FIERCE HEARTED

Chapters of this book I loved and made me think and relate, and chapters of this book left me so-so.  I did feel like there were a lot of scenarios of hurt and emotion, but to protect stories and people were held back, which may have dampened the effect, but the message was still there and strong, and I can see a value for some readers.

The Sun Does Shine

This book was an excellent read.  It was heartbreaking and inspiring all wrapped into one book covering 30 years on death row.  This man is inspiring in the way he shared his faith and love with other inmates.  He was the hands and feet of Jesus to the inmates and the guards that interacted with him in the prison.

He didn't seek out this role, but he took what was given to him in life, and applied what he'd learned in church and from his mom growing up in the situation he was in. 

He was honest about struggles and days it was hard, but honest about hope as well. 

Read this. 

Malachi

• God loves Israel
• The priests were not giving God their best, blind offerings, etc., which was dishonoring God
• Priests must pay attention to God's word and honor Him or be cursed
• A messenger will come and prepare the way for God, then God will judge
• Return to me and I will return to you
• Don't rob God; we rob God when we don't give 1/10th of our earnings
• Those who honor and respect God are written in a book to be remembered; God will show mercy like a parent to their child
• Judgement day will burn the proud and evil like straw
• Those who honor God will have goodness shine on them
• Elijah will come first and help parents and children love each other

Zechariah

• Zechariah tell the people "return to God and He will return to you"
• A vision of horses comes and an angel tells Zechariah that the Lord sent them to Earth; the angel asked when God would show mercy to Jerusalem
• The angel then gave this message: the Lord loves Jerusalem and was angry with nations who felt safe & they made it worse; the temple will be rebuilt, God will return, riches will come back
• Jerusalem will be measured and the Lord will return to live with the people
• Joshua will become the high priest
• Angel tell Zechariah of lampstands that represent the 2 appointed to serve the Lord
• Zerubbabel (all people) will not succeed alone, but with the Lord's spirit
• Small beginnings are important: Zerubbabel beginning the temple
• Zechariah and angel discus a flying across that is the curse of the land: thieves and those who make false promises will be taken away
• Zechariah sees a basket with a woman in it, she represents sin, 2 winged women carry the basket away to its place in a temple in Babylonia
• 4 chariots pulled by horses, the 4 spirits of heaven, were to go to all the Earth
• A crown was made for Joshua
• The Lord says some rituals were for themselves, not Him
• Do what is right, do evil to no one God said, but the people hardened their hearts and ruined the land
• God will return to Jerusalem to live
• Work hard for the future (build the temple)
• Be truthful and fair
• Enemies will be punished, but the King is coming
• God's promise to bring his people back and be with him as though He never left them
• 2 shepherds care for the flock - 2 sticks broken: Pleasant and Union broke the agreements God had made
• Jerusalem will have God and be saved when all the nations against Jerusalem come to attack
• We will cry over our wrongs against God
• A fountain to cleanse sins will come
• Those who prophesy must die
• Judgement day is coming at Mount of Olives and it will be like no other day
• Lord will be Lord of all, Jerusalem will be safe, everyone else will have terrible disease
• Those left alive will come worship God once a year of they will have no rain for their crops

Grace Over Perfection

I did not love this book.  I barely liked the book.  This book reminded me of Girl, Wash Your Face, which I also didn't love.  However, this book not only was also part sales pitch for her planner product line.  And also, hey do all these things because it sets you up to be good, but when you can't don't.  Be scheduled and structured, except when you need grace.

This book made me feel like I could write a book.  I do a lot of things already, except for wipe my sink daily; who does that?  And it was just a story about how she manages her days, so I could write those things down myself and call it a book?

It did look pretty; I will give it that.  And it was an easy read. 

The Alice Network

This book was fantastic.  It sucked me in; I finished it in a week's time with a late night or two, and even a skipped morning workout to squeeze in a few more chapters.  (I rarely skip a workout!)

Strong women are inspiring.  Reading about the World Wars in novel form is also fascinating for me.  It mixed history, with a love story and strong women mixing their lives and finding their own ways through their own struggles of life.

This quickly has become a new favorite novel of mine.

Haggai

• Haggai, prophet, spoke to leaders: is it right to live in fancy houses while the temple is in ruins?
• The leaders were Zerubbabel, governor and Joshua, high priest
• They began working on the temple
• Remember how great the temple was before the destruction, be brave, keep going
• The Lord will come and His temple will be great and full of peace
• People and their offerings are unclean from their actions
• The Lord brought diseas, mildes and hail on their land, but the people still didn't return to God
• When heaven and earth shake and destruction comes, Zerubbabel will be God's servant

Zephaniah

• The word of God came through Zephaniah
• The Lord will remove everything from the Earth (judgement)
• Judgement is coming; the Earth will end
• Come to the Lord before it is too late
• Philistia, Moab, Ammon, Cush, Assyria and Jerusalem will be punished for their evil, but God is still there and fair
• Pride will be removed; a new day of goodness is coming
• God will gather up his people again

Habakkuk

• Habakkuk, a prophet, received this message
• Habakkuk complains about God's ignoring his cries about evil
• God says he will do something about it with Babylon in Habakkuk's lifetime
• Habakkuk complains again of the evil and wicked
• But aren't we all a little wicked?
• God's message will come at the right time and be patient for it; those right with God will live by trusting him
• Habakkuk prays and shares his amazement at the Lord and trembles at his power; he is glad in the Lord, even in destruction, and rejoices in God's strength

The Treasure Principle

This book was not at all what I expected, but also just the message I needed to hear as well.  It reminded me of a time in my life when I was more giving, and I want to get back to that.  Life changes, a move happened and I changed my habits, but I can easily get back to it if I make it a priority.  Giving is important, and something that is important to God. 

Nahum

**Nahum saw a vision of the destruction of Nineveh and Assyria
**Nineveh will be destroyed; it will be terrible for them