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“Grace” by Max Lucado (CL/PG Series)

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“See to it that no one misses the grace of God.” Hebrews 12:15 (NIV)

Do you ever question the meaning of life? Do you feel you have wasted years of your life? Or, that you have simply made poor choices in your past?

In “Grace” by Max Lucado, one of America’s beloved Christian authors, he explains that it doesn’t matter if you have “made a mess” of your life because God uses one word to vindicate us: Grace.

He further explains that people often try to explain grace: the bank gives us a “grace period”, musicians use a “grace note”, preachers explain it, and hymns proclaim it–to name just a few. Many of us have a “wimpy” grace or a different perception of what grace entails for our lives. The question we need to ask ourselves is: Have we been changed, shaped, or strengthened by grace? When grace happens, we receive a new heart. The author calls it a “spiritual heart transplant”.

He further states that when grace abounds in our lives, Christ abides in us–He lives in us–and to be saved by grace is to be saved by Him.

The author guides us through various scriptures about grace as well as several insightful chapters dealing with a “grace-shaped life” to his riveting final chapter of “when grace happens”. A reader’s guide is provided at the end of the book so that you can explore the chapters more in-depth.

Note: This is my final book review covering a 10-week period, and I trust that you have enjoyed the twenty books that have inspired and encouraged my heart in my walk with Him. May you be blessed in your walk and may you be a blessing to someone today.

Happy reading and blessings,
Yvonne

Week 10: “When God Winks At You” by Squire Rushnell (FI Series)

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Extraordinary events happen in our lives every day. Do we just attribute them to coincidences or do we consider that they are “blessings in disguise” from God?

In “When God Winks At You” by Squire Rushnell, a former television president and CEO, he uses stories as told by everyday and famous people to explain that there is no such thing as luck, but that there is a God who does “little things” in and through us as well as other people in our lives to communicate His love for us.

As we walk on our journey in life, God gives us “signposts” along the way to show us that He leads and guides us–through the choices we make–in the direction He has planned for us. Sometimes there are bumps along the way, but these signposts reassure us, chart our path in life, and help us to increase our faith and belief in Him.

God absolutely knows about our every desire, hurts, failures, and triumphs; and when He “winks” at us, He encourages us to trust Him “fully.”

This book will inspire and encourage your heart as you reflect on the many times that God “winked” at you, but you did not recognize it at the time. After reading this book you will gain new insights and hopefully you will understand that He was with you and is currently with you on this journey throughout life by the “little things” that you experience in your every day walk.

Happy reading and blessings,
Yvonne

Home Decor and Craft Books and Magazine Resources

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A number of years ago, I had to reassess the number of craft subscription magazines/books that I subscribed to or purchased, but I didn’t want to get rid of the magazines that I had already collected. So I began pulling out those craft instruction articles of the crafts that I wanted to do on a “rainy day” and quickly became overwhelmed with all the reference materials.

Then there were the home decor magazines/books. I couldn’t pass Barnes and Noble and magazine display cases in stores such as Walmart and/or Sam’s Club without looking at the latest volume from several magazines. If you love crafts and/or home decor but need some resources, I have compiled the following lists for your perusal. These are not exhaustive by any means but the lists are made available to help get you started with home decorating and/or craft projects.

Magazines

1. HGTV Magazine
2. Romantic Homes Magazine
3. Do-It-Yourself Magazine
4. Country Sampler Magazine
5. Country Living Magazine
6. Paint It Magazine
7. “Make It” Vintage Magazine
8. The Simple Things Magazine
9. Fresh Style Magazine
10. PaintWorks Magazine
11. Vintage Style Magazine
12. Scrapbook Etc. Magazine
13. My Home My Style Magazine
14. 100 Decorating Ideas for Small Rooms Magazine
15. Fresh Home Magazine
16. Better Homes & Gardens Storage Magazine
17. House Beautiful Magazine
18. Ready Made Magazine
19. Southern Living Magazine
20. Martha Stewart Living Magazine

Home Decor and Craft Book Resources

1. Vintage Crafts – Clara Lidstrom
2. New Cottage Style – Better Homes and Gardens Publication
3. Delight in the Details – Lisa Pace
4. Delight in the Seasons – Lisa Pace
5. Crafting A Meaningful Home – Meg Mateo Ilasco
6. Restore, Recycle, Repurpose – Randy Florke and Nancy Becker
7. Your Home: A Living Canvas – Curtis Heuser
8. Where Women Create: Book of Organization – Jo Packham
9. Embellish Your Home – DENA
10. Decorate Workshop – Holly Becker
11. Living the Creative Life – Rice Freeman-Zachary
12. Candace Olsen: “On Design”
13. Do-It-Yourself – JoAnne Liebeler
14. Painted Furniture – Priscilla Hauser
15. Painted Garden – Donna Dewberry
16. Paint Saves the Day – Lucianna Samu
17. (The Nest) Home Design – Carley Roney
18. Jan Dressler’s “Guide to Beautiful Stenciling”
19. Decorative Murals – Donna Dewberry
20. Scrapbook Workshop – Cynthia Hart

Happy crafting and home decorating.

Blessings on you,
Yvonne

“One Thousand Gifts” by Ann Voskamp (CL/PG Series)

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Through a number of unforeseen circumstances that have happened in your life, do you feel you have lost your joy and purpose?

In “One Thousand Gifts” by Ann Voskamp, a writer with DaySpring (a division of Hallmark Cards), she gives us a practical guide to living a life of joy.

Through her own journey, she will help you find your own gratitude in the everyday “little things” that happen in your life, and to “count them as blessings and joy”, and make you aware of God’s presence on a daily basis.

Living a life full of grace and joy is definitely obtainable by counting your blessings every day.

Happy reading and blessings,
Yvonne

Week 9: “The Walk” by Richard Paul Evans (FI Series)

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What would you do if you lost “everything”–your job, your home, your family, your friends? Would you give up on life–lose all hope?

In “The Walk” by Richard Paul Evans, Number 1 best-selling author, the character of the story loses everything. He decides to leave his life behind and goes on a journey by “taking a walk”, leaving behind everything he has ever known. It is the people he meets along the way and the lessons he learns that “saves his life” and which will inspire you.

This fascinating story is about a journey of one man who, although lost at the beginning, ultimately finds hope and courage to believe and grow from his losses in the end.

Happy reading and blessings,
Yvonne