You're The One I Want ~ quote

I'm so excited to read this new story by Susan May Warren! I made a special trip to the library today to pick it up (even though I had just been there yesterday)!

"You are not the sum of your bad decisions. You are the decision you make right now. You are the decisions you will make tomorrow."

-from You're the One I Want by Susan May Warren

Now back to reading! 

Charity’s Cross by MaryLu Tyndall ~ Book Review

Charity’s Cross by MaryLu Tyndall 

~Book Review~

I loved Charity’s Cross because it tied both the Charles Towne Belles series and the Legacy of the King’s Pirates series together and made me want to read those books again. This book could be read as a stand-alone, but you will want to read the other if you haven’t yet! The Red Siren, which is the first book in the Charles Towne Belles series, was the first book I read by Mary Lu Tyndall. After that book, I fell in love with her stories on the sea, especially the two series that I mentioned above! This book does not disappoint.

Charity’s Cross has a prevailing theme. There is romance, a chase, storms on the ship, and the opportunity for a new life. But there are also betrayals, deceptions, and a lot of blame. Charity most definitely has a cross to bear. So many of the characters felt the need to blame someone, whether it was themselves or someone else or God… I think we can relate to that. It is much easier to blame someone/something than finding the reason for the blame, or seeking forgiveness. After realizing that there was so much blame going around, Elias, one of the main characters thinks, “Wasn’t it just like human nature to want someone to blame for life’s tragedies? Someone on whom to enact revenge.” He sees so many lies and betrayals and yearns for them to stop and for there to be truth.

Lastly, we see how forgiveness can prevail. MaryLu does a great job of showing our humanness and ultimately how God’s love for us can overcome it all. This quote does a nice job of summing things up:

 “’We are all so flawed, we humans…We make mistakes every day, and we will make many more in our lifetime…How can I blame you for not trusting me…?’”

‘Tis no excuse…’

‘Nay, but it is a reason. Besides, how can I not forgive you when God has forgiven me of so much?’”

 

Forgiveness can cover all the blame, all the sin. If only we are willing…

I believe you will find things you can relate to in this story. It has lessons to learn, but is fun in the telling. It is a great book to pick up if you have never read any of MaryLu’s in the past. If you have read her past books, you will love to see many of her stories come together. I highly recommended Charity’s Cross.

Check out the book on Amazon

Find MaryLu Tyndall on Facebook 

Follow MaryLu on Twitter

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*­­

My word for 2016 - Loved

My word for 2016 is...

LOVED

Last night, I was still praying about my word for the year. I asked God to show me if the word was supposed to be "loved" (some things I was thinking about were leading to that). 

At church today, during Sunday school, we were asked to share what God has taught us and what we want Him to teach us in the next year. We were to tell our "personal faith stories". Last year's word, "trust", was brought up over and over again. And then the word I was praying about kept coming up as well...

When it was my turn to share, I said something like this:

Trust was my word of the year last year. I learned that I can't put all my trust in people. They will let you down Trust must be in God. And God alone. He will never let you down. 

Leading into this next year, I feel like my word is supposed to be "loved". I didn't know if I wanted it to be that. While my name means "well-loved", it is hard to love others deeply. It can hurt deeply as well. But I think I need to look at how God loves us. How we can love Him and His children. 

So it went something like that...

And it was confirmation that "loved" is the word. 

Here are some other things that led me to my word for the year. 

This bracelet:

I bought it after Christmas. The charm part with the word is interchangeable. One of the charms I happened to pick was "loved" because that is what my name means. 

This song I have heard over and over again on the cd Wow Worship 2016:

You Are Loved by Stars Go Dim

You are loved
If your heart's in a thousand pieces
If you're lost and you're far from reason
Just look up, know you are loved
Just look up, and know you are loved
When it feels like somethings missing
If it hurts but you can't find healing
Just look up, know you are loved
Just look up, know you are loved. ooh

(Video with lyrics: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-YbdaR7Plac ) 

And also this verse:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

John 3:16 NIV

May it be a year to see what "loved" really means. 

***********************************************

What is your word of the year? 

Come As You Are - Crowder

Sometimes music just speaks to us and touches us. I find this true over and over again. 

This song is full of promises. I love the line "Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can't heal". Just remember that whatever you may be going through, Jesus is right there with you. 

Below is Crowder's song "Come As You Are". 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yjgioXrnEME 

Our Project - 12 (she-shed, girls' get-a-way, cottage)

Finally, "black and white and read all over" on the inside!

This side is where the ladder is with a mirror and shelves for books! And of course our sign! 

This side will either have a table or a chair. Currently, there is (from left to right) a wire to hang pictures with magnets, a red magnetic board, a white board, and a book pages flower wreath! 

The couch. "Red" 

"Read"

The letter still need to go up on the wall! 

The loft and the stars! 

I'm sure there will be more pictures to come, but for now we are quite happy with it! 

Our Project - 11 (she-shed, girls' get-a-way, cottage)

And there she is! 

Next the inside!!!

Our Project - 10 (she-shed, girls' get-a-way, cottage)

Wow! I can't believe what a big project this has been and how much time and energy we have all put into it!

We decided to pour cement for the foundation of the shed. And then of course we had to let that set and then came the moving! Again!

The foundation:

Another pretty sunset!

The poured cement and beginning to move it! 

Getting it up on the platform.