As Silver Refined

Answers to Life's Disappointments

Written by Kay Arthur

 

About This Book

What Can You Do When Life Doesn’t Turn Out Like You Planned?

How do you respond when your husband or wife tramples your emotions? When your boss fires you unexpectedly? When you lose your life’s savings? When the child you’ve loved and prayed for turns his back on you and your values?

When disappointments like these smash their way into your life, you may want to scream, “How could God let this happen?”

But what if God didn’t just “let it happen”? What if the things you call disappointments are really His appointments—events He is using to make you more like Christ? What if your circumstances are actually the flames of His grace, intended to melt and burn away the undesirable elements in your life, leaving you pure and radiant—like refined silver?

You can be defeated by life’s unavoidable disappointments, or you can become stronger because of them.

Life’s disappointments can send you on a dangerous downward spiral into discouragement, depression, or even despair. But in this eye-opening book, Kay Arthur guides you to biblical truths that will help you break that cycle and instead embrace disappointment as the cleansing fire God uses to make you—as silver refined—a reflection of His goodness.

Now includes a 16 week Bible study!

My Review: 

Kay Arthur writes great books! This books is an encouragement to us all not to let discouragement take over us when life doesn't happen like we think it should. When we question God why and don't receive the answer we are urge to continue to have faith.  The author uses her own life experiences as well as others to show us that it is the way we respond to disappointments in life that can either make us or break us. Most importantly she includes the examples found in God's Word to back up what she shares from these life experiences.

This book contains chapter on such things as Facing Stress, The Gift of Meekness, Facing the Pain, Peace Amid the Pain, A Call to Courage, and A Message of Hope. The book also includes a 13- Week Companion Bible Study that can be used for groups or personal bible study. I would recommend this book to everyone!

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

 

 

 

Valley of Dreams, Wild West Wind Series #1

By: Lauraine Snelling

More in Wild West Wind Series

Bethany House / 2011 / Paperback

Product Description

Cassie Lockwood's mother died when she was little, so Cassie traveled with her father's Wild West Show and became an amazingly skillful trick rider, likened by some to the famous Annie Oakley. When her father died, she continued to work with the show, having nowhere else to go. Now Cassie has discovered that "Uncle" Jason, the show's manager, has driven the show into debt, and he's absconded with what little money was left. Devastated, Cassie decides to try to find the hidden valley where her father had dreamed of putting down roots. She has only one clue. She needs to find three huge stones that look like fingers raised on a giant hand. With Chief, a Sioux Indian who's been with the show for twenty years, and Micah, the head wrangler, she leaves both the show and a bundle of heartache behind and begins a wild and daring adventure.

Publisher's Description

Addy Lockwood's mother died when she was little, so Addy traveled with her father's Wild West Show and became an amazingly skillful trick rider, likened by some to the famous Annie Oakley. When her father died, she continued to work with the show, having nowhere else to go. Now Addy has discovered that "Uncle" Jason, the show's manager, has driven the show into debt, and he's absconded with what little money was left. Devastated, Addy decides to try to find the hidden valley where here father had dreamed of putting down roots. She has only one clue. She needs to find three huge stones that look like fingers raised in a giant hand. With Chief, a Sioux Indian who's been with the show for twenty years, and Micah, the head wrangler, she leaves both the show and a bundle of heartache behind and begins a wild and daring adventure.

Author Bio

Lauraine Snelling is the award winning author of over 60 books for adults and young adults. Her books have sold over 2 million copies. Besides writing books and articles, she teaches at writers' conferences across the country. She and her husband make their home in Tehachapi, California.

My Review: This book has a interesting story line. The books is about a girl (Cassie) in search of a valley her father told her about before he died.The story goes back and forth about Cassie and another family that lives on the Bar E Ranch. For those who enjoy reading western style books this is the book for you. I would also recommend this book for young adults. This book leaves you wanting to read the next book in the series to found out what happens next..

I received this book free from Bethany House for this review.

A Woman's Guide to Fasting

By: Lisa E. Nelson

Bethany House / 2011 / Paperback

Product Description

With warmth and experience, Lisa Nelson provides everything you need to know to make fasting a natural and powerful part of your life. Offering insight and realistic practical advice, she addresses feeding your family while fasting, busy work schedules, and other considerations of concern to women. Includes tips for all types of fasts including the Daniel Fast. Paperback.

Publisher's Description

Christians often give up on fasting, or don't try it at all, because they lack thorough advice. Most fasting books explain the biblical reasons to fast, but they provide inadequate practical guidance. This concise book shows women the essential steps to successful fasting. Key topics include how to prepare physically and spiritually, what to expect during the fast, and how to reintroduce food. Whether the reader has never fasted before or has tried it occasionally, or wants to fast for one meal or for several days, this unique resource will equip and encourage her to grow closer to God through fasting.

Author Bio

Lisa E. Nelson has led retreats and workshops on fasting for several years. An active speaker and leader in Protestant Women of the Chapel, an international ministry to military spouses, she has worked as an attorney and university law teacher. Her husband, John, is a colonel in the United States Army. They have two children and live in Fairfax, Virginia.

My Review:
This is an easy to read guide to fasting. It provides biblical sound instructions on fasting in a practical way. The author shares her own journey in fasting making sure to let the book reader know it is okay to make mistakes, as God See's our heart.The author describes the different types of fast seen in the bible and shares that we can fast other things then just food. Most important is the significance  placed on growing closer to God. I would recommend this book to all woman wanted a easy to understand guide to fasting.

I received this book free from Bethany House for this review.

 

House of Secrets

By: Tracie Peterson

Bethany House / 2011 / Paperback

 

Publisher's Description

When her father orchestrates a surprise trip to the summer house of her childhood, Bailee Cooper is unprepared for what follows. What is intended to be a happy reunion for Bailee and her sisters, Geena and Piper, quickly becomes shrouded by memories from the past. Together again, the three sisters sift through their recollections of fifteen years ago...of an ill mother, and of their father making a desperate choice. They vowed, as children, to be silent--but one sister believes the truth must now be revealed. Yet can they trust their memories? Mark Delahunt arrives in the wake of this emotional turmoil. Determined to win Bailee's affection, Mark becomes the strong fortress for her in this time of confusion, and what was once a tentative promise begins to take root and grow. Caught between the past and an uncertain future, can Bailee let God guide her to heal the past and ultimately to embrace love?

My Review:
This book was not what I expected. It is not a typical fiction easy read as it deals with some strong issues such as mental illness, child abuse and how this can effect families and young children.The three sisters of this story have not moved on with their lives as they keep family secrets, afraid to really open up to others or each other as a family.Can they deal with the truth after they believed a lie for so many years? The question is can people move on and heal from the past or are they forever stuck in the pain of past mistakes made by other and/or  their own selves. I would recommend this book for those who have suffered from abuse or mental illness in their own families and for those who wish to learn something from a not so easy fiction read.

I received this book free from Bethany House for this review.