Danger in the Shadows

"Danger in the Shadows" by Dee Henderson is a great mix of thrills, suspense, romance, and God. The story centers around Sara, a woman haunted by her past and struggling to overcome her fears. She relies on God and His promise in Isaiah 41:10 "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God;I will strengthen you, I will help you,I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." The author portrays real characters who have real relationships with God. While this book is a romance, I'd recommend it to anyone who like suspense novels as well. Look for it in the Fiction section.

From Google Books: 

Sara's terrified. She's doing the one thing she cannot afford to do: fall in love with a famous man, former pro football player Adam Black. Sara is hidden away in the witness protection program, her safety dependent on staying invisible -- and loving Adam could get her killed. Her brother, FBI agent Dave Richman (O'Malley series book one, The Negotiator), has his hands full providing her security from the man who kidnapped her and her twin sister and caused her sister's death. Soon they are caught in a chain of events that brings Sara face-to-face with terror...and with the sure knowledge that only God can set her free from the Danger in the Shadows.

About the Author:

Dee Henderson is the author of fourteen best-selling novels including the acclaimed O'Malley series and the Uncommon Heroes series. As a leader in the inspirational romantic suspense category, her books have won or been nominated for several prestigious industry awards including the RWA's RITA Award, the Christy Award, the ECPA Gold Medallion, the Holt Medallion, the National Readers' Choice Award, and the Golden Quill. Dee is a lifelong resident of Illinois and is active online.Check out her website to read the first chapter: First chapter

Promo: From Blah to Awe

New to the Library this month: "From Blah to Awe: Shaking Up a Boring Faith" by Jenna Lucado Bishop. Jenna was another speaker I had the pleasure of hearing at the Revolve Tour. She has a great way of relating wisdom to teens (especially to teen girls). In her book, she challenges her reader to reevaluate and challenge their faith. She uses stories of other young women and their faith journeys to inspire the reader. This is a great book for youth, especially girls since Jenna tends to write for them. Look for it on the Youth shelf!

From Goodreads.com:

Have you ever felt bored with God?Everyone, especially teenagers, struggles with being bored with God from time to time. Sometimes church services and Bible reading don't seem that exciting, and it's easy to get busy and not make time to pray . . . but when this happens, we are missing out!Jenna Lucado Bishop shares her testimony and others' stories to see what a radical, living relationship with God looks like. But this book is not just based on feelings. The Bible gives steps that will help girls hunger and thirst for more of God.This book will not only offer girls a fresh perspective, but it will also help them do a little soul-searching and discover where they are in their own lives. Plus, it will let them in on the world's greatest secret--that the Creator of the Universe loves and cherishes them deeply and that a fulfilling relationship with Him is the most exciting they will ever have.

Promo: God Loves Ugly

Last weekend, at the Revolve Tour, the youth girls of CMLC were blessed to hear Christa Black. She spoke of her pain, her struggles, and God healing her through His all consuming love. I'm very excited to read this book, but till I do I definitely encourage all the women (young and old) of the church to give this one a look. If her writing matches her passion as a speaker then it promises to be a good read (plus all the reviews I've read have been great)!

Here's an abstract from Goodreads.com:

Whenever Christa Black looked in the mirror, she was waging a war with herself. Her hatred of her face and body drove her, as a young woman, into frantic overachievement, addiction, and an eating disorder that landed her in rehab. A preacher's kid, she'd grown up imagining God as a "thou shalt not" tyrant. It was only when she miraculously discovered God's unconditional love for her--physical imperfections, moral failings, and all--that she finally began to accept herself. As she tells her story, Christa shares the tools she uses to combat the self-rejection that harms so many people's lives.  

In this raw testimony, Christa Black takes women on a step-by-step journey of faith and positive belief to reveal that if God loves ugly, then we can too.

This book is now on display on the Youth shelf (under the Fiction section).

The Practice of the Presence of God

The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence is a tiny little green book tucked away in our shelves which I happened upon on a whim. Though this collection of instructive letters and essays may be small, it is jam-packed with wisdom - particularly on how to live a life full of God's presence. Plus, the small size makes it a great travel book since it easily fits in a pocket or purse. Look for it in the Christian Living section or on display.

From Goodreads.com:

Brother Lawrence was a man of humble beginnings who discovered the greatest secret of living in the kingdom of God here on earth. It is the art of "practicing the presence of God in one single act that does not end." He often stated that it is God who paints Himself in the depths of our soul. We must merely open our hearts to receive Him and His loving presence. For nearly 300 years this unparalleled classic has given both blessing and instruction to those who can be content with nothing less than knowing God in all His majesty and feeling His loving presence throughout each simple day.

Love Comes Softly

"Love Comes Softly" by Janette Oke tells the story of Marty, a pioneer woman traveling west, and the struggles she faces: struggles of survival, of motherhood, of loneliness, and most of all he struggle to accept God. It's a great tale of the plans God has for us- even before we know them!This book (and the entire series) is great if you like historical fiction, especially that set during the expansion West (like "Little House on the Prairie"). "Love Comes Softly" is the first book of the series of the same name. The library currently has the entire series in its collection.

From the book's site:

Nineteen-year-old Marty Claridge starts west with her adventurous, boyish husband, Clem, seeking to claim land and hoping for good fortune. But when the venture turns suddenly to tragedy, Marty is left alone with her great loss. And coupled with her grief and heartache is the grim reality that there is no way to return home. 

Clark Davis and his little girl, Missie, are also in great need. Clark's wife has died, leaving him to care to Missie and the farm at the same time. His offer to Marty comes with good intention, but will courage and faith be enough to bring them to true love?  

First introduced in 1979, Love Comes Softly has become a beloved classic in the inspirational fiction category. A generation of readers has laughed and wept and rejoiced with Marty and Clark Davis whose tragic circumstances threw them together on the frontier prairies of the 1800s. More than one million copies of Love Comes Softly have been sold.

For more information about Janette Oke and her other works please visit www.janetteoke.com

The Prayer of Jabez For Teens

"The Prayer of Jabez for Teens" by Bruce Wilkinson challenges teens (and all of us) to pray Jabez's prayer (1 Chronicles 4:10) and see the amazing blessings God rains down God will transform your life and use you in ways you never thought possible! Through this book you'll learn "you have more to get from God - and you have more to give your world - than you ever thought possible." At the end of the book, Wilkinson posses a challenge: Pray the prayer for 30 days and keep track of all the "Jabez encounters" that take place. Even after only praying the prayer a few times, I'm already amazed at how God's been a work! The book is a  short but fulfilling read. I recommend it to all our youth and young adults! Look for it on the new Youth shelf.

Fearless

"Fearless" by Max Lucado addresses every human's struggle to conquer fear. He writes about the awe-inspiring power of Christ to help each and everyone of us overcome it. Fear is not of God, and He does not want any of his children leading a life crippled by it.

From the back cover:  "Imagine your life, wholly untouched by angst. What if faith, not fear, was your default reaction to threats? Envision the day when you can trust more and fear less. Can you imagine your life without fear?"

Read an excerpt here: Fearless Excerpt

Welcome!

Welcome to the Christ Memorial Lutheran Church Library Blog! I'll be posting book reviews and other pertinent information on here once a week, so check in regularly to see what's new at the library!

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