FIFTEEN YEARS by Kendra Norman Bellamy

Fifteen years of struggles and pain was scared on the heart of Josiah. He has experienced so much loss and rejection that even after fifteen years he still wrestles with his past.

This novel is remarkable as all books by this author, I truly appreciate her art for creating fictional but realistic characters that anyone can relate to. I love how the writer incorporates a bit of drama and romance in her novel without exhausting the two literary forms, each was moderately used which didn't make the novel overdramatic but it still sparked interest and curiosity that was enough to keep a reader stimulated and engaged. I love authors that put a little twist in events, I can always depend on Bellamy to keep me on the “edge of my seat”,this book was truly worth buying and it’s a great avenue to escape your own world and step into that of another. I was truly encouraged and ministered by the characters’ personal relationship with God, the book was not saturated with scriptures but it was still spirit filled. The references to worship songs by the famous saxophonist Antonio Allen was appropriately inserted in various scenes of the novel that allowed the reader to sympathize with the character Josiah as he tried to find that peace in God.Personally, I love the part where the Bishop was counseling Josiah about his issues, this part truly spoke to my spirit and I found comfort as I even began to think about my own pains and heartaches.

For fifteen years Josiah was tormented by his past, but in a week God undid all that pain and replaced it with love and Joy. Indeed your latter will be greater!!!!.

This is a great book written by an exceptional author, so purchase a copy or borrow it at you local library.

Get your Hands off my throat By David Wilkerson

This book is truly inspirational and thought provoking. Although it was published in 1971, I believe it is still relevant to this present time.The problems that we face today, the solutions can be found in this wonderful book.

“Get your hands of my throat” is the cry of many teens who are misunderstood. Many of the teenagers today just crave for attention and for someone to honestly and openly speak with. David Wilkerson, sympathizes with these troubled teens and in his book clearly points out ways in which leaders and parents can be understanding and loving to our children even when there ways baffle us. We need to stop judging people and be more open minded to there ways and understanding. And we don't have to do this and forsake our morals and values.

David Wilkerson spoke on issues that have sparked a lot of controversy in the church, issues such as music ( Rock), festivals and even personal appearances ( hair). The problem that is associated with these issues is that people have a hard time accepting things that are different or things that break the traditions of a church. But this book remains us that God doesn't look at the outward appearance of man but He searches the heart of man.We should not judge people by how long or short their hair is or what they wear, but we should strive to understand the minds of these young people.How can one minister to a person if we shone them, but in order to talk to someone we must approach them with love and understanding.And the author continuously reinforced that point in his book.

Love is everything and love solves everything, so lets us learn to truly love and watch the power of love manifest in our lives.

I truly recommend this book to all church leaders, especially those who are youth leaders. This book along with the Bible will be a good source of reference when dealing with the lives of your young people.

Genesis begins within you!!!!

Its strange how God works, He always seems to blow my mind. His revelations far exceeds the understanding of man, indeed He is God and none can compare to Him. I thank God for knowledge and wisdom, He does impart truth and knowledge to those who seek it.

God brought me back to the book of Genesis (the beginning),its kind of weird I always thought this book only referred to the creation story(man, woman, animals etc.) but as always God is all knowing and His knowledge supersedes ours. Genesis begins in the mind, it begins within us.sometimes  I believe we all underestimate our power and self worth, do we really know how powerful our thoughts and words are? It was a though/idea in which God created the earth and all the other things,its was a thought that man created planes, skyscrapers, cars , chairs etc. Every idea and no matter how foolish it may seem can be possible, we can make them a reality. In our minds we toy with ideas but we refuse to make these dreams materialize, we doubt our ability to be great things, we doubt even God to do big things in our lives.Genesis means the beginning of something or from where something starts. Everything is possible with Christ, nothing is impossible or too hard unless we refuse to believe.

Sometimes I stop and look at everything around me, how can a person doubt that a creator exist? how can one doubt the power and down play the awesomeness of God? the world testifies to a master mind, someone greater than man.

God wants us to believe, and not to just believe but to believe big. There is no harm in dreaming, it is from these visions and dreams that we create and live our destiny. Our dreams are the blueprint to our future. Speak things into existence, speak positive words.The self-fulfillment prophecy is a dangerous phenomenon. What we think and what we speak can indeed affect our future and how we view ourselves.Don’t toss your dreams out the window,keep believing and striving and watch it come to pass.

Let there be and there was.

The Morning After By Kendra Norman Bellamy and Hank Stewart.

As always Kendra Norman Bellamy never fails to to entertain me with her novels and not to mention  Hank Stewart who  used his amazing talent to help fabricate such a thrilling and moving story.

This book had me thinking and even there where times I felt I was being ministered to by God himself, the novel was so spirit filled and anointed. It was more than words being printed on pages but a sermon being presented in the storyline.Anyways, I believe the major theme in this novel would have to be assumptions, even the cover of the book had me assuming that the book was going to be totally different than what the true story was about.I emphasize with the characters for I too am guilty of being judgmental.All these characters did was assume things without fully examining the situation…Jennifer assumed T.K. didn't want to marry her, when in truth the man was just waiting on the perfect time,Elaine assumed her husband Mason still hadn't forgiven her for her infidelity because he wasn't intimate with her but the truth was that the man was struggling with some personal issues. Also,Angel was convinced that her husband was having affair because of the evidences she saw but her assumptions were wrong also.

This has taught me a big lesson never to assume things or draw conclusions about a situation without truly examining the situation.If these women had just communicated with their significant other about their problems, then  Essie wouldn't have to leave her sweet Ben and Jesus’ side to come to earth to show these grown women the right way and scold them for their irrational behavior.

Overall, this book was truly entertaining. The entire structure of the novel was skillfully organized and well written, the novel was not overwhelming and exhausting but with the use of humor, sarcasm, suspense and drama, it kept me turning the pages until I had reached the end.

As always I encourage everyone to go purchase this novel or burrow it at you local library and please do continue to support these two remarkable authors who have contributed greatly to the literary world with their inspirational novels.

Rain Storm By Vanessa Miller

I know this book is a bit old , I believe it was published in the year ‘07’ but nonetheless, it is still relevant to this time. This is one of my favorite books written by one of my top authors, Vanessa Miller. I love her series, they are very inspirational and stimulating.I want to focus on this particular series, Rain Storm. The entire story was well organized and everything was sequentially arranged, it was not confusing nor was it overwhelming but it was well organized, and each event whether dramatic or not played an important part in the novel.This is a classic!!

God loves us and If I didn't already know that this book surely has reinforced that point. God love towards us is so unconditionally and pure, His love changes lives, it transforms the hearts of man no matter how wicked it is. Ok, you are probably wondering how is this relevant to the novel. Well the core message of this book will reveal to readers the magnificent and unconditional love of Christ Jesus to us.I marvel at the way the author skillfully portrayed this message to her readers, I especially love how she based her characters on the biblical character Hosea and his prostitute wife.This novel modernized the entire book of Hosea which deals with Love and relationship.

Keith Hosea Williams is the modernized Hosea of the Bible and Cynda Stephens is the symbolic representation of Hosea’s wife, the prostitute.It is truly amazing how a person can truly love a person even if that person is not worthy of love, Keith's  character was truly being tested when God told him to wife a prostitute(Cynda Stephens).Although there were many struggles and heartbreak, Cynda learned how to love herself and in turn she was able to accept Keith's  love. Also, Keith learnt the true meaning of love, its not how beautiful a person looks or how well they complement you. Neither is it about how ‘perfect’ they are but true love is patient, kind and loving.

So, just as how God loves us with a unmerited love so we should also learn to love others in the same manner. God is Love and if we say we are followers of God then we should do as He does.This book is awesome, the message is clear and story line is captivating.I do recommend you to purchase this book or borrow it at your local library.

Secrets and Lies By Rhonda McKnight

Ok, I tend to read a lot of books…and I also love to write. So I thought it would be good to do a couple of blogs about books I have read.I just completed reading a book by Rhonda Knight entitled Secrets and Lies, its has 376 pages and I completed that book in 2 days (pretty good), its strange though how I find it very easy and relaxing to read novels that don't pertain to school…it takes me like months to read an article for school which has less than 3 pages (pray for me saints)But anyway back to this masterpiece, it was well written and captivating.

The book is based on marriage and how secrets and lies can destroy relationships.The characters Jonah and Faith represent many couples who are facing marital issues and are struggling to fight things out and stay together. I applaud the writer in her choice for the characters names, indeed both couples struggled with the aspect of faith, which I believe is a core ingredient to any successful relationship. We all need a little faith in our lives, faith brings hope and without hope we might as well be dead, hope produces perseverance.We need to have faith in one another no matter how hard situations get.Faith ( the character) went through a whole lot of drama with her troubled husband, I think she truly portrayed what a true woman and wife should be. Many women today want to get married and  they are not prepared for marriage. Marriage is not only about security and companionship…its about ministry.Two souls become one  and walking as one…and if we want to walk as one they must agree, and that's where the problem lies in many relationships.

Also,the author made her characters realistic and relevant, faith had issues like many of us. We all have issues and it is for us to acknowledge them and work on it and when we do that we can expect to see changes in our lives. Now, Jonah is a head strong man who made me a bit angry throughout the novel, he hid a secret from his wife for 10 years!!!!! , I don't know If I could forgive a man for that. That's to show that we need to KNOW the people with whom we form relationships with.Get to know people and their back ground before you marry them , many women tend to just judge men by there fancy cars, big houses and jobs and not search their souls. This book opened my eyes to many things.

The book overall was pretty good, the ending was good. It helped to dissipate some of my anger towards Jonah. I recommend you to  buy this novel, it was worth the money or burrow it at your local library. Just make sure you read it. Later folks.

Afraid of the truth?

Light exposes..it shows up the flaws, it leads us to change. But many refuse the light and bask in the dark, we hide from truth and embrace the darkness...we are just scared to change. Change means sacrifice, it means being new forsaken the old. How much of us care about our characters? we just want the fame and fortune, we chase the glamour and the diamonds. But all we see with the natural eyes with fade away... we are constantly being deceived. A blindfold is placed over our eyes and we are being led off a cliff. Soon the diamonds wont glitter, the cash wont flow and life will be no more. Life will END...and are we prepared for the end?!. When all this fades and when we see the big picture, will we be surprised or will we be prepared to embrace the truth and bask in God's glorious light?.

I know what it is to be deceived, to be lead astray. Everything in life is not what it seems...there is a bigger picture, there are things happening behind the scenes. Are we ready to embrace the facts?. Are we ready to live? This whole thing just hit me hard...light Vs darkness. I hope you will be inspired to examine you're life and see if your life is worth living. Is this all to life? there most be more and indeed there is more to life. While many of us are living the limited life I and the body of believers live in God's abundance...yes we walk daily in the overflow!!!

Look beyond the physical, embrace the spiritual. Life is like a horizon it doesn't exist, its a mere illusion that has deceived many of us. But when we move closer to Christ He removes all shadows and shows us the reality...the bigger picture is what he wants us to see.

God bless and Lets Live.