The Minimalist Home by Joshua Becker

Book Description:

A popular minimalist blogger and author of The More of Less shows you how to methodically turn your home into a place of peace, contentment, and purposeful living.

One of today's most influential minimalist advocates takes us on a decluttering tour of our own houses and apartments, showing us how to decide what to get rid of and what to keep. He both offers practical guidelines for simplifying our lifestyle at home and addresses underlying issues that contribute to over-accumulation in the first place. The purpose is not just to create a more inviting living space. It's also to turn our life's HQ--our home--into a launching pad for a more fulfilling and productive life in the world.

My thoughts:

Joshua Becker's new book, The Minimalist Home released on December 18th.  Within a matter of 5 hours, it sold out at all major online retailers.  Currently, there is a wait time when you order it on Christianbook.com & Amazon.com.  I decided it is going to be my manual for decluttering my home in 2019, and it seems like a lot of other people had the same idea too!

Inside there is a room by room guide on how to declutter and minimize each room in your home for optimal living.  There is also a minimalism maintenance guide, financial charts for home buying, and encouragement for exploring new possibilities in your life once you have minimized what is keeping you from those possibilities.

I recommend this book for people who feel like they are drowning in stuff!  I recommend it for that mom who wants to stop cleaning so much and spend more time with your children.  I recommend it for those who have visions of what they would like life to be like, but don't know how to make space or how to get there.

Removing stuff from our lives open up new possibilities and allows us to dream and imagine again.

Many blessings to you in the new year as you remove the stuff,  and discover new life!

~Beth

To read an excerpt, go here to Amazon.com. 

To learn more about the author, Joshua Becker, you can visit him here at his blog, Becoming Minimalist.

You can also find him at his new YouTube channel, Joshua Becker.

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Disclosure: There above is an affiliate link. If you click on and purchase the Unclutter Course, I will receive a commission from that purchase.

Finding Father Christmas & Engaging Father Christmas by Robin Jones Gunn

"Come in! Come in, and know me better."

-Spirit of Christmas Present

from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

"By beloved author Robin Jones Gunn, two timeless, heartwarming Christmas novellas bound together for the first time in an omnibus edition.

In FINDING FATHER CHRISTMAS, Miranda Carson's search for her father leads her unexpectedly to London with only a few feeble clues as to who he might be. Immediately welcomed into a family that doesn't recognize her, and whom she's quickly coming to love, she faces a terrible decision. Should she reveal her true identity and destroy their idyllic image of her father? Or should she carry the truth home with her to San Francisco and remain alone in this world? Whatever choice she makes during this London Christmas will forever change the future for both herself and the family she can't bear to leave.

In ENGAGING FATHER CHRISTMAS Miranda Carson can't wait to return to England for Christmas and to be with her boyfriend, Ian. She has spent a lifetime yearning for a place to call home, and she's sure Carlton Heath will be it, especially when a hinted-at engagement ring slips into the conversation. But Miranda's high hopes for a jolly Christmas with the small circle of people she has come to love are toppled when Ian's father is hospitalized and the matriarch of the Whitcombe family withholds her blessing from Miranda. Questions run rampant in Miranda's mind about whether she really belongs in this cheery corner of the world. Then, when her true identity threatens all her relationships in unanticipated ways, Miranda is certain all is lost. And yet … maybe Father Christmas has special gifts in store for her after all."

-Book description courtesy of Faith Words.

It is always enjoyable to read a novel set during Christmas, at Christmastime.  I have wanted to read these two novellas for a while, so I am glad I finally got a chance.

There were many things I liked about these two books in one.  First, I liked the setting.  It was set in England, although in a fictional town.  The description of the place at Christmas was very warming and comforting. I have always wanted to visit England, and hopefully, one day I will have the chance.

Another part of the setting was the theatre and the Christmas play, a Christmas Carol.  I taught this play when I taught 7th Grade Language Arts.  It is a great story, a story of redemption, one I love to hear again and again. The author, Robin Gunn, found a way within the novellas to tweak the way the story was presented in the theatre and it made it most endearing.  It is also a central part of Finding Father Christmas and Engaging Father Christmas.

Finally, I love the protagonist's journey, because at one point in life, it was my own journey too. In book one, while Miranda is searching for her real father, someone she only knows by an old photograph of him dressed in a Santa suit, she is also on a journey, to know the real Father Christmas and the Son, who is THE central figure in the stage of life.  In book two, Engaging Father Christmas, Miranda's story continues, as her hopes and dreams are revealed and God demonstrates He has good plans for her life.

I recommend this book for anyone who likes to read good stories at Christmas.  If you are a fan of Robin Jones Gunn, you will like this story too.

Many blessings this Christmas!

In Him,

Beth

***Just for fun, and since it is Christmas, I thought I would do a quick book giveaway!  If you would like to win a copy of this book, simply comment below with a favorite story, scripture, or memory you have of Christmas.  The winner will be drawn on Monday, December 19th.

Congratulations to Jen! You are the winner of the copy of Finding Father Christmas/Engaging Father Christmas omnibus edition!! If you could please email me your address to bethlisteningtohim@gmail.com, I will get your book in the mail!! Merry Christmas!

To read an excerpt from the book, you can go here to Amazon.

To learn more about the author, visit her webpage at

robinjonesgunn.com.

P.S.  Finding Father Christmas was made into a movie this year by the Hallmark Channel!   There is another showing on December 20th, so check it out!

Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher, Faith Words, in exchange for my review.  I was not required to give a favorable review.  The thoughts and opinions here are entirely my own.

Sandcastle Kings: Meeting Jesus in a Spiritually Bankrupt World by Rich Wilkerson Jr.

Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  The rain cam down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.  But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.-Matthew 7:24-27

The premise of Sandcastle Kings by Rich Wilkerson Jr. is based on the above scripture in Matthew 7 and the stories of four different people in Luke chapter 7. In Luke 7 we find the story of the Roman centurion whom Jesus healed his servant, the Widow of Nain, whom Jesus raised her son from the dead, John the Baptist, and the sinful woman who brings an alabaster flask and anoints Jesus with the fragrant oil.  Mr. Wilkerson submits that the people in the accounts in Luke 7 are like the man who built his house on the sand, as we all are without Jesus.

At first I didn't completely understand Wilkerson's thinking behind the two connecting sets of scriptures. The people in Luke 7 had amazing things happen because of Jesus. They were like the the house that didn't fall.  But after reading some more, and thinking about what the author was trying to say a little more closely, I understand.  If we build our lives on anything but Jesus, we are sure to fail, and endure heartbreak in the process.

The centurion was distressed about his servant until Jesus showed up.  The Widow of Nain was in mourning because her son had died.  I believe John the Baptist was in prison when he began to experience doubts about whether Jesus was the Messiah.  And the sinful woman had built her life upon other things that caused her to be called the sinful woman, until she encountered Jesus.

I like that the author shares a message about this.  I know people who have built their lives on other things, especially people, and when it doesn't work out, it is very distressing. This book confirmed some things in my own heart that I believe the Lord was teaching me in the past.

There were lots of good nuggets in the book.  It is apparent that Rich Wilkerson loves God and loves people.  He shares a lot about his own life and story.  I think he is a voice for the younger generation and those on the outskirts who are hard to reach.

I recommend this book if you want a greater picture of the goodness of God and the ministry of Jesus.  In the story of the woman with the alabaster box, Wilkerson says this,

"Friend, we need to realize that Jesus paid all of our debt.  The more we celebrate this, the more inclined we will be to walk in righteousness."

We cannot build our lives on anything but Jesus, or we will be Sandcastle Kings.  We all are anyway until He shows up, and we put our trust and faith in Him.  It's easy to do when you know Him and how much He loves you.

Many blessings as you build the foundation of your life on Him,

Beth

Disclaimer:  I received this book free from Book Look Bloggers in exchange for a review. I was not required to give a favorable review.  The thoughts and opinions her are entirely my own.

Harvest of Rubies by Tessa Afshar

"Rubies!" I cried. "The look like rubies on the vine.  You've grown a harvest of rubies, Bardia." 

Book Summary:

"On my twelfth birthday, my father discovered that I could read."  This is the opening line in Harvest of Rubies, and probably one of my most favorite opening lines in a book ever. 

Harvest of Rubies, by author Tessa Afshar, is Biblical fiction set in Persia during the time of Nehemiah, during the reign of King Artaxerxes. Sarah, the main character, but a fictional one, is cousin to Nehemiah. As a child she teaches herself to read and write, a skill not common for women, and eventually finds herself as the queen's head scribe.

Early on in the story, Sarah solves a mystery for the queen, and obtains the queen's favor. Because of this favor, she becomes betrothed to the queen's cousin, thus removing her from her position as scribe and placing her in a position of royalty.

Because the marriage is one that is arranged, there are some things to overcome for the couple, and Sarah finds herself in danger arising from her presence at her new husband's estate.

My thoughts:

There were many things I liked about this book.  I really enjoy the genre of Biblical fiction, and the time period was one I am not really familiar with, so it was interesting to learn more about it.  

I liked the main character Sarah so much.  I was so excited that she was a young girl stepping outside of what was generally expected into God's plan for her life.  That fact that she was a scribe (writer) and could read, two of my favorite activities, had me hooked from the get-go. (I won't lie though-I was a little miffed when she had to get married, and lost her position as scribe.)

I identified a lot with Sarah.  She is a Jew by birth, but since the passing of her mother when she was child, that relationship with God was not tended to.  Her relationship with God develops throughout the course of the story and it is a beautiful thing to see.  What happens in that relationship and what she learns about herself, also taught me some things about myself.  I also learned more about the scriptures, especially John 15.  In that passage, Jesus talks about being "in the vine," which is the main premise for this book.

I recommend this book to anybody who wants to become more familiar with the time of Nehemiah, and the culture of Persia, especially the customs of royalty.  If you enjoy the genre of Biblical fiction, you will enjoy this book.  It is also a love story, so if you enjoy romance, you will like this one as well.

Many blessings as you grow in Christ,

Beth

To learn more about the author, the book, and to read a sample, go here to  http://www.tessaafshar.com/book/harvest-of-rubies.html

Disclosure:  I received this book free from Moody Publishers Blogger Review Program.  I was not required to give a favorable review. The thoughts and opinions found here are entirely my own.

The Berenstain Bears Storybook Bible for Little Ones by Jan and Mike Berenstain

The Berenstain Bears Storybook Bible for Little Ones by Jan and Mike Berenstain is a cute little board book that contains stories from Genesis to the Resurrection of Jesus.

Stories included are:

"Creation" (Genesis 1)

"Noah Builds an Ark for God"(Genesis6)

"David Meets Goliath" (1 Samuel 17)…

"Daniel in the Lions’ Den" (Daniel 6)

"The Birth of Jesus" (Luke 1)

"The Good Neighbor" (Luke 10)

"Jesus in Jerusalem" (Matthew 20)

"He is Risen!" (Matthew 28)

Each story is 2-4 pages long, with about 2-7 sentences per page.  There aren’t human people in the stories, but bear people that act as the people in each story.

This is a really sweet book.  I liked it, and I recommend it to parents who want to teach their children Bible stories.  It is a very eye-catching board book. The stories are also really short, so if you wanted to tell them individually to toddlers you could, or you read them all to older children in one sitting, maybe as a bedtime story.

Many blessings to you as you teach your children,

Beth

To take a peek inside go to amazon.com or christianbook.com.

Disclaimer:  I received this book free from Book Look Bloggers in exchange for a review.  I was not required to give a favorable review.  The thoughts and opinions here are entirely my own.

The One Year Home & Garden Devotions by Sandra Byrd

"There is something poignant and meaningful about upcycling an abandoned planter with its well-earned patina while considering how the lines life has etched on us actually make us more appealing."-Sandra Byrd

I enjoy reading devotions.  When I first rededicated my life to the Lord many years ago, it was those bite-size teachings that got me through and sustained me.  

In Sandra Byrd's Home & Garden Devotions, you will find messages from Sandra, comprised of everyday activities, but infused with the Word of God.  There is one devotion for every day of the year.  Each devotion comes with a story, scripture, and what Sandra has learned about God in those seemingly small moments.

Here's an excerpt from September 17th, titled "Muddy Feet," where her daughter had been playing where she shouldn't have and gotten into some mud.

"I didn't ask her why she'd gone out of bounds or point out that this mess was the consequence of the action-a consequence that other people were going to have to help her clean up.

Instead, in a moment of true inspiration (and after she changed from the muddy pants), I took a washcloth and some warm water and washed her feet.  Say nothing, the Holy Spirit prompted me, and I obeyed, glad he'd made it so clear.  After my daughter's feet were clean, she reached up for a hug.  I hugged her back and knew that nothing would ever need be said.  She already knew that what she'd done was not right, and she wished it undone; although I couldn't help with that part, I could help her make it right again."

"Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them.  "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord," and rightly so, for that is what I am.  Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet.  I have set an example that you should do as I have done for you."

John 13:12-15

These mini-teachings are great for a moment of peace.  Wisdom can be found in the stories Sandra shares.

Another sweet feature you will find is each month has a fun gardening, home, or cooking activity.  I want to try some of them with my family, especially the one for September, "Cupcakes in a Jar."

I really enjoyed this devotional, and will continue to enjoy it for the next year. I recommend reading it in a quiet place, with a nice cup of peppermint tea.

Many blessings to you as you learn ways to grown in Him,

Beth

To learn more about the author, you can visit her at her website www.sandrabyrd.com.

To read an excerpt from the book, visit amazon.com.amazon.com

Disclosure Statement:  I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for this review.  I was not required to give a favorable review.  The thoughts and opinions here are entirely my own.

Live Love Lead by Brian Houston

"In order to build God's eternal kingdom and leave this kind of legacy, we have to remain pioneers fueled by grace, committed to explore the wild territory to which God calls us, whether that's the kindergarten classroom, the mission field in another country, or the boardroom at our workplace."

-Brian Houston, Live Love Lead

I first became familiar with Hillsong through their music in the 90's when the song "Shout to the Lord" was very popular.  Then, when we moved to Hawaii, the church we attended used a lot of their songs.  Needless to say, the worship was always amazing.  One of my favorites is by Hillsong Young and Free, "Wake."  A word of warning..don't listen to that song when you drive.

Live Love Lead, by Brian Houston, the pastor of Hillsong Church, is an autobiographical book with a message.  In the book, Pastor Brian shares his story, the story of Hillsong, the church and its music, and the life lessons he has learned along the way.

The premise for his book can be found in Matthew 7:

"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the goat and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.  Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

-Matthew 7:13-14

Jesus is that narrow gate.

Two of the amazing lessons I learned while reading Live Love Lead were:

1. Keep moving through life's trials.

2. Use what is in your hand to fulfill what God placed in your heart.

There were so many good nuggets of wisdom throughout the book.  I spent a lot of time underlining all the things I wanted to remember and refer back to.  Here are some of my favorite quotes.

"Jesus lived fully present in each moment every day."

"Living in the faith lane isn't a paint-by-numbers picture.  It colors outside the lines and sees with different eyes than the world does-eternal eyes with eternal perspective."

"When you live inside your own sphere of grace, when you lose the limitations of living up to anyone else's expectations, then you become comfortable with yourself and your life in a way that feels like putting on your favorite clothes."

"He said, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6)...He said that he is the way.  While I have no doubt that our path to knowing God is found only through Jesus, I also know that the message of the gospel is inclusive, not exclusive. Jesus invites everyone-men and women, Jew and Gentile, rich and poor, young and old, everyone-to accept the gift of grace by confessing that one and only name.  While Jesus declares that he is the only way (exclusive), he opens his way up to all who call upon his name (inclusive)."

"Salvation is something that Christ does in our heart that changes our eternal destiny.  It changes your reason for being, it changes your sense of purpose, it changes the way you live, it changes the reason for our gifts and talents, it changes our families and marriages. Ultimately salvation that starts in the heart has an impact on generations to come."

For me, this was a great book.  Like I said, I underlined so many things. There were some hard parts to read, when he shared some of the struggles he had been through in his life. But, through it I learned to keep moving forward through the struggle, and not be stopped by it and become a victim.

I recommend this book to everybody.  It is encouraging and uplifting and will help you develop a vision for your life.  There is so much wisdom, coming from the life he has lead and the experiences he has had.  It will instill some determination for the things to come, as well as helping you see God's vision and purpose for your life more clearly.

To learn more about the book, and read the first chapter go to liveloveleadbook.com.

Disclosure:  I received this book free from the publisher.  I was not required to give a favorable review.  The thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

God Bless Our Fall by Hannah C. Hall Illustrated by Steve Whitlow

"Let's cuddle up around the fire 

And warm our little feet.

The cider's hot and hits the spot.

The s'mores are gooey sweet."

God Bless Our Fall is a sweet little board book for children written in poetry form. It goes through all the fun activities people often experience in the fall like the changing colors of the leaves, pumpkin carving, hay rides, baking, outdoor fires, harvest festivals, and jumping in leaf piles. Different animals are featured in each of the different activities, which adds another element of education and fun to the picture book.

God is mentioned many times.  Children learn that God is the creator of fall.  The author thanks God and asks Him to bless our fall.

The book is aesthetically pleasing and the text is easy to read.  It would be a fun book to add some American Sign Language to while you read it to your little ones.  I like having another book about seasons to add to our collection.

I recommend this book to parents of early readers. The text is rhyming, so it would be a good book to work on those reading skills.

It would also be a great book to include when teaching children about God and His creation, because of all the different illustrations of animals, nature, and foods.

God bless you all in this new fall season,

Beth

Disclosure statement:  I received this book free from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my review.  I was not required to give a favorable review.  The thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

The Berenstain Bears Harvest Festival by Mike Berenstain

"God tells us to, 'Celebrate the Festival of Harvest with the firstfruits of the crops you sow in your field,"...

Book Description:

A new addition to the bestselling Berenstain Bears' Living Lights series that teaches simple Christian truths to children.

In this newest addition to the Berenstain Bears Living Lights series, The Berenstain Bears Harvest Festival, it’s autumn in Bear Country and the Chapel in the Woods is celebrating its first ever Harvest Festival.

Young readers will delight in joining the Bear family and all their friends as they gather at Farmer Ben’s farm for this new tradition filled with the fun of apple-picking, pumpkin patch wandering, hayrides, and more.

My Review

I really liked the illustrations in the book.  There were pictures of all the things people love about the autumn, like pumpkins and apples, the color orange and autumn leaves, hayrides and apple picking-all the treasured elements of fall were there.  

The story was a good story.  It was about the Berenstain family going to a Harvest Festival at a farm to celebrate the season.  The family picked apples and pumpkins, went for a hayride and shared a meal with their church family.

I thought the parents were so kind and respectful of their children's feelings in the book. When the kids ask to go to the Harvest Festival, Papa and Mama stop their work and take the children to celebrate!

The only thing I didn't like about the book were the references to mother nature.  I thought it didn't belong in a book about the blessings of God during the fall season, since He is the one responsible for all the goodness in our lives.

In the back of the book are some questions to ask your children after reading the book, plus two fun activities you can do with your children involving gardening and food.

I think children will like the illustrations in the book. My daughter has looked at the book several times. The illustrations are very appealing and warm.There are also some pictures of a few farm animals and animals you would find in the forest.

I recommend this book to families with small children.  It would be a fun way to introduce fall, and maybe go to a farm and experience that yourselves!

Many blessings to you as you read,
Beth

To read an excerpt and see the illustrations go here to christianbook.com.


Disclosure statement:  I received this book free from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my review.  I was not required to give a favorable review.  The thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

The Day is Waiting by Don Freeman/ Words by Linda Zuckerman

I requested this book because I like the scripture found in the back of the book.  It is part of one of my favorite passages of Scripture from Isaiah 55. 

"You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands."-Isaiah 55:12

That particular verse makes you think of rejoicing in the outdoors.  I think I know why they chose that one.

The Day is Waiting is a composite of illustrations put together by the late Don Freeman's wife.  Don Freeman was the creator of the children's book Corduroy.  After his passing, his wife decided to share some of his unpublished sketches, drawings, and paintings.  Words were added by close friend Linda Zuckerman, and a book was formed.

I enjoyed the book so much.  The text is simple.  The illustrations are peaceful.  Yet, they make you want to travel to faraway places.  They speak of a full life, one of lovely experiences. The words beckon you to travel and follow that inner desire to see new things.  At the end, there is the promise of home to return to.

I recommend the book to parents of small children.  Children are innately curious, always wanting to learn.  This book will encourage that curiosity.  It is also a good book to snuggle up with and read to your child.  The text is simple and the pictures match the text, so your child might have fun reading to you!

I would also recommend this book to homeschoolers.  It could be used for several fun activities.  As a literature activity, you could take the book and rewrite the story using the illustrations as inspiration.  If you are studying art, you could copy the illustrations using media of your choice.  If you are studying geography, you could explore some of the places that are illustrated in the book, two of which are London and Paris.  For science, you could study methods of travel, or some of the creatures you will encounter.

While preparing to write this book review, I learned something new.  On one of the pages there is an illustration of a bridge in London, that I thought was the London Bridge.  After researching, I discovered that it was actually the Tower Bridge in London. I think because of the shape and magnitude of the structure, the two are often confused.

There are many pictures to stir up conversations between you and your child.  I hope this book inspires you and your children of the possibilities and blessings God has in store for your lives!

Many blessings to you as you read,
Beth

Disclaimer:  I received this book free from Book Look Bloggers in exchange for a review. I was not required to give a favorable review.  The thoughts and opinions her are entirely my own.

If He Had Not Come by Nan F. Weeks/ Reintroduced by David Nicholson

"If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin."-John 15:22

Five words are the premise for the children's storybook set at Christmastime, "If I had not come."

In the story, a young boy named Bobby experiences what life would be like if Jesus had never come.  He wakes up one Christmas morning, only to find it is not Christmas.  Nobody is celebrating.  Nobody knows what Christmas is.  There are no Christmas decorations or celebrations.  But it goes beyond that.

As the story progress, we find out what life would have been like for all mankind had Jesus never come.  There would have been no churches, children's homes, hospitals, or homeless shelters.  

Eventually Bobby wakes up and realizes it was a dream, but the impact is real.

At first glance, I thought this book would just be about what Christmastime would be like with no Jesus.  But as I read on, I realized that the implications of no Jesus on this earth, would have far reaching repercussions.  I had never thought about it that way before.  

Jesus is the source of compassion and goodness in the hearts of the men and women who love Him.  The Bible says God is love and when He resides in a person's heart, the ability to love like He does resides there also.

This is a sweet children's book.  I received it in e-book format, but would like a hard copy to share with my family.

I recommend it to anyone who wants to share the message of the Gospel with their family. It would be a good addition to a library of books to read with your children each Christmas. There are discussion questions and activities in the back of the book to enable you and your family to dig deeper into the message of the story.

Many blessings to you as come to know in greater measure Jesus, who did come, and now resides in the hearts and lives of those who will receive him!

Beth




Disclaimer:  I received this book free from Book Look Bloggers in exchange for a review. I was not required to give a favorable review.  The thoughts and opinions her are entirely my own.