CHRISTmas time's a comin'! (Mallary Hope - Christmas Is All About You)

I hope this blog post finds you well and excited about CHRISTmas!

I had a sad moment today when stopping at a Subway for lunch with my mama; we were laughing and having a good time with the young man making our sandwiches and we made comments in a positive and excited way about CHRISTmas coming up soon!

He looked up at me and said how nice it was that we were excited and happy about CHRISTmas; 
no one else he had served was happy about it.

Everyone he talked to the day before was angry about 
the CHRISTmas season.

I gently made the comment 
that perhaps they don't understand the reason for CHRISTmas.

Later while out feeding our animals and doing ranch chores this song came on the radio (KLove station) and I thought 
THIS IS IT!  
THIS is what I meant in song form! 
THIS is what some people need to hear!

Now I know quite a few people have lost loved ones this season and I have been there.  
It is hard!  
It can be unbearable!

But without grasping Christ's hand in CHRISTmas and in life, 
EVERYTHING is truly unbearable!

So as I said above, I hope this finds you well, but if it doesn't I hope this song can be a balm to your hurting heart 
and the love and gift of Jesus comforts and mends you!

It's not about the lights and decorations, it's not about the tangible gifts you do or maybe don't receive.  It's all REALLY only about one thing; Jesus Christ coming down from heaven to be the ultimate gift for each and every one of us.

Merry CHRISTmas y'all!

Love, ASC

Christmas According to Kids - Southland Christian Church

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

"Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people."

1 Chronicles 16:8

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Hope's Highest Mountain by Misty M. Beller

Book Description:
On her way to deliver vaccines to a mining town in the Montana Territory, Ingrid Chastain never anticipated a terrible accident would leave her alone and badly injured in the wilderness. When rescue comes in the form of a mysterious mountain man, she's hesitant to trust him, but the journey ahead will change their lives more than they could have known.

My Opinion:
I'm torn with this one. 
First off let me start by saying this is the first book from Misty 
I have read so far. I really enjoyed the characters for the most part and I LOVED how it started. Though as it went on in the beginning I kept feeling like I would have prefered if the trauma had been written in more of a "this is what happened" sort of way instead of in such vivid detail. Also I would have personally preferred if some of the traumatic things that happen to these characters hadn't been squeezed in there! LOL! But that could just be me personally. There were a few times I was thinking "well that probably could have been left out" because I'm not sure it added to the story. I also felt that there were times when the romance was a little too detailed or I didn't connect with the details. But all of that aside I absolutely LOVE the Faith scenes in this book! Threads of Romans 8:28 and Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 are woven throughout the lives of these characters and expressed in beautiful ways! 

Romans 8:28 and Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 

Songs: "I'm gonna let it go" by Jason Gray
Songs etc. May be changed and/or added in the future. ~ASC

~ASC

*I requested and received this book from Bethany House for the purpose of reviewing it.  This in no way affected my opinion and the above are my true thoughts and feelings about Hope's Highest Mountain. ~ASC

for KING & COUNTRY + Dolly Parton - God Only Knows (Official Music Video)

FANTASTIC COLLABORATION!

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

HAPPY 4th!

GOD SAVE AMERICA!

How to Stand When They Want You to Fall - Philippians 1:27-30 | Skip Hei...

WARNING!

WARNING!: I would like to warn parents whose children watch the cartoon Arthur. Since I grew up watching this show I still enjoyed watching it even now that I'm grown up. But after what I saw last night I will not be watching Arthur anymore. Through the episodes the writers have made some, all be it minor, mistakes with the storyline and the characters, but the reason I will not have it in my house again isn't due to this but because of the writers choice to make the beloved character Mr. Ratburn a homosexual. On so many levels I have a problem with this, but especially and mainly from a Christian standpoint. Sadly, in this day and age, it's common for tv and movies to try and force sexual sin into everything for adults, but it's a whole new level of WRONG when children's programming is starting to force it upon our children! The devil is attacking our babies in every way ya'll, WATCH OUT!

The Tinderbox Audio Review!!!!!!!

The Tinderbox by Beverly Lewis

Audio Review Notes:

Psalm 69:2 

“I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.”

1 John 1:9 

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Ephesians 4:23-24

“And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 

And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

Psalm 31:1-2

“In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. 

Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.”

Micah 6:8

“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”

WOW!  What a read!  Beverly Lewis still's got it, not that she'll ever loose it but man what a unique and captivating plot this book has!  And the ending!  WOW!  I can't wait for the conclusion to this story she's got me totally hooked!  For starters I have ALWAYS loved and still love Ella Mae the Wise Woman of Hickory Hollow, and that leads me to say I've always LOVED Hickory Hollow.  So returning there is always a treat for me!  These chatacters are dear to my heart and I enjoyed how Beverly jumps from one character's percpective to the next and how it kept me in the loop so to speak on what each individual is thinking.  And the twists!  WOW!  I also LOVE the amount of scripture and spiritual insights Beverly weaves through out, I know of one message in particular where Sylvia's mom, Rhoda expresses her inability to carry the weight of a problem and so gives it The Lord to carry, I really loved the way it's expressed and written and REALLY needed this message at the time!  Personally I'm not fond of Sylie's beau at this time and I can't wait to see where Beverly takes that thread and oh man, let me just say that this book ends with a bit of a mushroom cloud twisty shocking moment that has left me longing for September's release!  

LOVE IT!

Songs that I think fit this book are: He Knows Jeremy Camp, Carry Me Josh Wilson, and Glow In The Dark Jason Gray

*I received a copy of this book from Bethany House for the purpose of reviewing it.  This in no way affected my opinion and the above are my true thoughts and feelings about "The Tinderbox"

HAPPY EASTER! HE IS RISEN! :D

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!!!!!

"He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. 

Come, see the place where the Lord lay."

Matthew 28:6

HALLELUJAH!

(click through to ASC Book Reviews to view videos above and below)

Far Side of the Sea Audio Book Review!!!!

Far Side of the Sea by Kate Breslin

Audio Book Review: https://youtu.be/ePoeYAgTBLc

Audio Reviews transcripts:

And I have four verses I would like to read with it starting with: 

Psalm 139:9-10 author's choice

“If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.”

Lamentations 3:32 “But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies."

And Colin mentions pieces of Psalm 116 throughout the latter part of the book so I'll read 

Psalm 116:1-2 

“I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. 2 Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.”

Psalm 116:5

Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.

Really enjoyed this book overall!  It was a little slow in the beginning for me but I think that's because I hadn't read the previous book where Colin's introduced.  So for me personally the plot didn't seem to pick up and ensnare me until Johanna entered the picture.  I LOVE JO!  She is a fantastic character and has some of the best and most humorous scenes!  I think one thing that I loved the most about this book is that both the male and female leads are so far from perfect.  For one thing Colin's missing hand really made me kind of excited, because there aren't that many quote on quote heros out there that have such and impediment.  And then Jo's inability to tame her hair and keep herself quote on quote put together really endeared me to her, well since, (clear throat) I may relate to some of these issues.  I particularly LOVED the scene where these two meet, but I won't give away the wonderful details!  As the plot progressed I was immersed into the spy game and I loved every bit of it!  Kate throws in some of the best twists!  I love the historical details and I especially loved the additions of carrier pigeons and nesting rings!  AND THE FAITH SCENES!!!!  BIG LOVE FOR THOSE! Overall I really enjoyed this book, it makes me want to go back and more about these characters in their previous book and I highly recommend it!

Songs: Through All Of It Colton Dixon, Haven't Seen It Yet Danny Gokey

*I received a copy of this book from Bethany House for the purpose of reviewing it.  This in no way affected my opinion and the above are my true thoughts and feelings about "Far Side of the Sea"

A Bound Heart Audio Review!!!!

A Bound Heart by Laura Frantz