Ephihany

"Epiphany" by Paul McCusker

This book is a Christmas book and I read it in May, that's ok.  It's about an old man who dies and sees his children as they are told about his death and how they each deal with it.  In his death he sees his children more clearly and in his death they realize the depth of his love.  It is a quick read and unique in its perspective.  "I also believed that all creativity comes from the same source: the soul, our meeting-place with God."   We create out of the secret place where we each individually meet with God.  And out of this place beautiful things come, art that connects with others.  "An empty canvas is no good until it is used for the purpose it was created to serve."  That is what our lives are, empty canvases.  We were all created to serve God and until we realize this we won't find our true purpose.  "I should have said that parents don't treat their children the same; they try to adjust to their children's personalities and do what's right for them as individuals."  Parenting is no easy task and each child is different.  We do our best to train them in the way that they should go.  A quick read with a good message, a message of love of a parent and a child, no matter the age.

The Bridge

"The Bridge" by Karen Kingsbury

Yup, another one by Karen. I found this at the library in large print. Wow, it was LARGE print. When I went back to a regular book the print was so small. This is another good one by Karen. It is about two young adults who fall in love in college and then their different backgrounds take them different ways. When they find out the bookstore they spent so many days together at is in trouble and the owner is fighting for his life they are reunited and the past and all it's hurts is finally put to rest. It is a good book about misunderstandings, forgiveness and second chances. It's never too late with God by our side. It's never too late.

The Christmas Promise

"The Christmas Promise" by Donna VanLiere

The last read of my Christmas break. Another quick, fun and uplifting read. It was filled with so many good tidbits. "This story is about how a promise from one person to another shows us the true meaning of faith, remembrance, and love." A promise can be a big thing to keep and Gloria waited seven years for her promise to be fulfilled but she never lost hope. She moved from the painful life she once knew to a new town where she helps those in need and where her past collides with her future. "Maybe that's what the truth does, it beats the living hell out of us until we do something about it." Truth will have its way of finding the light. "Shame is a bully; it likes to hang around, tapping us on the shoulder from time to time; then it pounds us in the face." And God never meant for us to be filled with shame, He takes those burdens, those ashes and turns them into beauty.

The Christmas Bus

"The Christmas Bus" by Melody Carlson

Good, quick read. Edith is sad that her family can not come for Christmas but she decides to open her B&B up to strangers for the holidays. She asks God to bring the guests and He does, just not quite the guests she would have picked. I love the theme of this book, Could you be entertaining angels unaware? You never know whom the Lord will place in your path or for what reason, it is just our job to love those that He does put in our path. This is not always an easy task but when you think about how special they are to Jesus it becomes an easier one. "Stay on good terms with each other, held together by love. Be ready with a meal or a bed when it's needed. Why, some have extended hospitality to angels without ever knowing it!" Hebrews 13:1-2 The Message