say Jeannette's desire for isolation is about to take yet another hit.

If you've read Irene Hannon's previous books in the Hope Harbor series you already know what a caring community this is. And I have to be honest with each new book my most anticipated scenes take place with Charley - I'm not a fan of fish (in fact I don't eat them) but whenever a scene features his taco stand I really am tempted. And his friends Floyd and Gladys - I want to meet these two birds! I also love how little bits of information are slowly revealed throughout the series.

If you haven't read any of the previous books don't worry each can be read as a standalone and thoroughly enjoyed. This is a feel-good series that even though the pain of life can be seen in various lives one is left with a feeling of hope for what tomorrow will bring.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations but that I offer my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.


About the Book:
After tragedy upends her world, Jeannette Mason retreats to the tiny Oregon seaside town of Hope Harbor to create a new life. Vowing to avoid emotional attachments, she focuses on running her lavender farm and tea-room--until a new neighbor with a destructive dog and a forlorn little girl invades her turf. But she needn't worry. Dr. Logan West is too busy coping with an unexpected family, a radical lifestyle change, and an unruly pup to have any interest in his aloof and disagreeable neighbor.

Yet when both Jeanette and Logan find themselves pulled into the life of a tattered Christian family fleeing persecution in war-torn Syria, might they discover that love sometimes comes calling when it's least expected?

Bestselling and award-winning author Irene Hannon invites readers back to the charming seaside town of Hope Harbor, where they are sure to find peace, healing, and a second chance at happiness.

The Edge of Over There ~ Review

The Edge of Over There
The Day the Angels Fell #2
By Shawn Smucker

When Abra Miller and Sam Chambers were present at the battle of the Tree of Life their lives changed and took different paths. Abra was left with a sword that she along could touch and with a dream. The dream of that night and a message that Mr. Tennin left with her before he was lost to this world.

And Abra on that night her friendship with Sam ended. Time has passed and Abra's life has come to an end and Sam is about to hear Abra's story. A story that a stranger is about to reveal to him. A story that took Abra on a mission to destroy a second Tree of Life. A Tree that is at the Edge of Over There and if any eat of its fruit all could be lost.

But to stop this threat Abra must travel to New Orleans where a Gateway that no living person should ever cross must be opened and entered. But Abra's journey is about to be joined by a young man who has been seeking this very Gateway since the night he lost his family to it.

But can she withstand this place of sorrow and pain? This place of temptations will be her battlefield and she is about to discover just how alone she truly is.

The Edge of Over There takes us to the point where The Day the Angels Fell left off. And we along with Sam are about to discover just what he abandoned Abra to face alone. Reading the first book is not a necessity as this story follows Abra more than Sam but it wouldn't hurt to have a greater backstory understanding before reading this book. Fans of Speculative Fiction will enjoy this book and series. I'd say if you like any of the following authors you'd want to give Shawn Smucker a try:
Robert Liparulo, Frank E. Peretti, James Rubart or Billy Coffey. There are some similarities to these authors work that if you are looking for someone new to read I can see this being a nice fit.

 And here's hoping that the hints of a third book are soon to come to fruition as I'm anxious to learn what is next to happen. Does it delve further into Abra's story or will we instead turn to Sam? Either possibility could happen and I really want to know.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations but that I offer my honest opinion ~ All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Abra Miller carries a secret 

and a responsibility she never expected.

Before the Tree of Life, everything in Abra Miller's life had been predictable. Safe. Normal. But after the Tree, everything has felt fragile . . . like holding a soap bubble in the palm of her hand. After years of fruitless searching for the next Tree, she begins to wonder if it was nothing more than a vivid dream.

Now sixteen, Abra finds a clue to the whereabouts of the next Tree of Life when an ominous woman--who looks exactly like a ghost from her past--compels her to travel to New Orleans where she'll find one of seven gateways between this world and Over There. But she's not the only one interested in finding the gateway. There's also a young man searching for his father and sister, who escaped through it years before. As Abra enters the Edge of Over There and begins her pursuit of the Tree once more, she doesn't know whom to fear or whom to trust.

She's also starting to think that 

some doorways should never be opened.

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Doomsayer ~ Review and Author Interview with Giveaway

Doomsayer
Conquests of Brokk #3
By Thane Keller

This is the third book in the Conquests of Brokk series, that being said after the first few chapters one can easily get into the story even without reading the two previous books. But you'll be so intrigued by this book you'll want to go back a read them later (speaking from experience here).

But now to the story, the Galactic Order is teetering on the edge. War is on the horizon - the Jark Empire's rogue commander Brokk attacked the Tassi and now turns his sights on his own world. But his war on Tassi has earned he and his people the hate of Cale. Cale's revenge will leave Jark in shambles just as Tassi was.

But war isn't the only threat to the Galactic Order as a coming collision with a neighboring galaxy looms ever nearer. What lies beyond is a question no one can answer. Is someone waiting to claim their space as their own? Will the merging of the galaxies forever alter what they've known? Only time will tell that is assuming anyone will survive.

This is a most interesting book and well worth reading. It is a clean read as far as SciFi goes - there are deaths as there is a war taking place this should not come as a surprise but the language and morals get an A+ in my estimation. The characters are not flat they have a dimension with facets that depending on the angle you view them at gives one varying insight into them.

If you like Star Wars you should like this offering from Thane Keller - it has a similar feel in how it plays out. Perfect reading for teens and up! And the ending let's just say it will leave you wanting more.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I offer my honest opinion ~ all thoughts expressed are my own.


About the Book:
Brokk, Commander of the mighty Rogue Fleet, desires more than just his exile come to an end. His heart is set on revenge and his aim is to be the ruler of the Jark Empire. With his Armada resupplied and a powerful priestess at his side, Brokk intends to stop at nothing until his goals are achieved. Despite Brokk's plans, Cale has his own intentions for the Galaxy and his own desire for revenge. As conflict descends on the Jark Empire, a fog of war masks the plans of the remaining species in the Galaxy and a battle for positioning begins


About the Author:

Thane Keller is a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute with a degree in psychology and a minor in English. Following college, Thane married his high school sweetheart, Sarah, and started his career as a cavalryman in the United States Army. Over the course of his career, he has deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan where he was personally engaged in ground combat. He has earned two Bronze Stars and numerous other awards and decorations. Relying on his background in psychology, military experience, and Christian faith, Thane writes novels that seek to explore human nature under dire circumstances, the reality of pain and suffering, and the resilience of individuals to accomplish superhuman feats. He and his wife have four children. 

For more information, visit www.ThaneKeller.com. 


Author Interview:
1) What genre do you most like reading? 

~ I like reading science fiction the most, but as far as sub-genres I tend to read
space operas or technology-based thrillers. Anything that allows me to imagine
the fantastical with little care for present reality is fine by me! I also like a book
that keeps me moving. If the author lets me imagine the little details and keeps
the storyline pumping, I’m all in.

2) What one author past or present would you like to mentor you?

~ I would love to be mentored by Dean Koontz. There is a casualness in the way
that he writes and I appreciate the brief descriptions he gives in a setting that are
vivid and intense. Dean Koontz can tell a story with no more than three
characters and keep your interest throughout the novel. I love that about him.

3) How do develop your setting (a photo, a trip, a random comment)?

~ I’ve tried to give my reader a variety of unique settings that shaped the history
and evolution of the species they will encounter. In that sense, setting is almost
always developed by thinking through genetics first and struggle second. One
thing that I find fascinating about the science of our Earth is how fine-tuned it is to
life. But what if we find complex and sentient organisms on a planet that had
twice the gravity? What would they look like? How would their bodies form to
allow them to thrive on such a planet?

~ Another quality that captures my attention is how unbelievable space is and how
those qualities relate to space warfare. I try to build a space environment that is
harsh but still allows for a dynamic environment. In my Sci-Fi world, I want ships
hiding in nebulas and using stars and planets as terrain they can fight behind.

~ The final aspect of my settings are always emotional. Our emotions control how
we remember people and places far more than we ever realize. In Doomsayer
there is a scene where poor Sabik and his crew are being tortured and I describe
it as a fire that was always burning but never leaving him fully burned. It was all
consuming but never consumed him. It doesn’t end. Depression often feels that
way, doesn’t it? For me, these emotional settings are personal and I try to let
these emotions from periods in my past come out through my writing.

4) Do you have a favorite author that you would recommend?

~ Of course I love Dean Koontz but I already gushed on him enough. Recently, I’ve
really enjoyed reading James Maxwell and his book series “The Shifting Tides.”
The classics always capture my attention and books like “The Things They
Carried” and “Lord of the Flies” hold a special place in my heart because of the
psychological facet of the author’s writings.

5) What aspect did you most enjoy writing about in this series?

~ When I started this series, I wanted to write about space warfare, but the
character that stole my heart was Tamara and I loved writing about her from start
to finish. Tamara represents so many variables within the human experience: she
is a category, a stereotype, a victim, and a villain. She is desperate for
meaningful relationships but often develops a helpless love to those that abuse
her. She is idolized by followers and idolizes those in power. If Tamara was a
real person, the soldier in me would probably have fallen in love with her. Sadly,
the psychopath in her would likely find more joy in killing me than going to the
movies with me.

6) What one question do you wish you would be asked and how would you answer it?

~ Wow, what a hard question! If I have to choose just one, I wish someone would
ask me what relevancy this far out space conflict has on my job as a soldier. I
would tell them that the way we think about conflict, technology, and people must
continually be challenged. I would tell them that fiction can serve as an engine to
drive the way we think about the future and that the Army with the broadest
thinkers might be the Army that has the greatest ability to innovate and adapt.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Enter the Giveaway for a chance to win 

one (1) copy of Doomsayer

Open to US Residents with a US mailing address 

who are 18 years of age or older.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Justice Delivered ~ Review

Justice Delivered
A Memphis Cold Case Novel #4
By Patricia Bradley

Carly Smith has lost years of her life - years that she'll never get back. And she's always looking just in case the men responsible find her again. She escaped but she isn't truly free and she won't be if she can't stop them. There's just one problem to stop them means she has to go back to her old life and the person she was at 17 died 16 years ago.

Carly trusts no one and especially not cops, not when they could have helped her. But when her past and present come together she may have no choice but to trust someone with the truth. The question is who will help her while she searches for the men still out there trapping young women with their false promises and lies of fame and fortune.

Someone is determined to keep Carly quiet and they have no problem using the young niece she has never met as leverage to silence her permanently. Can she trust the one man she thought was involved in her chance meeting all the years ago? Or will her teenage crush be the hero she needs to help her get to the truth, rescue her niece, and stop a killer before he stops them?

This is the fourth book in the Memphis Cold Case series but it can easily be read as a stand-alone if you haven't read the three previous books. There are characters from the other books in this book but their backstories are not essential to enjoying this book. If you like clean romantic suspense with a more than one whodunit involved give this one a read.


About the Book:
Carly Smith came by her trust issues honestly. She's been at the mercy of merciless men, ignored by law enforcement officers who should have helped her, and seemingly rejected by her family. She can't even trust herself to do the right thing. Though she is working hard on building a new life, the past continues to haunt her when she discovers that the man she couldn't bring herself to report to the police is still out there, luring vulnerable girls under the guise of being a modeling agent.

When her own niece is kidnapped, Carly must overcome her fears and come forward with the information she has. But if that proves to be too little, too late--she'll have to go after the perpetrators herself.

Thinking About ~ Jesus His Life and the Provisions of God

Thinking about worry and the cares of today. Have you worried and stayed up late borrowing troubles that might come tomorrow? Well, we are told to not worry in Matthew 6:26-34:

26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. 

New King James Version (NKJV)

Now if God will care for the plants of the field and the birds that live out of doors why would He not take as much concern in our day-to-day existence when we were created in His image. Instead of worry, we should instead seek Him when the cares and pressures of life try to overwhelm us. 

When my father died, my family had many worries and concerns first how would we survive the loss of the head of our household and the loss of the family breadwinner. The assurance of this passage was one we turned to often during that first couple of years. But through small ways that wouldn't be impressive in the eyes of most, we were provided for. An old family friend whom we hadn't seen for several years called telling us about a job - one that provided an additional $150 to $300 a month. A job that involved listening to and transcribing old radio sermons - not only did this provide for our daily needs it provided for our spiritual needs as well. 

By giving tomorrow's unknown troubles to God we can rest in the assurance that He will provide if we can see that sometimes His provisions are not given with grand fanfare or even with over-abundance but rather what we need for today - just like His provision of manna for those who were wandering in the wilderness. 

When Jesus commanded Peter to "feed His lambs and care for His sheep" we can know that this care continues today and will continue into every tomorrow to come. With Easter soon upon us, it is important to remember that the greatest need we will ever have has been provided for - the gift of forgiveness and eternal life.

  

Jesus: His Life Featurette:  

Synopsis:

“Jesus: His Life” explores the story of Jesus Christ through a unique lens: the people in his life who were closest to him. Each of the eight chapters is told from the perspective of different biblical figures, all of whom played a pivotal role in Jesus’ life including Joseph, John the Baptist, Mary Mother of Jesus, Caiaphas, Judas Iscariot, Pontius Pilate, Mary Magdalene and Peter.

Each figure takes a turn guiding viewers through the emotional and epic story of the most famous man in history, through his birth, death and resurrection, all conveyed through a combination of scripted drama and interviews with prominent religious and historical experts. Utilizing some of the world’s most respected Biblical scholars, historians, faith leaders and theologians, the series weaves together the canonical Gospels, historical sources and cultural context to create a complete portrait of Jesus – the man and the Messiah.  The series finale airs this Monday, April 15 on The History Channel at 8pm ET/PT.