My top 14 reads from 2014!!!

It is now time for me to share with you the top 14 books of 2014! Although I kept an organized list of all the books I completed during the year, and even highlighted my favourites from each month, it was very difficult to come up with just 14 favourites.

So I didn't. 

But I'm calling it the top 14 of the year.

Rules: All these books were NEW reads for me! 

Because I read so few rereads this year (sadly enough),
 I was able to tack them on at the end of the list.
As a bonus.
You're welcome.
Oh, and for those of you who don't know me, I assure you I am not boasting concerning what I've read and such.
If I wanted to boast, it would be about the fact that I remembered every author from my very own noggin without having to look them up. But I didn't remember every author so that would have to categorize as only half true.

Reading isn't too super-heroic for me and my kin (who all read constantly even before we had mastered the English language- or any language for that matter).
It's putting what I read into practice that's special.

Oh, and before you think I just broke my family's bank
fulfilling my reading needs, read this post. 

 Starting with non-fiction:
They are in chronological (as read) order...

Six Days- Ken Ham

Apologetics
Read it!

Hitler's Cross- Erwin Lutzer

1940 history
Hitler's belief system
Read it!

Prophet on the Run- Baroz

Excellent study of the book of Jonah

Choosing Gratitude- Nancy Leigh DeMoss

Life-changing devotional-style book. Not just for ladies, guys!

Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus- Nabeel Quereshi

Quite interesting. I love reading salvation stories.

Ex-Muslim- Naeem Fazal

Both these books were good. I can't remember which I preferred
 though. Sorry. Perhaps the first. yes.

Singled Out- Nikki Derouin

I appreciated a slightly different approach to the topic. Uplifting.

Spoken For- Robin Jones Gunn
 
Finding your identity in Christ.

Privilege of Persecution- Dr. Karl A Moeller

Wonderful picture of believers in other countries.
Read it!

Afro-Vegan- Bryant Terry

Full of delicious and healthy recipes!
Get it. 

The Nourished Kitchen- Jennifer McGruther

In the style of Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon-
lots of recipes and techniques!

25 Ways to Communicate Respect to your husband- Jen Flanders

(I know: so practical, right? But then again, I hope to someday be able to put into practice the truths learnt from this book!)
Excellent for wives and those hoping to be.

Bible Revival- Kenneth Berding

Great stand for truth

The Knock at the Door- Margaret Ajemian Ahnert

Armenia 1915 genocides biography
Heart-rending and exciting semi auto-biography. See my link above however as there was stuff not all readers should read.

Secret Believers- Brother Andrew

Love the  stories of faith!

The Home Team- Clint Archer

Read it! It's an easy read, but full of foundational truths for the family!

Journey Through the Night- Anne DeVries

World War 2  Christian historical fiction...yes!
One of the top recommendations from 2014, I assure you!

Journey to the River Sea- Eva Ibbotson

Sweet and humorous children's adventure with the allure of fantasy.

Daisies Are Forever- Liz Tolsma

World War 2 fiction
This is the best Christian romance I've read. Like a movie.
Wouldn't recommend for young readers though.

I am David- Anne Holmes

WWII historical fiction
Sweet and wonderful story!
Good for all ages.

Just 18 Summers- Rene Gutteridge and Michelle Cox

Loved this contemporary fictional book.
I guess it's inspirational fiction. We got a lot of laughs out of it. And inspiration.

The Heretic- Henry Vyner-Brooks

This ends up being such an exciting story! But see my review...there were some things...that weren't very conservative or tasteful. And it's hard to read aloud, so I don't know what your family is going to do! It's not a book you'll die if you don't read. Like with Robert Louis Stevenson's books. But it was good. Actually, what's odd is that it can't compare to Robert Louis Stevenson's adventures yet the salvation message in The Heretic was excellent!

The favourite re-reads of the year: 

The Hiding Place

By Far Euphrates

The Scarlet Pimpernel

God's Smuggler
If you haven't read these, DO!

No, I am not going to share the worst books I read in 2014!

Check out my Goodreads page if you're curious.
And connect with me on Goodreads; it's a great place to share book ideas!

Choosing Gratitude...today and every day!

   It is so easy to be thankful on Thanksgiving Day, but do you carry a heart of gratitude throughout the year? Nancy Leigh DeMoss's book Choosing Gratitude helped me immensely as I try to form a habit of being thankful for everything! I followed the 30-day devotional included in this book and it was a wonderful 30 days...I need to do it again!

   CHOOSING GRATITUDE by Nancy Leigh DeMoss

Is the gratitude that flows out of your life as abundant as the grace that flows into your life?

  You may think of yourself as a pretty grateful person, I know I did. I am one of the most thankful people for all the blessings the Lord heaps upon me! But what about the hard times? What about the lessons and trials of life which are sent by God?
As I force myself to realize, being grateful for God's work in your life a year after, is not true gratitude. Imagine how different your life would be if you maintained an attitude of thanksgiving?

As the author emphasizes, ''gratitude is a lifestyle.''
''The grateful heart that springs forth in joy is not acquired in a moment; it is the fruit of a thousand choices.''

''True gratitude is not an incidental ingredient. Nor is it a stand-alone product, something that never actually intersects with life, safely denying reality out on its own little happy island somewhere'' (pg.23)

Without living with a true heart of thankfulness...
''Gradually, subtly, we become desensitized as layers of entitlement and resentment wrap themselves around our hearts until thankfulness is all but gone from our lives and lips.''
Oh, how I agree! I have felt this too often in my life. This holds true even day by day. As soon as we let go and retreat into our natural way of feeling sorry for ourselves, it becomes like a trap.
The author tells the story of a church leader from India, when asked honest opinion of Americans. He responded carefully ''You have no idea how much you have, and yet you always complain.''
Isn't that (sadly) the case?
What are we going to do about it?

''Where does gratitude rank on your list of Christian virtues?''
 Nancy explains that faith without gratitude results in a heartless practice of religion. Christian love without gratitude culminates in disappointment and disillusionment. Sacrificial giving of self without gratitude will drain you of joy.

   I can't describe what a blessing this book was to me. Nancy gently but firmly encourages the reader to examine his or her heart and to work on changing personal attitudes.
It's not simply a matter of applying a Pollyanna-like attitude to life. It's about how you view God's hand in your life. And about how you view yourself in comparison to God's perfection and holiness! We should be overwhelmed by all that He has given us! I quote loosely from the movie Courageous: ''The question is- are you going to be thankful for the nine years you had Emily, or resentful for the years you didn't have?'

 Nine chapters of wisdom. Plus a thirty-day devotional. I recommend this book with all my heart!

Thoughts for Thanksgiving

"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,

And into His courts with praise.

Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

 For the Lord is good;

His mercy is everlasting,

And His truth endures to all generations."

Even when life seems difficult, I have to admit that God has been gracious beyond anything that we could EVER deserve. Throughout the year, we all need to remember what blessings the Lord has bestowed on us. 

A couple years ago, I started a simple tradition of writing a list at the opening of the year of all the good things I was looking forward to that year. (not necessarily goals that I had to work towards accomplishing, although that certainly is good; just moments I was looking forward to.) At the close of each year, I have been astonished by the dozens of surprises God gave us the past year that I had no idea He would. Do it; try writing down all that God has done in your year...! You will never finish. Because of course there are blessings in disguise as well. I also include these in my list at the end of the year. The lessons learnt, trials overcome, chastenings sent, etc. Sometimes, those are the greatest blessings of all. Because what really matters is growing in the Lord, and learning more about Him. 

I hope you have found much to be thankful for this year! 

Studying history always really opens my eyes to what I have to be grateful for in my life, and what is required of me in my future as a citizen of a presently peaceful land. Both of those aspects are overwhelming. I know I'm a little late in learning all this, but the full impact of what it means to have so much at our fingertips hit me.All my life it was a thought in the back of my mind however, this year as my family friends and I have discussed together, I saw how much has been invested in we young people....and that we can't let it go to waste. When I think of all that the Reformers and Pilgrims (and the Christians before them!) went through to honor God's truths....and how we so often take everything we have so easily for granted....we must not continue in apathy! We must be grateful for what God has given us and use it wisely- to glorify and honour Him!

I am thankful for.....

.....Where God has placed me in life.....and who He has placed me with!.....

                                     

                                           November 2012

My family June 2012

....My friends...and people in general!....(too numerous to picture here!!!)

My closest friends: my siblings! November 2012


....opportunities to learn from great Christians and to grow up with like-minded people...

...good books...

....costumes....

....times to enjoy God's marvelous creation...

And.....need I continue? Because I could! 

But instead, I will ask you what things you are especially thankful for today! 

I will share more about what I loved about this year....at the beginning of the next one, like I usually do!  :)

Have a blessed Thanksgiving. I'd love to hear about what you did to celebrate God's goodness!

Free books for bloggers/ PaperBackSwap

Do you love to read? And love to write reviews? Well...here are several great ways to get entirely
 FREE Christian books for yourself! (of course writing a 200 word review isn't work!)

Naturally, these are Christian books written in 2011/2012, so they don't have the deep content of books written decades ago. Often the doctrine is wrong. But I have happened across several good books anyhow!

Books I received for FREE from January to March 2012!
5 of these were worth keeping; pretty good for free. :)

BookSneeze, the first program for which I signed up, has proved to be the easiest and best still:

(BOOKSNEEZE)

Christian books published by Thomas Nelson publishers.

Bloggers get free books- signing up is very easy; you give your blog address where you will be posting the reviews. This is the easiest site to request books on, as well as to send in your review since you just post the links to your review on their website....and they have had a large variety of not only e-book, but also print books available in the past! I have enjoyed and kept most of the books which I chose from them. 

(BLOGGING FOR BOOKS)
Another site of Christian books. Set up is simple, as well. As is the process of entering your review links, and requesting your next book.


My second-favorite company is: 

BOOK CRASH

Christian books from small companies- I have received over four books through them, so it's safe, although it's not as professional as the other companies.  When you sign up, you have to wait for an email, and to request a book, just visit their page of available books (link provided in an email they send you) and click on the request button under the book you desire to review: this will open up an email to send to them; make sure you include your mailing address. 

(click on icon above)
TYNDALE PUBLISHERS (Christian books- system works through your email: you sign up, they decide if you qualify, then they send you names of books available through email. Pretty good, although there aren't many books available.)

BETHANY HOUSE BOOK REVIEWERS program
My least favorite program, this one is pretty simple as well, although I haven't cared much for their books. They always notify through emails....so make sure you check your email if you want to know about books! They will also send you an email when you request a book, and they will tell you where to send your review....

New Leaf publishing
Books from Answers In Genesis, and more, this program looks exciting to me. I look forward to requesting good books from them.
The company has to make the decision before letting you join.....But it's worth a try!

LASTLY....what do you do with these books if you DON'T want to keep them after reading them? Why....SWAP them, of course! :) You are not allowed to sell the books you received in exchange for a review, but definitely suggest swapping through this fantastic program: PaperbackSwap!

Signing up:
When you sign up, through the below link, they will ask you on the page if anyone referred you. I would be SO happy if you would say I referred you! (my name on the site is ''Mazzou'')
 THANKS A BUNCH.


More about the site....
You simply join, just start listing books you have which are in good condition, and when a book is requested from you, you package the book and pay for its shipping. When the book is received by the other member, you will get a credit (1 credit per book!) to use to request any book off the site for YOURSELF! :)
As a special incentive, when you list 10 books, the company automatically gives you 2 credits as a gift.  And the referral system gives you 1 credit every time a friend lists 10 books.
I must admit that not all your favorite books will be available immediately. However, each person gets to add as many as 200 books to their wishlist which will enable you to keep in line as you wait for your desired book to be posted by another member. (I am sure this sometimes takes years....but oh well! I am grateful for the wishlist system.) I actually have received a couple books already from my wishlist!

Book quality:
 I have, so far, received over 4 great books in like-new condition! Very exciting. (if you do not want any books worse than ''new'' condition, you can specify that on your paperbackswap club account!) You can swap books which are in good condition, or newer. There is even a forum on the site for swapping damaged books.

My success story:
In fact, two like-new Christian historical fiction books which I recently received I would have paid over $12.00 each if I had purchased them from the company we usually do....through PaperBackSwap I ended up paying only $3.17 for both!(where do I get this $3.17? from the cost it sent me to mail out 2 books previously in order to obtain the 2 credits to spend on these two books I requested!) See what I mean....it's great!

Choosing books to swap:
Note: If you don't have books in your home which you want to get rid of on PaperBackSwap, you can always purchase books from your thrift shop, library, etc. I suggest you look out for lightweight books, so you can spend less for your credit. Also, you might want to contemplate which books are highly desired in the club....you can find this out, and more, on the site!

Comment on this post if you have any questions, or if you already use PaperBackSwap!

Author Deborah Alcock

Deborah Alcock

   I have only read six of Deborah Alcock's many books, but each was a spectacular work of historically accurate, exciting Christian historical fiction! Can anything get better than that? I highly recommend these books. I have always loved well-written historically accurate books of adventure, intrigue, excitement, with also a little sadness, a little romance....but of such I have rarely found books which also present a strong Christian message!
I don't believe I am overstating when I say that you will love these books. They appeal to a wide group of ages....although I suggest someone pre-read them for children under the age of 11. And although I am sure a younger child could read them, I assure you they are so well-written in the delightful style of the 19th century so as to appeal to young adults as well. Lastly, they are wonderful reads for both boys and girls! Continue reading my thoughts at end of this post. Thank you!
Of interest: Read a full-length biography of Deborah Alcock's life here!

Crushed Yet Conquering  by Deborah Alcock

This tale of Constance and Bohemia will be under our BOHEMIA section at our table (One Covenant, Many Countries) at the Conference; also at the Inheritance Publications booth.

"A gripping story filled with accurate historical facts about John Huss and the Hussite wars.  Hardly any historical novel can be more captivating and edifying than this book."

This, the first Deborah Alcock book I read, has continued to be one of my very favorites of hers. Due to its length and heavy historical content, it is most suited for older children's reading; but all can enjoy it. 

The Spanish Brothers by Deborah Alcock

"He could not die thus for his faith.  On the contrary, it cost him but little to conceal it.  What, then, had they which he had not?  Something that enabled even poor, wild, passionate Gonsalvo to forgive and pray for the murderers of the woman he loved.  What was it?"

This well-written story portrays an intriguing story where two devoted brothers plan to find their long-lost father.  While the one brother, Carlos, went off for training to be a priest, the other, Juan became a soldier.  Read of their adventures and, ever more so, of their faith as they face persecution during the time of Spanish Inquisition. One of the most colorful and dramatic of Deborah Alcock's books, this is my sister Jessie's favorite along with Dr. Adrian (see below). And one of my favorite as well.

Done And Dared In Old France by Deborah Alcock
Inheritance Publication's Huguenot Inheritance Series #7

Read of the faith and courage of 10-year-old Gaspard who flees from France to England.  Captivating, inspiring, and historically accurate, this exciting book tells the story of a young boy of Huguenot family  who, captured by salt-smugglers, attempts to join his family in England. The famous (historic) Claude Brousson plays an important part in the life of (fictional) Gaspard. 

Doctor Adrian by Deborah Alcock

Through unexpected circumstances, scholar Doctor Adrian became involved in supporting the Protestant cause.  In this book, you will feel the tragedy of the Seige of Leyden as the Dutch felt it, understand the hope those same citizens experienced when William of Orange (William the Silent) came to succor them, and feel the personal turmoil in the life of the fictional Dr. Adrian....This inspiring, exciting story is a tale of his conversion.  Along with The Spanish Brothers, this is my sister Jessie's favorite. 

The Baron of Salgas; The Cross and The Crown; The Carpenter of Nimes by Deborah Alcock and Sabine Malplach

THE BARON OF THE SALGAS, A True Huguenot Story by Sabine Malplach  AND:
THE CROSS AND THE CROWN & THE CARPENTER OF NIMES, Two Huguenot Stories by Deborah Alcock

Three tales of the the danger faced by the Huguenots of France, involving family relations, imprisonment, and escapes. Although I own this book, I have hardly read it as of yet....it looks very good though!

By Far Euphrates by Deborah Alcock

This is one of Deborah Alcock's best. It is incredibly moving since it takes place in the 19th century, a time when the majority of the western world was living in ease and prosperity! In writing his, Deborah Alcock studied so in depth the trials of the Armenian christians and heard so many heart-renching stories from a missionary friend who had been there that not only did she sum up the horrors of the massacres in Armenia with this simple sentence in the book: “We will not read about this subject; we will not think of it.  It is too horrible. … We cannot take up this burden in addition to the rest.  It would sink us.”; but she also became very ill from the strain of putting herself in the place mentally of these suffering Armenian Christians. Of all her books, this one touched her life the most deeply since the tragedies had been played out during her lifetime. Her goal with this book in fact was to bring to the light the martyrdom of the Armenian christians, and to raise money for the widows, orphans and mutilated survivors of the massacres! Although this could be an incredibly gruesome book, I think Miss Alcock did a marvelous job of showing only what could be stomached by us weak people of the western world! 

Again....if you like books by G.A.Henty, Ballantyne, Robert Louis Stevenson, Douglas Bond or Lamplighter Publishing books....I trust you will love these just as much. And I totally recommend substituting these  historical fiction books for any non-christian historical fiction or fiction and definitely fantasy books you now have on your shelves!....ENJOY.