Lord, reading through posts while I actually had a chance and enough energy and focus to manage comprehension I saw that Michelle of The Mimosa Blossom did the Finally Fall Book Tag, not too long after I had read Kathy of Katie’s Cottage Books had done her Finally Fall Book Tag (which was also Day 25 of Kathy’s 30 Day Writing Challenge she was doing). I saw they were both open nominations.

Thank you, Michelle and Kathy! May God bless you and your blogs!
Thanks for making it possible to share with others!
God loves you both!

Normally, I try not to do those as much as possible because I feel greedy when you have blessed me through many beautiful and generous souls. However on these two, you had me thinking differently.

You have whispered to me do them to keep “spreading the appreciation and tag somebody, and have fun,” and particularly because this one was regarding books! So many of my friends are into reading and/or reviewing them. And last but not least, to encourage others who want to do tags or awards that have open nominations to do them! Keep’em going! 🙂

So to thank both Michelle and Kathy, I will do the post together but with a book of Your bible to answer 1st, and then another book written by someone in the world that You have gifted! Then I will gift the friends You bring to mind who read/review books, and in case I forget someone I will leave the nominations open! 🙂

~ In the fall, the air is crisp and clear: Name a book with a vivid setting.

1. Revelation! How could I not think of Your Revelation to John… the last book in Your Holy Bible. The white horse, the lady and the dragon, the angels, the seals, so much!
2. The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan. Wow! Did I feel so present reading that one! It opened my eyes to the real enemy and his tactics!

~ Nature is Beautiful . . . but also dying: Name a book that is beautifully written, but also deals with a heavy topic like loss or grief.

1. Genesis was the first thing You brought to mind. There was no greater loss than when death entered into the world, and we were separated from You. A very heavy loss we still grieve every day until we get home.
2. I wish I knew the name of the book and author You allowed someone from church to share with me in 2007 when my brother was killed at 37. It was written on Jesus resurrecting Lazarus, but told by a Christian who lost her brother, speaking on the pain and the importance of not bringing them back here. She said, “My Lazarus didn’t come back.” Yet reverently too.
   But since I can’t remember that title I will mention End Of The Spear by Steve Saint. His father Nate Saint along with 4 other missionary men were killed in 1956 in Ecuador by the Waodani Indians. Through God’s working Steve would become family to the Waodani. He later wrote God Doesn’t Waste Hurts, which shared the loss of his daughter and his 2012 accident that left him partially paralyzed.

~ Fall is back to school season: Share a non-fiction book that taught you something new.

1. The Holy Bible as a book itself! Endless teaching that still continues.
2. Two books here You have me thinking on are:
   How To Study The Bible And Enjoy It by Skip Heitzig taught me a great reading plan with study tips that are so easy to remember, keeps the whole bible fresh, and makes more sense of the chronological pattern and its difficulty.
   and The Endless Steppe by Esther Hautzig You used to teach me and my son that while American medicine teaches against dairy when sick, Siberians who are poor and struggle to have clothes and shoes during harsh winters conditions value most eggs and milk to prevent and treat pneumonia and bronchitis. My son and I learned these while he was struggling with a back to back round of bronchitis, as he did since a baby. It was true! It LOOSENS phlegm to get rid of it.

~ In order to keep warm, it’s good to spend some time with the people we love: Name a fictional family/household/friend group that you’d like to be a part of.

1. The book of John has Jesus telling us about You as His Father God, and that we’re in the family too! I don’t have to wish it. I AM a child of God! ❤
2. I like being part of bible studies groups. They start off as fictional by the author and end up genuine. I’m currently a part of Redeemed by Angela Thomas-Pharr.

~ The colorful leaves are piling up on the ground: Show us a pile of fall-coloured spines.

1. sorry, no pictures today. If there were I would show the stack of bibles that also has 4 composition books that are my copying Your bible.
   (God allowed me to get a picture up of my bibles and the 4 composition books of copying His Bible word for word. With His help I am up to 1 Chronicles.)
   
   
2. All my other books are stored away to where getting them out would be too physically challenging right now. I tend to read and pass them on any way.

~ Fall is the perfect time for story telling by the fireside: Share a book wherein somebody is telling a story.

1. The book of Matthew is just one of the gospels told by a disciple. The Sermon on the Mount is in this book, where You also placed the Beatitudes.
2. Life Without Limits by Nick Vujicic is Nick telling of his being born without arms and legs. His journey of struggling… to a faith in God birthed a ministry that is embracing so many hurting souls. God does a mighty work in the reader to see those hurting souls need to return that embrace to Nick who they know cannot hug them back. They cling so tight and so long. God gives what we need by our giving of ourselves to others, through first giving ourselves to God.

~ The nights are getting darker: Share a dark, creepy read.

1. 1 Samuel tells of Saul’s creepy behavior toward David, and Saul “dark” enough to have priests killed. They started off as King and favored subject. Creepy thing to me, Lord, was David killing 1,000 Philistines to give their foreskins to Saul as a present and marry his daughter. When the people cheered, Saul got jealous over David’s popularity. David could be at dinner and suddenly find his father-in-law trying to spear him. Saul was obsessed with killing David. Saul and his sons died for getting a witch to bring Samuel’s spirit up from the grave.
2. Foxe’s Book of Martyrs tells of different people really persecuted and killed because of professing faith in Christ. While we honor them and understand their courage, or at least following through no matter the cost, we also read what they suffered. Burned alive. Limbs falling off while still alive, and able to still sing or profess while burning. If it weren’t for what the book is about I wouldn’t normally read this kind of book.

~ The days are getting colder: Name a short, heart-warming read that could warm up somebody’s cold, rainy day.

1. Philippians is a wonderful short book! So much faith, peace that passes all understanding, strength through Jesus Christ, and many lovely things full of virtue to think on. ❤
2. Bloom by Caralyn of Beauty Beyond Bones (YES! A WordPress Blogger) uses her journey in an intake facility to battle anorexia to create a daily journal. One can either read it straight through as she tells bible passages that helped her, prayer for each day, and sharing wisdom and insight learned from finding Jesus in her journey, or one can read and note each day as the daily journal is designed, leaving room for one’s own notes. I was blessed to read as a bible journal.
   Thank You for the blessing, Lord!

~ Fall returns every year: Name an old favorite that you’d like to return to soon.

1. By Your grace and discipline, I once memorized the book of James. It has 5 chapters and such wisdom. I was blessed to learn from the memorization, and it helped me to make a testimony I didn’t even expect among believers and nonbelievers alike. I would like to try to keep that memorization… any word You will allow! ❤
2. When God’s People Let You Down by Jeff VanVonderen was a book You led me to years ago when I witnessed severe hurts in the church, including several leader friends being fired from their church . I seriously contemplated quitting church because while I did not grow up in church, I saw enough the hurtful hypocrisy. This was different because now I was a mom who had a responsibility for a little boy who even had a heart to be a preacher as early as 3 yrs old. A friend gave me this book and after a few chapters I was cheering for us all! It’s Satan who is the enemy! We have to keep fighting the cause for Christ, not against each other!

~ Fall is the perfect time for cozy reading nights: Share your favorite cozy reading “accessories!”

warm, comfy fitting clothes (socks included), a blanket, maybe some hot chocolate or hot tea, in a comfy fitty chair or bed (or back and forth 😉 ) always a pen a note pad nearby, and healthy lighting for my eyes.

Nominees:

Jessy of FAB: Faith and Books

T.R. of Inside Cup

Vickie of Vickie’s Book Nook and Meditation Center

Regina of Help From Heaven

Caz of Invisibly Me

Savannah of Rejoicing In Hope

Tammy of God Inspired Art & Quotes

Susan of Rhythm In Life

Spread the autumn appreciation and tag somebody!

Have fun!

If you’re reading this,
YOU ARE TAGGED!