Grace By Max Lucado

I had the opportunity to review Grace ~ More Than We Deserve Greater Than We Imagine by Max Lucado.  I was given a complimentary copy of the book from BookSneeze for my honest review.  Grace is his most recent book, released in 2012 and I found it to be an easy to read, thoughtful, inspiring book that explores God's grace in our lives.  Max Lucado is a well known author and minister from the state of Texas who has devoted his life to spreading the Gospel.  What a consolation to be reminded that "God has enough grace to pardon every sin, solve every dilemma, wipe every tear and answer every question.  It's more than we deserve and greater than we imagine."   Max challenges the reader to search his/her own soul to see if "we've been changed by grace" or "shaped by grace."  He uses scripture, quotes from famous saints and theologians to show the reader, where grace has touched them.  Many inspirational nuggets of truth can be found here.  Some of them seem to leap off the page like this one, "trust God's hold on you more than your hold on God." Simple yet so powerful.

Our society desperately needs to hear this message.  The word "grace" is so overused that it's true meaning gets lost in everyday life.  Max Lucado endeavors to call attention to it's true meaning.  He calls it "God's best idea.  His decision to ravage a people by love, to rescue passionately, and to restore justly."  Why does God do it?  Because he loves us and wants to be Our Father.  Nothing we do can merit it.  As children of God, we are incredibly fortunate and blessed to be so loved.  God's grace is what makes Satan tremble.  We don't deserve it yet he loves us, and lavishes it out upon us. Truly Amazing.  This is why you should read Max's book and then pass it on to a friend.  Our families need to hear this, our friends and neighbors need to hear this, we all need to learn more about the Grace of God.  This book will change you.

The last section of the book includes a Reader's Guide by Kate Etue.  It can be used as a tool to deepen your understanding of grace.  Many thought provoking questions about our own motives and actions can be explored.  Then she includes a prayer and an activity to explore grace in your day to day life.

Blessings,
Noreen

Our Blessed Mother Blasphemed

I received a disturbing email from America Needs Fatima that an art gallery in London, England, has an offensive painting of The Annunciation done by Richard Hamilton.  He calls this work "the Passage of the Angel to the Virgin."  What makes it offensive is that he portrays St. Gabriel and Mary naked.  Both of them are naked.  You can see it HERE.

It's unbelievably disturbing that this artist would take such an event in all of mankind, and desecrate it by painting them naked.  It's a mockery and a shame.  I went through ANF website to sign a protest for this National Art Gallery in the UK to remove this painting.  It's only there from October 2012 until January 2013.  Please contact them to let them know how wrong it is.  This isn't art.

Blessings,
Noreen

Bible Adventures & Activities Review

     The Catholic Company had sent me a bible activity book called Bible Adventures & Activities to review.  This faith based book is written by Sally Ann Wright and Moira Maclean for children to learn the main bible stories from both the Old Testament and New Testament.  I had read that the age for this book is between 7-11 years of age and I would disagree. I think it's meant for younger kids and I would rate it for 4-9 year olds.  The illustrations and activities are very cute and geared for little children.  The pictures definitely bring the story to life yet, I could see a child older than 10 thinking it looked "too babyish."
     With that being said, I loved this book as a perfect tool for teaching children who are unfamiliar with the bible.  It starts with Creation and ends with The Lakeside Breakfast. Within each story, the children have opportunities to play games like guessing the animals on Noah's Ark, to a maze the wise men take to find baby Jesus to a Jesus died to save us word search. Some of the activities are more challenging that require basic spelling skills but the majority ask the child to use their visual and imaginative skills.  Each story is one page with a beautiful age appropriate illustration.  On the next page is an activity to help the child learn and memorize the bible story.

This book could be used in a number of ways.  There are 34 bible stories and a parent or teacher could work on one story per week as a bible study for younger children. The activities are not necessarily reproducible but it can be used as enrichment by a teacher.  Perhaps as a quick review to test comprehension.  Each session could be done in 20-30 minutes depending upon the child's attention span.  Or it could be used as enrichment to build on previous knowledge of these stories. Just by looking at the pictures, one could ask the child what they thought was happening.  Or you could even role play the story with the child to increase story comprehension.

If your child is a strong reader, then this book is not for you even if they have little to no knowledge of the bible.  This is an ideal book for a younger child who is learning about God and benefits from the visual cues provided in the illustrations.  It's also better than a children's bible because the added activities help the child process what the lesson is in each bible story.  I think it will hold their attention more than just reading them a story.  Children's bibles are wonderful but I would use them in conjunction with this book.

My review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit the Catholic Company for additional information on Bible Adventures & Activities.  The Catholic Company is a great resource for tools to help you participate in the Year of Faith, including Year of Faith bible studies and exclusive Year of Faith personalized gifts.  The Catholic Company also has all your Advent needs in stock such as Advent wreaths and Advent calendars.  No monetary compensation was given for my honest review.

Blessings,
Noreen

Minister of Care

This has been the second week that I've visited a home bound elderly couple to bring them the Holy Eucharist and I realize how much I take for granted that I can go to Mass as much as I'd like and receive Jesus in the Eucharist.  They were so eager for our companionship but more so for Jesus.  I was truly humbled and brought to tears.  What an important ministry for those who cannot make it to Mass due to illness or age.  I also read the day's gospel reading and they were equally eager to listen.

I'm also a Eucharistic Minister for Mass and have to say that I often do not see the same eagerness and reverence to those I'm handing it to.  Maybe it's like the adage "You don't realize what you have until you've lost it" or in this case "until it's difficult to get."

Blessings,

Noreen

2012 Public Square Rosary Rally

On Saturday, October 13th, I co-coordinated a Public Square Rosary Rally 

in my town to pray for our nation.  

This date is significant.  

It was the 95th anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun in Fatima, Portugal

 where thousands of people converted.

Our Lady's message was simple.

Prayer.

Reparation.

Repentance.

Sacrifice.

Abandonment of Sin.

Back to the this year's rally:

The weather was terrible.  

It rained and rained.  

It was cold and windy.

About 40 men and women braved the inclement weather and joined us to pray the rosary for the conversion of hearts and reparation of the sins of our nation.  

We were part of a nationwide rosary rally that day at noon.

And I mean nationwide.

There were over 9,000 rallies with prayer warriors out in a public setting.

It was amazing.

Here are a few pictures I managed to take:

About half the people left right after we sang O Sanctissima so this picture only shows about half of the people.  I was incredibly moved how many people showed up 

considering the steady rainfall and wind.

These men and women are committed to honoring Our Lady of Fatima's wishes 

to honor God and her son, and pray for our nation! 

Blessings,

Noreen

Song of the Brokenhearted Book Review

The most recent book I've read to review from Booksneeze is called Song of the Brokenhearted by Sheila Walsh & Cindy Martinusen Coloma.  It is a fictional Christian novel about a a woman named Ava who seems to have the perfect life.  A successful and loving husband, a daughter who is about to be married, a happy high school football player for a son, and a ministry that reaches out to families in need.   On the surface, she is living the life she's always envisioned but when trials and tribulations occur, her life seems to be falling apart.  Everything she thought she new of her family was turned upside down and she's now forced to deal with her painful memories of her childhood.  This is Ava's journey to rediscover what God has planned for her.

This story illustrates the idiom, "don't judge a book by its cover."  In life, we try and create our own version of what life should be about.  We protect ourselves by surrounding ourselves with comfortable situations and we avoid what makes us uncomfortable.  In essence, we are trying to steer our own ship instead of letting God lead us where he wants us to go.  How do we grow spiritually if we do not step out in faith?  How do we walk closer with Jesus, if life goes smoothly?  Before Ava realized that something was not quite right with her husband, her daughter or her son, her life was right on track.  Then it slowly started falling apart.  This book shows us that God often has his own plans for us and he sometimes takes us where we don't want to go.  It's a test of faith really, when we encounter stress in our families, work, community, or church.  How do we respond?  Do we try and avoid it?  Ignore it?  Steamroll over it? Or do we face it knowing that we need him to get through it?  Do we trust God to lead us?  Ava wrestled with all of these questions as she struggled to maintain course but ultimately, she had to let go of the wheel and let God take over.  Her life became vastly different after letting go of the wheel and she and her family, were happier then ever. This is a work of fiction that speaks to our hearts.  I would definitely recommend this book to all moms since they will find a character trait of Ava's they can relate to as wife and mother.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” 

Blessings,
Noreen

The Chaplet of Divine Mercy in Song CD Review

Sometimes on the weekends, I catch The Chaplet of Divine Mercy in Song on EWTN and I absolutely LOVE it!  So, when I was asked to review the CD from The Catholic Company, I jumped at the chance.  Now I can listen, sing and pray with it any time I want.  Pure joy!

Here's a bit of my own personal history with this trio of singers. The three lead vocals, Ms. Trish Short, Mr. Michael Bethea and Ms. Crystal Yates sing like angels in my opinion.  The first time I heard them sing was on EWTN and it was truly by divine intervention, I am sure of it.  I had walked into the room with the tv blaring and it had some garbage reality programming on and it felt like horrible noise.  I was disgusted by it and turned the channel and ended up on EWTN.  These three talented singers were in the midst of singing this prayer and I froze in awe.  It felt like the ugliness in the room vanished and light shined in.  It brought real tears of joy and amazement to my eyes.  I was hooked.  I was familiar with the Divine Mercy Chaplet Prayer and even heard it sung by a family on EWTN.  I really liked it yet it didn't tug at me like this trio of singers.

If you're not familiar with The Divine Mercy Chaplet Prayer, it's a Catholic devotion inspired by the visions of Jesus to St. Faustina of Poland back in the early 1900's.  As the title of the prayer states, you're praying "for mercy on us and on the whole world."  The chaplet can be prayed silently or in a group, or sung with this CD.  A rosary is typically used to keep track of the prayers when you pray to God "for atonement for our  sins and those of the whole world" on each large bead.  The second part is to pray "for mercy on us and on the whole world" you would use the smaller beads.  If you do not have a rosary, you can always use your fingers to keep you focused.

Included in this CD, is a short synopsis of  the three singers.  I was unexpecdtly surprised and pleased to learn that not all of them are Catholic yet they share a common pro-life view.  Ms. Trish Short is Roman Catholic who is a producer/director, singer/songwriter to this Chaplet of Divine Mercy CD. Not only is she known for her musical talents but she travels and speaks openly about her two abortions and her change of heart.  Mr. Michael Bethea is an African Methodist-Episcopalian who partnered with Ms. Short to make this CD.  He's also a Contemporary Christian Artist who sang the opening song from his album titled Real.  Ms. Crystal Yates hails from an Assembly of God denomination as a praise and worship singer.  All three of them  collaborated on this project and it's result is a beautifully moving prayer in song that seeks mercy and atonement on all of our sins, of every person of faith and even those who do not believe.

This review was written as part of the catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company.  No monetary compensation was given for my review.  Check out the The Catholic Company for more information on The Chaplet of Divine Mercy In Song CD.  You can also find many great ideas for baptism and christening gifts for your family and friends.  If you're in need of a bible or bible study resources you can visit their online store here.

Blessings,
Noreen