Rules of Murder ~ A Book Review

   I love mysteries, I love the 30's, and I love to play Clue. So, take a murder mystery, set it in the 30's, slap a cover on it that reminds me of Clue, and I am more than likely going to give it a go! "Rules of Murder" was worth the go, if I do say so myself.

The Pros:
   "Rules of Murder" is a fast-paced murder mystery set in the 1930's. When his mothers house party goes very wrong, it is up to Drew Farthering, best friend Nick Dennison, and Madeline Parker, his step-fathers spunky American niece, to solve this mystery.
   This book is perfectly paced, never too slow, never too fast, and with a comical twist on the old black and white mystery movies. The mystery itself, is sometimes predictable, but not at all boring. The romance is clean and very sweet, with a nice Christian element. And the whole book just had a great 1930's feel to it.

The Cons:
   It is after all a murder mystery, and it got to me in a couple of places with sweaty palms, shallow breathing, and I might have covered my eyes once or twice. (Yes, I know, it's a book...) Also, there was one particularly gory passage towards the end, which caused me to put the book down for the rest of the day. So, I would not suggest this book for those that are younger.

In Conclusion:
   This is an excellently written story for mystery lovers, with a sweet Christian theme woven throughout. I can fully recommend it as a fun read for a rainy day!

*I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

Looking Up

 

    I can't believe how long it has been since my last, real post! Although, in my defense, the events since then have been quite unexpected (in a very good way), and mixed with going back to school and work, have put a bit of a strain on my time. However, I am having a beautiful snow (ice?) day today, and am enjoying all of this extra time to not only meditate on and pray over Scripture, but share about it too!

    I have also been seeking to start my scripture memorization back up in the last couple of weeks, and this morning the verse I was meditating on was Psalm 34:1- I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

    I read an excellent devotional on this verse a few days ago, and was challenged about the praise-or lack thereof- in my life. The question posed to my heart was "How can I praise God, if I don't truly know Him and how worthy he is of it?" Any praise that stems from my own efforts, will fall so very short of the praise that my Savior deserves.

   And then I wondered, "How can I know and praise Him, if my gaze is so intensely focused on myself and my shortcomings, that I cannot see His beauty and grace?"

   It was as I was praying about this, that God brought to mind some verses in Colossians that I would never have connected on my own.

If then you were raised with Christ, 

seek those things which are above, 

where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.

Set your mind on things above, 

not on things on the earth.

For you died, and you life is hidden with Christ

in God.

-Colossians 3:1-3

   

   I am dead... Me, myself, and my flesh, are all dead! My life is no longer about this world, and about my sin- although that is a struggle I will have until heaven- but it is now about 'things which are above'. I have been poking around the ashes of my old self for too long, hoping and waiting for life to spring from them, when the fact is, that Christ is now my life! And because Christ holds and hides my life, I must look to Him to truly and fully live! 

   There is so much to praise and thank Him for when I at last look up, that I feel a bit like repeating the Psalmist: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

                   

So Long, Insecurity ~ A Book Review

"So Long, Insecurity" is the teen version of Beth Moore's popular book for adult women. It is printed in a magazine style, that keeps each chapter short, sweet, and to the point.

The Pros:
    I'm going to start off by admitting that I had very low expectations for this book. I have read magazine style studies before, and found them to be shallow and fluffy, especially when they started to talk about insecurity, which is the theme of this particular study. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that this was not the case. Each chapter, though short, is filled with scripture, practical tips, fun quizzes, great discussion questions, and very little "fluff".

The Cons:
   The chapters were quite short. There were several times that I thought the author could have gone deeper into a topic that she was discussing and skipped some of the "fun stuff".

In Conclusion:
   I think that this would be a great  book to use in an environment where this book could be used as a springboard for discussion and further study, such as a Sunday School class, or mother-daughter study.

P.S.- For those that have Twitter or Instagram accounts, you can follow Tyndale Teens on each of these for extra encouragement!

*I received this book free from Tyndale House for my honest opinion.

Devos for Teen Girls ~ Book Review

   "Devos for Teen Girls" is a one year devotional book geared toward girls and the daily problems that we face. It is written by Dannah Gresh and Suzy Weibel, two Christian authors and speakers, with a heart for teen girls.

The Pros:
   This book is full of great spiritual truths for many different topics that girls encounter every day, including some pretty hot topics such as: tattoos, sexuality, and marriage in today's culture. Each days devotional, contains a Bible verse, a very short lesson, and then an Action Step to help you practically apply what you learned. It is a quick, easy read, but doesn't sacrifice Truth.

The Cons:
   I really can't think of anything I didn't like about this book. Though I will say that because of the mature themes covered, I can only recommend it for older teens.

In Conclusion:
   "Devos for Teen Girls" would make a wonderful addition to any girls daily devotions!


*I received this book free from Tyndale House for my honest opinion.

Trouble in Store ~ A Book Review

   Trouble in Store, is the story of Melanie Ross, a young lady in 1880's America, who is left without family or friends. Her last resort is an Arizona mercantile that she has inherited from her uncle. However, upon arriving, she discovers that she has a business partner, Caleb Nelson, who is not at all excited to see her. She also discovers, that someone even more sinister, is determined to have her gone.

The Pros:
   This is a clean romance/adventure set in the "Wild West", complete with a damsel in distress, a dashing hero, and a cute little hero-in-training. The mystery portion was quite interesting, I thought. The author, even managed to throw me off the scent of the villain, several times, which definitely kept me turning pages.

The Cons:
   First of all, the heroine started getting on my nerves quite early in the story. Her spunk was admirable in some situations, but more often than not, her attitude came across as know-it-all. This also caused problems with dialogue, as half the book was she and Caleb arguing over something or other. Secondly, is seemed that the author was trying to make parallels between God leading Joseph in the Bible, and Him leading Melanie. However, this fell kind of flat for me, as she seemed to more often blaze on ahead by herself, instead of waiting on direction from God. Also, the romance portion, though clean and sweet, was pretty cookie-cutter.

In Conclusion:
   I give Trouble in Store, three out of five stars, for being a light, summer read, with an interesting mystery. However, I can think of several other stories that are equally as nice, without sacrificing a strong plot, or message.


*I received this book free, from Bethany House Publishers, in exchange for my honest review.

Memorial Day Sale!

   Hello girls! I wanted to share with you all a great sale that is going on this Memorial Day weekend at Deborah and Co.  Everything in their store is 15% off when you use the code: MEMORIALDAY and they are offering free shipping within the United States on orders of $100.00 or more. The sale runs from May 24-27, and is a great opportunity to supplement your summer wardrobe with some modest, high-quality clothes! 

   Here is a sample of some of their adorable skirts, shirts and accessories: 

This is their sweet Blossom Top, in Coral. It is also 

available in Summer Green, and Patriot Blue.

Here is their adorable Belle Skirt.

 This is a pair of their super cute Rowan Earrings.

(They also have several other styles of earrings!)

  Hope to see you at the sale!!!

Sweet Sanctuary ~ A Book Review

     Now, before I begin this review, I must let you know that this book was an accident! I have developed a disdain for much of the modern Christian fiction that lines book-store shelves due to the fact that they are soooooo predictable. So, when I received the email with the available books for review, I was interested in the World War 2 setting of this book (for which I have a soft spot), just not interested to apply for it. So, I clicked on it, to see an extended synopsis, which was actually the way to apply. Oops! Well, I forgot about it, until it appeared in my mailbox a couple of weeks ago, and I was not very happy to see it. After reading the synopsis on the back, I could pretty much tell where the book was going, however it was now my job to read and review it. And may I say I was pleasantly surprised?

The Pros:
        "Sweet Sanctuary" is set in 1945, Boston and New York, and is about a young single mother, seeking to provide 'sanctuary' for Nicky, her young son, from his drug addicted father. However, she has a secret about Nicky, which could destroy that hope.
         Actually, this book is full of secrets that I didn't see coming! Though this sounds like a typical Christian romance book, I was shocked at every turn. Not only could I actually stand the heroine, I was also foiled at every attempt to predict the end of the story. Mrs. Sawyer was very consistent, in that dates, ages, and past occurrences, added up. Also, there is a strong theme of redemption woven throughout the story that was encouraging, and that grew my faith in our awesome God! I was pleased to discover that the main thrust of the book was not the romance, but God's work in the lives of each of the characters, and His power to save. All loose ends were tied up well, without being too neat. (I mean, how often in real life does every situation end perfectly?)

The Cons:
        The only thing I wish was added to this book was an Epilogue. By the end of the story I was dying to know what happened to the characters ten or so years down the road. Truly, that is the only con to this wonderful book!

In Conclusion:
        This book is a must read if you enjoy faith building Christian fiction. I give it five stars out of five, ( a very rare rating) and highly, highly recommend it!!!

*I received this book free, in exchange for my honest review, which I believe that I have given.*

On God's Time

    "When you entered into solemn covenant with the Lord, you consecrated your whole life to his service. Your time, then, is not your own, but the Lord's. If you waste it, or spend it unprofitably, you rob God... 
      
   Suppose you waste only ten minutes at a time, six times in a day; this will make an hour. This hour is subtracted from that portion of your time which might have been devoted to active employments. Sleeping, refreshment, and personal duties, generally occupy at least one half of the twenty-four hours. You have then lost one twelfth part of the available portion of the day.

    Suppose, then,you live to the age of seventy years. Take from this the first ten years of your life. From the sixty remaining, you will have thrown away five years! These five years are taken from that portion of your time which should have been employed in the cultivation of your mind, and in the practical duties of religion. For, the common excuse for neglecting the improvement of the mind, and the cultivation of personal piety, is want of time. 

   Now, if you employ one half of this time in reading, at the rate of twenty pages an hour, you will be able to read more than eighteen thousand pages; or sixty volumes of three hundred pages each. If you employ the other half in devotional exercises in your closet, in addition to the time you would spend in this manner, upon the supposition that these five years are lost, what an influence will it have upon the health of your soul? Or, if you spend the whole of it in the active duties of Christian benevolence, how much good can you accomplish?


   Think what you might do by employing five years in the undivided service of your Master."


                                               -  excerpt from "A Young Ladies Guide" by Harvey Newcomb



*This is from an excellent book, written in the 1800's for the authors sister. I highly recommend it for any young lady seeking to grow in her walk with the Lord, or wondering how to His word applies practically to everyday life. 

A Daily Rate

                                                             Then He said to them all, 
                                                     "If anyone desires to come after Me, 
                                                                let him deny himself, 
                                                          and take up his cross daily,
                                                                   and follow Me.

                                                                     -  Luke 9:23

  

   I have been learning this lesson the hard way, since the last time that I blogged. This verse has been in my head for as long as I can remember, but only recently has the message made it to my heart. Or, it is starting to at least; I'm still a long way from it being planted there.

   I like to have things decided, and done, and clearly communicated. I like to make a final decision, and stick to it. What I do not like, is having to make that decision every single day. It leaves too much room for error, and forgetfulness, both of which do not set well with me.

   However, as I have been discovering, this is the pattern of the Christian life. Going out on a limb. Becoming vulnerable. And ultimately accepting grace one day at a time.

   In chapter 24 of 2 Kings, there is recorded the story of a young King Jehoiachin, of Judah. Because he is wicked in the sight of God, he is captured by the Babylonians. The chapter continues with the story of another king, and no more is said about Jehoiachin until the very end of the book, where it says:

And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the capture

of Jehoiachin king of Judah...

that Evil-merodach king of Babylon... 

did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah 

out of prison.

And he spake kindly to him,

and set his throne above the throne of the kings

that were with him in Babylon;

And changed his prison garments:

and he did eat bread continually before him

all the days of his life.

And his allowance was a continual allowance

 given him of the king,

a daily rate for every day, 

all the days of his life.

-2 Kings 27-30

    I think that this story is a beautiful picture of what happens when we are saved! Christ comes into our lives, and "lifts up our heads out of prison". He replaces our prison garments with white robes, invites us to eat at His table, and gives us an allowance of grace for each day as it comes. 

   I especially love the part about the 'daily rate'. He doesn't give us all the grace that we will ever need all at once, for I'm sure He knows that, like the prodigal son, we would take it and run*. But He gives it to us daily, as we need it, that we may learn day after day, to surrender ourselves to our King, and walk in sweet fellowship with Him.

*I would like to note that the grace I mean here, is not the grace that saves. That grace is all that we need for all of eternity. In this post I am speaking of the grace to resist temptation, and love God, and live every day for His glory.*

Loving Guardian

   Have you ever been in a dark place in life, where it felt like God had abandoned you? Or are you perhaps in a place like that right now? Well, God has recorded a story for us in Genesis, about a woman who felt exactly the same way.

   Her name is Hagar, and she is a handmaiden to Sarai, the wife of Abram, to whom God has promised a son. However, Sarai is old, really old, and has not been able to have children, even when she was young! So, Hagar's mistress, Sarai, decides to give Hagar to Abram as another wife, hoping that perhaps God will give him a son, through this younger woman.

   Guess what? It works! Hagar soon finds out that she is going to have a child, the child that Sarai was never able to have, and she gets pretty cocky about it. You see, in that time, it was a disgrace not to be able to bear children, so since Hagar could, she thought that she would rub it in a little. (Okay, probably alot!)

    As I'm sure you can understand, this makes Sarai very upset, and she ends up driving Hagar into the desert, where Hagar finds herself alone, by a spring of water. This is also, where God finds her. Here is what happens next:

Now the Angel of the Lord found her

by a spring of water in the wilderness,

by a spring of water on the way to Shur.

And He said, "Hagar, Sarai's maid, 

where have you come from, 

and where are you going?" She said,

"I am fleeing from my mistress Sarai"

The Angel of the Lord said to her,

"Return to your mistress, and submit

yourself under her hand."

Then the Angel of the Lord said to her,

"I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, 

so that they shall not be counted for multitude."

And the Angel of the Lord said to her:

"Behold, you are with child, and you shall bear a son.

You shall call his name Ishmael, 

because the LORD has heard your affliction.

He shall be a wild man;

His hand shall be against every man, 

and every man's hand against him.

And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren."

Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her,

You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees

   -Genesis 16:7-13a

  Right here, in Genesis 16:13, is the first place that we see today's name of God: El-Roi, which means "The God Who Sees". In the midst of Hagar's darkness, in the midst of her despair, God saw, and brought instruction and a promise to her. 

   I love how is says that God found her. Now, I don't know how that word is supposed to read in the original text, but in English, it brings to mind, the Truth that the Lord is our shepherd, and He seeks out His sheep. 

   I also think it's interesting, that it is partially Hagar's fault that she is out here in the desert. It was Hagar, after all, who turned up her nose at Sarai, and despised her mistress. But just as that didn't stop God from seeking her out, and comforting and instructing her; when we belong to God, our sins don't keep Him from seeking to draw us nearer to Himself. Yes, we may find ourselves in the desert for awhile, seeking a spring that will not satisfy, but God will never give up on us!!!

   Alright, back to my main point! hehe!!! 

  God not only sees us in the desert, He also sees:

1. Our need. Matthew 6:8 says that our Father knows what we have need of, even before we ask! 
2. Our hurt. Psalm 56:8 says that God keeps count of our tossing's, and puts our tears into a bottle! How mind-blowing is that?!?!?!?
3. Our sin.  Proverbs 15:3 says that the eyes of God are in every place, watching the evil and the good; and Psalm 90:8 goes even farther, by saying that our secret sins, are spread out before God! Oops! This one is definitely more uncomfortable, isn't it?
4. Our heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 says that while man looks on the outward appearance, God looks at the heart. This one could go either way. It could be good, if we are like David, or it could be not so good, if we are more like his brothers! 

   I hope that this post, has encouraged you in your walk with God, and perhaps given you a healthy dose of the fear of the Lord! :) I would love for you girls to share some other ways that God sees us, or perhaps, how it makes you feel to know that God is always watching over you! ( Secure, convicted, safe...) I hope that you all have a beautiful day, of drawing nearer to our precious Lord and Savior!!!

  

Covenant Keeper

   Did you know that there are four key names for God in the Bible? Since I can't read the original languages, I certainly didn't! But it is from these four, that the rest of the names we are going to study, stem. They are:

• El
• Elohim
• Adonai
• Jehovah

   Today, we are going to focus on El and Elohim.

  Elohim, is a beautiful word, that represents God's power and might. It is also the very first name, God reveals to us in His Word. (Genesis 1:1 to be exact) The Bible then goes on to use it 2,570 more times!!! So, let's get a break-down of this very first name of God.

   El- "Strong One" [also used at the end of such names as: Dani-el; Isra-el; Samu-el, etc...]
   Ohim- " to swear or bind with an oath or covenant"
   Elohim- "the Strong One Who Keeps His Covenant"

   Wow! Right here, at the very beginning of Scripture, before we read of sin and it's consequences, before we get to meet Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, before we even learn of our own creation: God let's us know that He is faithful to keep His promises!!!

  So what is this covenant that He is keeping? Well there are actually a few that He is keeping:

1. Himself- the eternal covenant relationship between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The word Elohim, is a plural word, but is always used with singular verbs and adjectives, making a perfect picture of the unity in the Trinity!
2. All of His Creation.
3. All of His Creatures
4. His Covenant People of Israel. (The one I'm sure that most of you instantly thought of!)

   Isn't this incredible? In this one word, (not to mention, at the very beginning of the Bible), we learn the incredible Truth, that God keeps His promises. It doesn't matter that we continually turn from God's ways, to seek our own, or that we deny Him with our lives, shunning His love- once He has made a promise, nothing, and no one has the power to turn Him from it!

   Oh dear sisters, if you have not accepted the sacrifice of Jesus on your behalf, if you have not given Him your heart and soul in salvation, I pray that you do so today, right now! He has promised that whoever believes in Him, will have eternal life! 

   Let us live securely in this promise, my dear sisters, knowing that God does not depend on us, to keep us; all that we are, is resting in His more than capable hands!!!

(You can read about why it is so important to study the names of God, here)

Why God's Names are Important

  I can't believe that it has been over a month since my last post!!! Well... maybe I can. (sheepish grin)

  However, I have a wonderful series coming up for you girls, that I am very excited about, and that will hopefully make up for my long absence... The Names of God!!! (Forgive me now?)

   I don't know about you, but a few months ago, this topic would not have excited me... at all. I mean sure, I would work up a smile, and an excited 'That sounds fun', but I wouldn't have really meant it. My change of heart has come about in the last few weeks, as I have been learning why God revealed to us these names, and what they say about His heart. (spoiler alert: it's pretty awesome!!!) So without further ado, let's get started!

   Before we really dig in, I want to give you a few reasons why it is so important to study the names of God. This will hopefully lay the ground-work, for the rest of this series, and get you excited about learning even more!
         1.) God chose to reveal them to us. And if you haven't noticed, He always has a great
          reason for everything that He does.
         2.) They each reveal a different aspect of His character. Too many times, I think we get  
          hung up on only one or two aspects of God's character, and forget that He is far beyond
          anything we can imagine!!!
         3.) They add richness to the 'common' Bible stories. I love, love, love, discovering the
          first place God revealed a name to someone. Not only is it like a treasure hunt, but it
          always adds such depth to the story, which in turn, gives us a wonderful backdrop for
          understanding that name and applying it to our own lives.
         4.) God says, that if we seek Him, we shall find Him, when we search for Him with 
              all of our heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)

  I hope that this post has whet your appetite to learn more about God, and that you will be seeking Him with all of your heart as we head into this series.

That's My King

   A week or so ago, I was throwing a great pity party for myself:  focusing on my 'hardships' and lamenting this and that 'struggle'. I was tired, I was frustrated, someone said something that I didn't like, you know the usual.

   But God, in His great faithfulness, pulled me out of that by the roots of my hair, and put my focus back where it belonged- on Him. I invite you all to watch the video below and bask in the glory, and majesty, and awesomeness of our God!

    I don't know what you are dealing with today, if it is a true trial, or if it is petty, like mine, but I do know Who can handle anything that is thrown our way, even if all we need is a good shake! He's my King. Do you know Him?

The Truth of the Matter

   It's funny, the month that I chose for the topic of discouragement, is the month I find the most to discourage me spiritually. Or, maybe it's not so funny, and more a reminder that we "wrestle not against flesh and blood".

   I had so much planned to write to you all on this topic; so many pretty phrases and concise thoughts, that I cannot remember any longer. I meant to encourage you with truth, and exhort you, from farther along in my walk. I still plan to do the truth part, but I no longer have any delusions about having it all figured out.

   Because the truth... well, the truth is that living for Christ is hard! He makes that very plain when He tells us to bear our cross and follow Him. But He also says that He will never leave us or forsake us. One of my favorites verses begins with:

                                           See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands;
                                                                             - Isaiah 49:16a

   He will never, ever forget us, and leave us to toil onward by ourselves. In fact, He says:


                                            For they shall not be ashamed who wait for Me.
                                                                             - Isaiah 49:23b
 

   We can place absolute faith and trust in our Savior, to strengthen, forgive, and renew us, as we wait on Him.

    Please, dear sisters, don't ever forget this promise!

   If I had to name one trap that I fall into more than any other in my spiritual life. One lie that I believe above all the rest, it would be that I believe that I can do it all in my own strength.

   Too often I muster up my will-power, and subsist on that alone for a week or so of daily quiet times, instead on relying on, and resting in, the strength that God so freely offers me. I lose sight of my goal- to know Christ more- and settle for what I can immediately see- the means to the end. And this is when discouragement settles in, thick and oppressive.

   I want to leave you with a quote that has brings me fresh, and proper perspective, each time I read it. God has used it in my life to point out pride, and faith in my flesh, and I pray that He may use it to convict your heart as well.

                                           "Discouragement with self is just an indication 
                                           that we think we can get something good out of 
                                           ourselves; we cannot. Our goodness is wrapped 
                                           up in the person of the Lord Jesus."
                                                                                - Sarah L. Bryant

January's Topic ~ Discouragement

   Hello girls! This month on Under the Apple Tree, I would love for us to discuss discouragement.

    Discouragement, has been a very real and constant struggle in my life, for many years now. I strive and struggle to make it to a certain level of goodness, only to discover that I am still very flawed. This sends me into a type of despair, because I have the mindset that I should be able to do this, and if I can't then what is the point of trying?

   Can you relate?

   But as I have cried out to God, and sought the counsel of those older and wiser, my Savior has been ever faithful to reveal to me the root problem of this sin- yes, it's a sin- and what lies have been taking me captive in this way.

   As we talk about study and discuss this topic, I will be sharing Truth's from scripture about what causes discouragement, promises that we can claim when discouragement tries to creep in, and quotes from much wiser people than myself. I would also love to hear from you, dear sisters! What questions or struggles do you have with discouragement? This blog is, after all, for your encouragement, so I would love to be able to speak directly to your hearts! You can leave a comment with your questions, or if you feel shy about making it so public, you can email me from the Contact tab.

   I pray that God blesses each of you in this new year, as you continue to seek Him!