Inspirational poetry written from the heart of the author, as she was encouraged by Family,and Friends with her Gift of Writing from God. Devoted encouragement from her therapist Cheryl and her deep Love of God.

The IT Book is from my heart and much of it is from my life. I think if there is any one thing that children of all ages need it is encouragement. With this in mind I have written The IT Book Short Stories of Encouragement for Children of All Ages. I called it The IT Book because the stories are titled LISTEN TO IT, LOVE IT, EXPLORE IT, OVERCOME IT and so forth. I never realized what an interesting life I have had until I wrote this book. I have always enjoyed words, languages and writing. Humor is a strong point in our family and I am happy to see my sense of humor coming out in some of these stories.

Like our parents, I have always had a great appreciation for beauty in any form: in music, in words that uplift, in nature, and in the kindness in people which manifests in so many ways. My husband, Bill Mercer, wrote several of these stories. I think you will find them delightful. It is my hope and prayer that this little book will uplift you in some way.

At her bed and breakfast in Lake Placid, NY, Wendy Baily, her brother and friends confront criminals determined to force her to give them Canadian gold coins they feel were stolen from them during Prohibition by Wendy’s grandfather. She finds the coins, sells them and gives the funds to aid an local ecumenical charity group. She makes friends with local Adirondackers, who try to protect her when she is threatened. Her commitment to God grows throughout her ordeal. She realizes that her business is in reality a mission to win others to God.

<i>Nature’s Poetic Vision</i> presents a collection of poetic quotations and images that focus on the beauty found in nature and its sacred and therapeutic influence on man and his spirituality. Beautifully illustrated with stunning photographs of nature, digitally altered, his vision seeks to bridge the gap between ecology and theology: eco-theology.

Most people have experienced a deeply moving and pleasurable sense of oneness with something larger than themselves just by looking at the stars on a clear night, hearing the buzzing of bees in the blossoms of spring, or hiking in the woods or on the beach. <i>Nature’s Poetic Vision</i> blends that experience with beautiful quotes from well-known sources.

Author David Blow’s work embraces the technological changes that are taking place in our culture while maintaining his love for the beauty of our natural environment. Multiple images show the magic found in nature’s seasons. The poetic quote connected to each image magnifies that experience and offer insight into images of nature from the beauty of a butterfly to the quiet serenity of freshly fallen snow.

<i>Nature’s Poetic Vision</i> seeks to bring the natural environment and the electronic world of man in the twenty-first century together in harmony.

“The Scriptures tell us ‘righteousness exalteth a nation.’” 
—Abigail Adams in a letter to a friend

“Education is useless without the Bible.”
—Noah Webster

Captivate students with American History through People Who Looked to the Lord, an engaging, hands-on workbook for Christian educators of children ages eight through twelve.

Filled with puzzles, historical fiction, creative writing exercises, and more, this innovative lesson book focuses on the often overlooked role of Christianity throughout American history. Bible verses are included for each unit, and thoughtful questions stimulate research and critical thinking skills. Fiction stories and short plays bring history to life, while engaging facts of events ground the student in history. 

Row past British warships with George Washington’s army under a providential fog. Hear Benjamin Franklin call upon the Continental Congress to pray before writing the Constitution. Ride with fugitives on Levi Coffin’s Underground Railroad!

Ideal for homeschoolers or Christian school educators, <i>American History through People Who Looked to the Lord</i> is a fun and lively tool to help you create a thoughtful dialogue with your students on how America can look to the Lord today.

 

Was it a miracle, God-given determination, or both, that lifted Kathi from the paralysis that blindsided her, confining her to a wheelchair? No one wants to face such a life-changing health crisis, but Kathi takes us on her journey of creating a new life with a disability. With a husband also hospitalized, she is alone in her battle. A rehab center becomes her home while she searches for strength of body—and mind. See how acceptance, determination, and courage can overcome the challenges of everyday life. Reading about her progress, you realize she is just like you—an ordinary person who accepts the challenge to accomplish extraordinary feats, inspiring us by her power of faith and determination.

 

Imagine writing a note to encourage someone … and changing a life.

There are many ways to encourage someone—talking to them face-to-face, calling, e-mailing, and helping them in any way you can. Then there’s writing. We have each been encouraged in some or all of these ways, but our hearts respond most readily when we receive a personal, handwritten note.  Words are shared differently in a note. People express things in ways they wouldn’t or couldn’t if they were talking, and a handwritten note can be a treasured possession, a remembrance to be read again and again.

In <i>The Ministry of Note Writing,</i> author Carol Ann Mc Giffin offers guidance in the basics of note writing and provides practical advice on the types of notes to consider writing. She offers examples that will aid even a novice in developing strong note-writing skills. 

There’s just something special about a handwritten note that expresses God’s love and directs your focus to His care over you. Encouraging through note writing is a ministry that can change lives. Whether you’re writing notes of sympathy, congratulations, or thanks, when you take the time to write a note, you are opening your heart.

Susan has been writing for an online magazine, Searchwarp.com. She has been Blessed to have such an overwhelming group of people who are caring, considerate, and helpful. If not for the experience she has  gained writing and commenting for this site, she might  not have honed her writing skills, nor would she have made friends with such wonderful people.

It seems she has gone through many lives in this one stretch of time on this Earth, and she has much to tell, hopefully, to help others.

 

She would like to publish volumes of what she has written, in the hopes that her experiences will help others.

 

She hopes you come away from this book with a nod to your head, a smile on your face, and maybe a tear of emotion rolling down your cheek.

 

Whispers in Your Ear takes you on a journey of beauty, tranquility and inspiration. Through words and images it offers a message healing, love, and gentle wisdom for anyone who has lost someone who is dear to them. Whispers in Your Ear began as a poem that author Kelly Sipe wrote when a former student experienced the unexpected loss of a parent. Set with beautiful images, this version of the poem comes to life in a heartfelt and moving way. Whispers in Your Ear seeks to provide hope and comfort after the loss of a loved one. Often within the beauty and stillness of nature, we connect with our faith source and with a sense of spirit. There are elements of sacredness present in the natural world that remind us we are a part of something larger than ourselves; through these words and images, you can find connection to this larger whole. I am the rays of sun that wake you in the morning. I am the soft, fresh fallen snow as it blankets the Earth. I am each new bud that awakens after a long winter’s nap. I am the butterfly as it dances from bloom to bloom. I am the awe and splendor of the ocean, dotted with porpoises at play …

With forty percent of people in the U.S. now over fifty years of age, millions of baby boomers and beyond are facing new challenges and choices as they journey through the second-half of life. This study guide helps to provide answers to the pressing issues that those in the second-half of life find themselves dealing with. Included in this guide is information about: Raising Grandchildren-over 6 million children live with grandparents. Dealing with Depression-the most common illness found among Second-Halfers Surviving the Death of a Spouse-the number one cause for stress Finding love a second time-read about couples who found spouses on the internet Health, Finance, Scams, and other important Retirement issues Making sense out of life by developing a “Lifetime Message” From 82 year old Marlene who is raising her great granddaughter to 95 year old Nola Ochs, America’s oldest college graduate to 93 year old youth pastor Howard Fox, true stories from the lives of second-halfers who have experienced both tragedy and triumph are interwoven throughout the lessons. If you are new to the “second half” or have been traveling this road a long time you will find yourself laughing, crying, learning, and being encouraged at God’s plan for every person…regardless of age. If you have a PULSE, you have a PURPOSE and whether you use this guide in a small group, a Sunday School class, or as an individual study, you can find inspiration and hope. YOU can FINISH LIFE STRONG! Looking for inspiration and hope? This book is for you. You will find numbers of practical and helpful suggestions to get you on the road to a whole new life of excitement in your second half. …from the foreward, Ken Horn Editor Pentecostal Evangel!

We live in a world full of pain and bitterness. The daily headlines show a tide of distrust, discord, and disharmony sweeping across the globe. People of faith can be effective in such an environment, but only if they recognize that pain and perplexities abound wherever real people encounter the real struggles of everyday existence. In Beauty for Ashes: Portraits of Faith, you will meet some remarkable women with incredible stories of faith and redemption. They are not celebrities. Their names and faces do not grace the covers of the magazines in the grocery checkout line. They are everyday women who have faced a variety of trials not unlike those everyone faces. In their darkest hours, they turned to God and discovered that he was the only hope that remained. They surrendered their lives to his love, mercy, compassion, and goodness—and God did not fail them. God has helped them to become extraordinary women of faith, courage, and strength—able to reach out in love and compassion to others who are struggling and offer them the same hope that they have found. By working through ordinary people who are facing the sometimes overwhelming issues of daily life, God lets the world know that there is hope beyond the struggles and heartaches that can leave us feeling hopeless. Come and walk with these women and let their faith and stories touch your heart. You will discover renewed hope and strength for your own journey—and perhaps even more.