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Rose in Bloom – Book Recommendation
“Women, they have minds, and they have souls, as well as just hearts. And they’ve got ambition, and they’ve got talent, as well as just beauty. I’m so sick of people saying that love is all a woman is fit for.” – Jo March? Louisa May Alcott is most famous for her timeless novel Little Women. In the Little Women 2019 movie adaptation, Jo March boldly states the above quote to Marmee. But did you know that famous line isn’t actually in the Little Women book? This iconic phrase is taken from another of Alcott’s masterpieces, Rose in Bloom, which was published in 1876. In this book, the protagonist, Rose…
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Book Review: The Ranger’s Apprentice
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Book Review: The Ranger’s Apprentice
I first heard of this book when I submitted a short story to my critique group and someone commented on my title. I had never heard of the Ranger’s Apprentice series so I was curious after my own story’s title, “The Mountain Ranger”, was compared to it. I’m very grateful I let my curiosity win and got this book! Here’s a short blurb about the book: The Ranger’s Apprentice by John Flanagan follows the story of Will, a boy who was orphaned and taken in as the castle’s ward. Upon his fifteenth birthday, he must be chosen by one of the Craftmasters to become an apprentice. Will dreams of becoming…
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Rose in Bloom – Book Recommendation
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The Roadmap to the Christian Life and the Warning of Spiritual Amnesia
Last weekend I led a Bible study through the first part of 2 Peter. We spent time digging into Peter’s last words to the church and, as we read, two things that kept being highlighted were Peter’s roadmap to Christian maturity and his warning on spiritual amnesia. Here’s the deal: Peter was about to die and he knew it. Which is why he had to encourage the church, leaving them a solid roadmap to the Christian life, and warn them about spiritual blindness and false teachers/prophets infiltrating the church. Today I want to share both of these vital things with you. Let’s begin with Peter’s roadmap to Christian maturity. Roadmap…
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Why We Love Magic: A Christian Perspective on Fantasy
“If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.” – C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity This popular quotation by C. S. Lewis echoes a thought I’ve recently had on our draw as humans towards stories containing magical or fantastical elements. The fantasy genre is widely popular and it is made unique because of all the varieties of magical elements it contains. Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, even Disney movies are full of magic. This made me wonder, why are we so drawn to stories with the fantastical? Magic is widely controversial within…
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“Look at Me”: Seeking God’s Face in Chaos
“When You said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.” – Psalm 27:8, NKJV It’s very easy to focus on the biggest, loudest or most prominent problems in our life. Somehow, problems, worries and challenges act like a magnet and continually draw our gaze. And yet, focusing on the dark of our life only creates more chaos and confusion in our heart. We have this capability of magnifying what we focus on, which if used negatively, can be detrimental to our faith and our life. But if we choose to shift our focus, what incredible things could we magnify in our life? A…
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8 Books That Inspire Hope, Create Courage, and Encourage Bold Living
Have you read something recently that made you feel brave, inspired, encouraged, or like you could take on the world? Today I want to share a list of books (both fiction and non-fiction) that will inspire you to be a little braver, live a little louder, and perhaps take that next tiny step toward becoming the incredible person God called you to be. Sometimes all you need is a little inspiration and a vision of who you could be and what you could do to take the next step forward. Maybe all you need is to be reminded that ordinary people can do extraordinary things if they say yes to…
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He’s Brave Enough for Both of You
It has been said that courage isn’t the absence of fear, but taking a step while you still feel afraid. I have thought about this often as someone who has battled with fear and anxiety. One time, as I was praying, God reminded me that no matter how dark the valley gets, He is still in control. He is still watching out for me and His plans for me are, ultimately, good. I want to take a moment to remind you that, whether you feel brave right now or not, God can be brave enough for both of you. All you have to do is hold His hand. David struggled…
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Stay Hungry: Cultivating Spiritual Hunger in the Christian Life
Hunger is something we avoid at all costs in life, and yet in our Christian life, hunger should be the one quality that defines us. Hungry Christians pursue God with passion, sincerity, and humility. Hungry Christians will not be satisfied with watered-down truths and complacent sermons meant to placate our conscience. Hungry Christians will do whatever it takes to pursue God and obtain full satisfaction in Him. On the other side of hunger is complacency, and a complacent Christian is a dead Christian. Sure, a complacent Christian may live a good life and eventually get to heaven. However, their life will be marked by a lack of fire and passion.…
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The Ascendance Series: What a Fictional King Taught Me About Real Leadership
I recently finished reading the last two books of the Ascendance Series by Jennifer A. Nielsen. To those of you who don’t know, the Ascendance Series is a YA fantasy series that follows the journey of an orphan boy named Sage and his journey into becoming Jaron and the king of Carthya. Last year I read the first book, The False Prince, and I completely fell in love with the main character. I was amazed by the plot twists and how masterfully they were pulled off. After finishing the original trilogy, I read the two last books which take place right before the ending of The Shadow Throne. The Story…
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In the Face of Accusation, Face the King: How God Stands in Our Defense
“Edmund was on the other side of Aslan, looking all the time at Aslan’s face. He felt a choking feeling and wondered if he ought to say something; but a moment later he felt that he was not expected to do anything except to wait, and do what he was told.” – C. S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe This week I decided to re-read one of my favorite series: The Chronicles of Narnia. While reading The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, I noticed a powerful paragraph for the first time. This is the iconic scene where the witch, Jadis, comes before Aslan to stake her…
