Book Review: Benny's Angel

Book Summary

Meet The Characters  Video Trailer  Benny's Angel  Who stole the flowers in God’s Secret Garden?   When Ella Eagle discovers that the flowers in God’s Secret Garden have wilted, she alerts Mayor Benny Bunny. The main suspect in the case is evil Count Slime, who is jealous of the joy the animals have in the garden. Mayor Benny calls in Oliver Owl, the captain of the Owl Force Wisdom Watchers, but the owls have not seen Count Slime during their patrols of the garden. Mayor Benny suggests the animals pray for an answer. God hears their prayer and sends Marietta the angel to help them solve the mystery.   This delightful tale uses animals, nature, and a visit from an angel to teach children the importance of prayer and the value of trusting God.   Author Bio

Laura Allen Nonemaker Laura Allen Nonemaker’s desire to write took root as a child in Bermuda. Since then, Laura has written in a variety of genres and her work has appeared in Essence Treasury: Celebrating the Season, Alive! and Kentucky Monthly Magazine.   Laura has been involved in short-term missions, including trips to Russia, Poland, and the University of the Nations in Kailua Kona, Hawaii. Three years ago, her interest in the arts motivated her to join the planning team for Artful Missions, which conducts juried art shows and donates to outreaches in the U.S. and India to rescue women and children from human trafficking.   Feel free to contact Laura at lauranonemaker@gmail.com   Connect with Laura at These Social Networking Sites: facebook: Laura Allen Nonemaker twitter: @DigInGodsGarden Linkedin: Laura Nonemaker Blog: www.diggingingodsgarden.com   Q & A with Laura: Why did you write Benny’s Angel? Benny’s Angel was the result of an occurrence in my “secret garden.” While seated on my garden bench praying, I noticed a rabbit hopping through the garden. The Benny’s Angel scenario came to me. I sensed it was significant and in about ten minutes, I developed the basic storyline.   Why do you think reading is important for parents to emphasize with children, both by reading to them and fostering a healthy reading appetite as they develop their own reading skills?  I believe the time to instill a love for reading in children is when they are toddlers and beginning to experience the power of communication in their relationships. Children are ready to absorb whatever they see and hear going on around them, whether it is good or bad. It is important to read them stories that ignite their imagination and plant the seeds of sound moral principles.   What issues do you address in Benny’s Angel, and why do children need these sorts of stories to help them through life?  In the story of Benny’s Angel, the animals in God’s Secret Garden encounter a problem. They are unable to solve it themselves and pray to God for an answer. God answers their prayer by means of an angel. Benny’s Angel teaches the importance of prayer and of trusting God to answer our prayers. These principles filter naturally through the storyline and without the need for sermonizing. Children will face all kinds of problems and challenges as they grow up and stories based on sound biblical principles lay a strong foundation for their future.   Tell us about the next book you have coming out after Benny’s Angel. The next book in the God’s Secret Garden Adventure Series is about a little frog. Through some misadventures, he learns the importance of obedience.   Grand Prize Giveaway

$85.87 Value 1 Vivitar Camcorder with Camera and 2X Zoom 1 Benny's Angel Picture Book 1 Benny's Angel 3-D Book 1 Benny's Angel Coloring Book 1 Benny's Angel Audio Book 1 Benny's Angel T Shirt  1 Benny Christmas Ornament 1 Marietta Christmas Ornament 1 96-Count Crayola Crayons  My personal review of the book:  It was a great object lesson on prayer, and how children can pray about anything.  They can ask God to help them find something, or do something; my son asks God to help him eat new foods, because he is a VERY picky eater, and he needs to eat some of the same things Mommy and Daddy eat at supper.     While I understand this is a children's book, it seemed a tiny bit juvenile. For some reason, the name "Count Slime" really bothered me. Jacob needed a little help staying on task and paying attention to everything in the book. One other thing I didn't "love" was that God sent a visible angel to Benny after he prayed. I wouldn't want Jacob to think that his prayers aren't being heard or answered if he didn't SEE an angel.   If you would like to participate in the giveaway, leave a comment on this blog post.    One name will be drawn on December 8 and sent to the promoter.  Your name will go in the grand prize giveaway, and the winner will be chosen on December 12.  Good luck!

Blog Tour: Stress-Free Believers Review and Giveaway

Book Summary

Stress-Free Believers helps you dethrone the stress bully that is often caused by loss of employment, marital conflict, credit card debt, and countless other pressure points. Here is the battle plan you need to get harmful stress off your back so you can manage the tough times with composure.

 

    You’ll learn how to:

• Convert your thoughts from worry to faith.
• Develop patience in the midst of chaos.
• Take control of your thinking, emotions, and commitments.
• Identify the tools God has given you to overcome stress.
• Recognize the part you play in God’s comprehensive plan.
• Allow God to work in your life as He did in the life of Jesus. 

This step-by-step guide shows how to reduce unhealthy levels of stress in each area of daily living. The objective is not just to overcome our ordeals but to do so without anxiety.

 

Stress-Busting Bible Verses

1. Cast all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)
2. Do not be afraid ... for the battle is not yours, but God’s. (2 Chronicles 20:15)
3. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)
4. Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:4)
5. He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6)
6. Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. (Matthew 6:25).
7. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
8. The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1)
9. My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)  
10. Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

There are some really great verses and ideas in this book to help relieve stress.  Realistically, I don't believe there is a way to reduce stress 100% in anyone's life.  We DO live in a broken and fallen world.  But by concentrating on He Who holds the world in the palm of His hand...we have a much better chance!  God IS in control.

Author Bio

Harold Metzel, a 30-year veteran as pastor, missionary, Bible College president and VP of a large charitable foundation in San Diego, currently coaches individuals and pastoral staff on ways to become even better stewards of what God has given. When visiting churches across the nation, he demonstrates ways to avoid unnecessary taxation, increase income using current assets, and provide a more effective inheritance. After counseling with many stressed-out believers, he now offers practical steps to bring stress back to a healthy level.

For more information see: www.haroldmetzel.com or www.stressfreebelievers.com.

 

 

Grand Prize Giveaway

 Stress-Free Believers Survival Kit

• Stress-Free Believers Book
• Stress-Free Believers Group Study DVD
• 
  Stress-Free Believers 5-CD Audio Book
    
  *Stress Relief Aromatherapy from Bath & Body Works
  • • 1.6 oz Filled Candle
    • Travel-Size Body Wash & Foam Bath
    • Travel-Size Body Lotion

   
                                                                                                            $66.35 Value

Sign up for this awesome giveaway!  Leave a comment and you will be entered to win.  I will randomly select a winner using random number generator, and you will be entered with the people chosen by the other participants of the blog tour, to win this great package!

Good luck! 

 

The Me Project and Giveaway

The Me Project-21 Days to Living the Life You've Always Wanted
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
ISBN-10: 0736929665, ISBN-13: 978-0736929660
Release Date: February 1, 2011
Paperback: 224 Pages, Retail $12.99

Book Summary (San Jose, CA) Has that rush to make (and break) New Year’s resolutions already waned? According to Daniel Pink, author of Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, taking small steps every day will not only help you stay committed to your goal, but will also help you ultimately achieve that goal when obstacles come up. Author Kathi Lipp wants you and your friends to live out those dreams—and have some fun along the way. As women, we forget the goals and dreams of our younger years. The busyness of everyday life gets in the way. To-do lists replace goals. The Me Project provides women with fun and creative ways to bring back the sense of purpose and vitality that comes with living out the plans and dreams God has planted in our hearts. Kathi Lipp’s warm tone and laugh-out-loud humor motivates women to take daily steps toward intentional goals. The end result? We get back our lives and enjoy living in the confidence of a purposeful life in spite of our chaotic schedules. This handy guide coaches women to do one simple thing toward achieving our goals each day for three weeks. A woman experiencing the exhilaration of a rediscovered life offers more as a wife, mother, friend, volunteer, career woman. Finding the balance between living day-to-day with purpose while pursuing the passions God has placed in our hearts is a delicate pursuit. In this refreshing, insightful book, Kathi lays out a doable plan that makes sense and helps make our God-given dreams a reality. Never stop dreaming, because women who dare to dream do make the world a better place. —Jean Blackmer author of MomSense: A Common Sense Guide to Confident Mothering Publishing Manager, MOPS International www.MOPS.org Author Bio

Kathi Lipp Kathi Lipp is a busy conference and retreat speaker, currently speaking each year to thousands of women throughout the United States. She is the author of The Husband Project and The Marriage Project, serves as food writer for Nickelodeon, and has had articles published in several magazines, including Today’s Christian Woman and Discipleship Journal. Kathi and her husband, Roger, live in California and are the parents of four teenagers and young adults. For more information visit her website: www.kathilipp.com

Grand Prize Giveaway: Deluxe Starbucks Coffee Gift Basket Three 2.5-oz. bags of Starbucks coffee (Sumatra, House Blend, and French Roast) Tazo black tea Starbucks marshmallow cocoa Almond roca Almond roca buttercrunch toffee cookies White chocolate and raspberry cookies 2 Starbucks mugs Keepsake black bamboo basket $62 value All you have to do to be entered in the giveaway is leave a comment on this post. Grand Prize winner will be announced March 7, 2011. Good luck!