Managing God's money by Randy Alcorn

"God cares a great deal more about our money than most of us imagine. The sheer enormity of Scripture’s teaching on this subject screams for our attention. In fact, Jesus says more about how we are to view and handle money and possessions than about any other topic—including both heaven and hell. In Managing God's Money, Randy Alcorn breaks down exactly what the Bible has to say about how we are to handle our money and posessions in a simple, easy-to-follow format. Filled with Scripture references, Managing God's Money is the perfect reference tool for anyone who is interested in gaining a solid biblical understanding of money, possessions, and eternity."

I just struggled my way throught his book. It was a struggle for many reasons: 1) It's summer and I just can't get into reading right now. 2) I am at my parents for a long visit and have much to do, but only a short time to read and review this book.  and 3) I call it conviction, my daughter calls it "a really boring book judging by the title"..teenagers!. We all know that conviction can really make us want to hide and avoid things.

As I read this book I underlined and dog-earred many pages so that I can go back and reread those specific areas that I thought applied to me personally. These questions for example:  In spending money am I acting as if it is mine or God's?  What scripture passage requires me to spend in this was? Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice to God?  This book goes over many areas, he has split them into 6 sections with 22 total sub-sections. He covers subjects such as: ownership,  stewardship, materialism,  giving, wise handling of God's money( for he points out in this book that it IS all God's afterall.) and how to teach our children to handle money.

It is defintiely a good book and one that could be taught in classes at churches. There is no "soap boxing" or "brow beating" from Randy Alcorn and he backs everything up with scripture. I will reread this book again later this fall and then donate it to my church.

 Tyndale House Publishers has provided me a complimentary copy of this book and does not require a positive review.

The Final Summit: A Quest to Find the One Principle That Will Save Humanity by Andy Andrews

"Andrews combines a riveting narrative with astounding history in order to discover the one solution that will save humanity. Time is running out, and the final summit of Travelers must work quickly to avoid dire consequences." 

I thought this book sounded very interesting but it ended up being somewhat bland for me. The characters are likable and I enjoyed the history and the author's take on how the historical characters would react and respond in this story. It did make me curious about these historical figures and I may dig up some biographies and find out more about them.

David Ponder is asked one question in this story and he has to answer it correctly to save humanity. It is only a too word answer and many of the "answers" they mulled over were good ones but not exactly the right one. I did find myself trying to figure out what possible answer the archangel Gabriel and God may have been looking for. I felt the author's answer was almost too simplistic and maybe not what I would imagine God wanting. But who am I to know God's mind?

I did not find it as riveting as the book description made it out to be. If I hadn't been reading it to post a review I may have tossed it aside to read some other day, month or year even.  I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Posting on Etsy

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ejamsmama?ref=ss_profile

Well I just finished putting my jewelry on Etsy and I have to say; listing all those pieces was tedious. I sure hope they sell. Or at least a few of them to compensate for the listing fee and time I put into listing them. I had a hard time coming up with the prices for each item. I wanted to be fair to myself and any potential buyers.

Then there was posting clear and accurate pictures. I realized, as I went to download the photos, that I had plenty of group photos of my stuff and not individual shots. My camera was only somewhat cooperative. The sun and shadows through the windows weren't helping either. Inside lighting was iffy.

I started yesterday afternoon and finished this morning. They will be posted for 4 months, so at least I won't have to do that over again for awhile. I will be sure to only list a few pieces at a time from now on. That way it's not brain overload trying to come up with clever titles and descriptions. I definitely flaked at the end and went with simple descriptions.

It's funny how you forget how to spell a word that you have spelled 20 times in the last hour. Your fingers sit above the keyboard awaiting the brain's instructions, which finger needs to type which letter first and you blank. I was wishing I had voice activated technology but the with as noisy as Megan gets sometimes I can only guess at what would be typed.....Silver mommy can  pink I get earrings milk. These are can I crystal go round outside beads....Yeah, it wouldn't be pretty.

As I looked at the recent postings in the jewelry section, it was mind boggling to see 10 to 20 new items pop up every 3 seconds. There are so many talented people out there, all posting similar items, hoping that theirs will be the one to sell. As I went through the listing, my last item posted was about 8 pages back. I had only put it on 15 minutes prior to getting on that page. Wow.

So I now place it in God's capable hands and will not fret about whether I sell or not. God will provide, He always has and always will. I am just thankful that I can do what I love and if God allows me to make money doing it, then I will be even more grateful to His wonderful grace.

Indelible by Kristen Heitzmann

After Trevor MacDaniel, a high country outfitter, rescues a toddler from the jaws of a mountain lion, he can't foresee the far-reaching consequences of his action, or how it will entwine his life with gifted sculptor, Natalie Reeve--and attract a grim admirer.

In a clash of light and darkness, can courage prevail?


I really enjoyed this book. I read it in 3 days because I just couldn't put it down. The descriptions the author used made me wish I could visit the town the story was set it. And I really would have loved to see the art that Natalie created. Being artistic I really enjoy other artists' works.

Kristen Heitzmann kept you guess as to what to "villian" in the story was really up to. This is the first of her books that I have read and now I am looking forward to finding and reading more of her work.

I enjoyed the way she put God in by having the characters pray or find a comforting bible verse. Also in having the characters realize how God works in their lives even through handicaps or devastating circumstances. It wasn't preachy but realistic.

I would definitely recommend this book to friends and family who are looking for a mystery written by a christian author.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.