Scripture and a Snapshot - Fall On Your Knees

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in a manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

~Luke 2:15-20~

Therefore God has highly exalted him

and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,

so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

~Philippians 2:9-11~

Scripture & a Snapshot is hosted by A Glimpse of Our Life.

Sunday Scripture Blessings is hosted by Peabea Scribble Pad.

Glimpses is hosted by Embracing Every Day, a lifestyle blog by Barbie Swihart.

©2008-2017 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/

Bookshelf Review - December 2017

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December's Books Completed and Reviewed

The Sound of Rain by Sarah Loudin Thomas - After surviving a mine cave-in in West Virginia, Judd moves to Myrtle Beach where he starts a new job and meets Larkin Heyward, the owner's daughter. Trouble is, Larkin wants desperately to go to Appalachia and help the poor. If they have a future together, where will they live?  (Read my full review HERE.)

Judd kissed the top of her head. "Maybe your father's hip is just about out of joint by now. Maybe he's not too far off from figuring out what blessing he's after."

India Black (A Madam of Espionage Mystery) by Carol K. Carr - This was on my wish list for a long time before I remembered and started it. A London madam is drawn into espionage and intrigue when a War Office minister dies while in her establishment.  (Read my full review HERE.)

I had thought myself into a funk, which was unusual for me, as being a madam requires a great deal of optimism and perseverance, for God knows, it's not an easy life, what with the interfering busybodies trying to rescue me from a life of moral turpitude, the heartless peelers and the witless bints scratching and clawing at each other like a roomful of cats. Perhaps it was just the effects of several nights without sleep, the numbing cold and a particularly vicious brandy at one of the inns along the way, but whatever the reason, I was feeling glum.

An Awakened Heart (Orphan Train): An Orphan Train Novella by Jody Hedlund - This prequel to the Orphan Train novels introduces Christine Pendleton and Guy Bedell, who run the mission in New York City. (Read my full review HERE.)

"I certainly don't mean to diminish their spiritual needs, but it appears we may be feeding their souls while allowing their bodies to languish." She cringed as she waited for the reverend to chastise her for being so outspoken. 

During December I continued reading:

Isaiah's Daughter: A Novel of Prophets and Kings by Mesu Andrews - I've been forcing myself to take my time with this so that my full review will appear close to the release date. It is so good! (I am reading the ARC)

I am Hephzibah, not Ishma. Hephzibah, a daughter. Not a captive, not an orphan.

During December I started reading:

French Women Don't Get Fat: The Secret of Eating for Pleasure by Mireille Guiliano - This is a combination of memoir and advice, and is actually very entertaining and sensible reading!

Hunger is distracting and unpleasant, almost as much as being bloated or stuffed. You should no more skip meals than you would skip filling your gas tank -- you'll only be stranded later.

The Ladies of Ivy Cottage (Tales from Ivy Hill) by Julie Klassen - I'm working on this newest novel from Klassen for an upcoming review. It carries on the story of Jane Bell and delves deeper into the story of Jane's friend Rachel Ashcroft.

The meeting proceeded, and Rachel was relieved when the focus shifted off of her. She sat quietly, but her mind remained busy dissecting the circulating library idea. Could she make a success of such an enterprise? Or would she end up a mortifying failure?

Coming Up in January!

My Heart Belongs in Castle Gate, Utah: Leanna's Choice by Angie Dicken
Judah's Wife: A Novel of the Maccabees (The Silent Years) by Angela Hunt

   

This post will be linked at:

5 Minutes For Books - What's On Your Nightstand? December 26
The Book Date - Reading Month In Review - December

©2008-2017 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/

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Scripture and a Snapshot - What A Glorious Night (Advent)

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."

~Luke 2:8-20~

The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech;

night after night they reveal knowledge.

They have no speech, they use no words;

no sound is heard from them.

Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,

their words to the end of the world.

~Psalm 19:1-4~

Scripture & a Snapshot is hosted by A Glimpse of Our Life.

Sunday Scripture Blessings is hosted by Peabea Scribble Pad.

Glimpses is hosted by Embracing Every Day, a lifestyle blog by Barbie Swihart.

©2008-2017 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/

Recent Reads - An Awakened Heart

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An Awakened Heart (Orphan Train): An Orphan Train Novella by Jody Hedlund - This quick read is a prequel to With You Always, and introduces (or gives background on) some of the characters in the novel.  We first meet Christine Pendleton and Guy Bedell at the Centre Street Chapel in an impoverished neighborhood of New York City. Christine is wealthy but her life seems empty, and she hopes that by volunteering at the chapel she can find some purpose. As she sees the need and the hopelessness of so many of the poor immigrant women, she comes up with ambitious plans to expand what the chapel can offer. Guy Bedell has been serving as a pastor to the immigrant community and has won the trust of many of the people, but Christine's ideas challenge him to step out in faith to see what more God can do. Of course, the new venture brings these two together and opens the door to the possibility of the relationship between them.

The novella also briefly introduces Elise and her little family. Elise is the main character of the full length novel With You Always. 

©2008-2017 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/

Wordless Wednesday - Winter Celebration Concert

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The above is obviously not a high quality photo, but the pretty redhead in the front row is my daughter. This was the Winter Celebration concert presented by the Children's Chorus of Carroll County.

My daughter and her friend after the concert:

She's also the intern for one of the younger groups in the chorus.

And Dad came through with the flowers for his little girl after the concert.

This post is linked at Wordless Wednesday, hosted by Life at Rossmont; and at Pictorial Tuesday, hosted by Peabea's Scribble Pad.

©2008-2017 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/

What I'm Reading - December 18, 2017

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This weekly reading list meme is hosted at Book Date. Join in to see what others are reading and maybe get some ideas of what to read next!

I finished reading . . .  Nothing finished this week. In fact, I haven't done much reading lately - much too busy! I'm so crazy busy that I'm having a lot of trouble keeping up on reading and commenting on blogs too. I will do my best to get it done, but it may take me a couple of days!

I'm currently reading . . .

An Awakened Heart (Orphan Train): An Orphan Train Novella by Jody Hedlund - a prequel to With You Always, which I read and reviewed in the summer.




Isaiah's Daughter: A Novel of Prophets and Kings by Mesu Andrews - Continuing this wonderful novel about an adopted daughter of the prophet Isaiah who became King Hezekiah's wife.




French Women Don't Get Fat: The Secret of Eating for Pleasure by Mireille Guiliano - a very enjoyable read so far, with an interesting and quite practical take on enjoying life and food.

 


Next on the stack... 

My Heart Belongs in Castle Gate, Utah: Leanna's Choice by Angie Dicken
The Ladies of Ivy Cottage (Tales from Ivy Hill)by Julie Klassen


   

On my blogs recently . . .

Here on Just A Second:

Scripture and a Snapshot - God With Us (Advent)
Wordless Wednesday - Decorations
Teaser Tuesday/First Chapter First Paragraph - French Women Don't Get Fat

And on my homeschool blog, Homeschool Coffee Break:

Internships in High School (Blogging Through the Alphabet)
Homeschool Highlights Holiday Edition - Week Fifteen
Virtual Refrigerator Holiday Art Edition - String Art Star
The Gift of Christmas Traditions

What are you reading?

©2008-2017 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/