Hello and happy Saturday! I love reading, and this summer, I’m hoping to get in a little more reading than I have been able to get lately. So I thought I would share some books with you that, to me, seem to have a pretty summer vibe to them and see how many I can get read this season! Please note, I haven’t read these books and am not endorsing them. As I finish, I hope to review them and share my thoughts.

1|| All Manner of Things by Susie Finkbeiner

This is a Vietnam story, set on the homefront. It’s a slow read, as I have already started it, but I look forward to getting further into the story.
 
2|| Escape to Murray River by Robert Elmer

I read this book years ago and just rediscovered it on Kindle! I’m looking forward to reading it again and possibly reading it aloud to my siblings! It’s a fun Irish/Australian story, which made me think of Jayne’s Endeavour!
 
3|| The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan

This is a classic I’ve been wanting to read for years, but have never read in full. But this year, I want to change that! Let’s see if I can get it read!
 
 4|| Porch Swing Girl by Taylor Bennett 

This story is an Indie book that I’ve been curious about for some time. It’s set in modern-day Hawaii and sounds so fun! And the cover is so pretty!
 
5|| Bridgers by Angie Thompson

I’ve heard so much about this book, but at the same time, I know nothing about it, setting, the theme, anything, so I thought I might as well dig in blindly! I’ve read this author before 😉, so I’m greatly anticipating this story!

1|| The Last Cherry Blossom by Kathleen Burkinshaw

This historical fiction chronicles the author’s mother’s life growing up in WWII Japan. I’ve heard it’s a lovely look at what life was like for the civilians of Japan and isn’t a book to try and redeem the Japanese army, so I’m eager to give it a read!
 
2|| By Paths Unknown by Rebekah A. Morris

I don’t talk about it much, but I love a good western! They are just so hard to find. So when I heard about this story by a dear author friend of mine, I decided to get a copy! I’ve had it for a few months now and just haven’t gotten to it. Time to change that!
 
3|| Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell

Okay. So first of all, this is an edited copy I received for my birthday from Kassie Angle, a close friend, and fellow author. I read a children’s edition years ago, and I am so eager to get the whole story of Operation Redwing straight from the Lone Survivor himself. So, Texas, Navy SEALs, and men ready to defend America from a terrorist? Yes, please! (Plus…I remember where I was when all of this was going on. So that makes this that much more personal to me.)
 
4|| Patriots, Redcoats, and Spies by Robert J. and Robert A. Skead

I love the American Revolution, and when I found this book at the Homeschool Bookfair a few years ago, I was eager to read it! It’s written by a father-son team and follows twin brothers and their involvement in the Culper Spy Ring. I can’t wait to read it, and its sequel!
 
5|| The Night Heroes: Cry from the Coal Mines by Dr. Bo Wagner

This is a fun little time travel story that lets you enjoy solving historical mysteries! I’m not sure what the historical period is, but it sounds fun, so we’ll see what happens!

And that’s it for today! Have a lovely week!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22

Books and a new year just seem to go together! Today, I’m sharing 5 books that I plan to read this year…at some point anyway. Some I’ve had for a little while, others, I just got and one I haven’t bought yet, because it’s not in print yet. So, without further ado, let’s dive in! (Disclaimer: These aren’t exactly endorsements; I’ve only read a draft of one of these. So don’t take this as a recommendation until a positive review goes up 😉)

Speak Truth in Your Heart by Sarah Mally

I received this book for Christmas, and I am so excited to read it! Sarah Mally is a favorite of mine (though I wish all her stuff was King James) and I adored her book Before You Meet Prince Charming. This is her most recent book and teaches how to immerse yourself in the truths of God in order to avoid belief in the lies of the devil…even the ones you don’t realize are lies. I’ve started this one already and I’m loving it so far!
 
The Last Jihad by Joel C. Rosenberg

I read his book The Auschwitz Escape last year and enjoyed his writing style. After reviewing it, so many people told me I had to read The Last Jihad. And I just happened to have it. (Goodwill finds, y’all!) I know it’s supposed to be about the possibility of a terrorist overthrow, but other than that, I’m actually not quite sure.  So…we’ll see if I end up liking it or not 😉
 
Unbroken: Young Adult Edition by Laura Hillenbrand

Since I enjoyed the original (minus some edits…) I figure this one will be even better, since I know certain words won’t be in there and probably a few scenes as well. Looking forward to proofing this one for my siblings!
 
Through All Things by Malachi Cyr

This is a historical fiction I bought in a sale in 2018…so yeah, I need to read this. From what I read about it, it’s set about the time of the French and Indian War and may involve a character going on a search for a kidnapped younger sister and her friend. I’m thinking along the lines of Alone, Yet Not Alone, though that is another book I haven’t read…
 
Tattered Wings by Kassie Angle

I cannot wait for this book to release! I was privileged to get to beta read this book prior to final edits and let me tell you, even there it was good! I can’t wait to read the final copy…and hold it in my hands! The cover is just gorgeous too!

So that's it for today! Have a blessed Weekend!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22

A brand-new year is before us! What a fantastic opportunity to make it the best year yet, with the Help of Jesus Christ! Don’t know Him personally? Check out my testimony. Having a personal relationship with Christ is the very best way to begin the New Year!

2020.

So different, but it sounds so right, too. It’s a clean slate "with no mistakes in it yet." (Anne of Green Gables, probably my favorite quote from that story!)

Very quickly, I’d like to share a few things to expect here on the blog; then, we will dive right into my word of the year (click here for 2019’s word of the year!)

I am a ministry kid (well, I’m technically an adult, but I still live at home, so “kid”!), and that means that sometimes, I cannot adhere to a schedule. I try to post on Saturdays (changing from Friday). But if something comes up and my posts are not there, you know what happened 😉. I post devotions, writing advice, historical articles and bookish posts! I also post reviews of books that I’ve read, fiction and non-fiction, traditionally published and Self-Published. But a new feature that I’m adding this year is a special post on the first Monday of each month (Lord Willing!) and that I shall share with you after our Word of the Year.

Word of the Year is very special to me, even though this is only my second year doing it. I learned so much from my 2019 word, Stand, and I can’t wait to see what God will show me with this word.

So without further ado…

*Drumroll*

2020’s Word of the Year is…

Now, before you go laughing, thinking this is a pun off of 20-20 Vision, it’s not. When I picked this word (or rather felt God impressing this word on my heart over and over), I hadn’t even thought about the fact that this was 2020.

This verse keeps coming to the forefront of my mind. Since my family travels full-time for the Fundamental Broadcasting Network, I attend multiple missions conferences a year. It has touched my heart in a way hard to express. Though I don’t feel called to overseas missions (but I’m open to that if it’s what God wants for my life), Missions means a lot to me. These people are dying, lost without Christ. And when we turn our backs on the Vision of Missions, not only do they perish, but so does our effectiveness in the Christian life. Missions is the heartbeat of God.

We’ll talk about this more in our upcoming devotion, “Where is Your Vision?”

Now, in keeping with this theme (although there are certainly more aspects to one’s vision beyond missions), I decided to share with you my Monday Blog post theme and a challenge for you.

Every First Monday (as I said, Lord Willing), I will be posting a spotlight on a different country in the world. Basic facts, interesting information, missionaries that serve there if applicable (Have to make sure they are the kind I want to promote!), and a little about the spiritual condition of the country.

Here’s where your part comes in.

Please join me in the Missions Vision Challenge! Will you commit to praying for that country throughout its assigned month? Will you pray for laborers to go to that country to reach it for Christ? Will you give to your church’s missions program, trusting the Lord to send it to the Missionary that needs it most? Will you find out if you have a missionary in that country, and if so, pray for them by name, read their prayer letter, and perhaps send them a card/email of encouragement?

Before we go, I have a few Missions themed Story Prompts for you. And a few Missions book recommendations. Here you go!

Books to Read

Evidence Not Seen by Darlene Diebler Rose (18+ if read independently)
Missionaries with the Millers by Mildred A. Martin
Wounded Tiger by T. Martin Bennett (18+)
David Livingston, Louis Zamperini, Lilian Trasher, Amy Carmichael, and Jacob DeShazer by Janet and Geoff Benge.
 
That’s all I have for you today!
Have a Blessed New Year!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22

This is the last post of 2019. Hard to believe, even harder to write.

This year, my word of the year was Stand. I had no idea how special this word would be to me.

I was challenged in several ways to stand. I was privileged to stand for life through working with Pregnant Options, attending a Pro-Life Rally, and signing a few petitions that came my way. I have been challenged to stand even firmer in my stance that the King James Bible is the Word of God by seeing the increase of people turning away from it. I’ve been inspired to stand in my Baptist Faith by reading of the mighty work God has done through my spiritual ancestors. And I’ve even be challenged to stand by the fundamental truths of American History 😉 (Try answering the question “What do you think of Abraham Lincoln?” when the one asking is a very kind northern lady and you desperately want to avoid hurting her feelings but be honest as well! Praise the Lord, He gave me a kind answer and we both left the conversation happy!)
 
Now more than ever, we need to take a stand for what we believe in. The devil is fighting hard, and man continues to call evil good and good evil. But we must stand! We have no choice! The gospel depends on it!
 
I’m eager to share my word of the year with you in my next post, and I can’t wait to see how God uses it in my life.
 
Now, my December Favorites!

Bible Verse: Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Don’t ask me why, but even more so than the actual account of Jesus Birth, this passage gives me chills. This is Who He Is! Look at all the promises in these verses, just in the names given to Jesus! What a genuinely mighty God we Serve!

Song: Good Christian Men Rejoice. It’s my official Favorite Christmas Song this Year!

Event: Our After-Christmas-Family-Gathering! Almost everyone made it in for lunch, and it was so nice having all my siblings and their families in at the same time!

Book of the Month: The Christmas Carol Society by Rebekah Jones. She’s a new author to me this year, and while I don’t approve of all her writing (and the scriptures are not King James), this book was incredibly thought-provoking. Didn’t really expect certain of the plot twists. I greatly enjoyed it!

Ministry: We performed a Christmas Play for my former home chirch, among other meetings this month! We had a lovely time acting out “The Greatest Gift” by Majesty Music. (BTW!!!! If you are not acquainted with Patch the Pirate{Put out by Majesty Music| You really need to check it out! Their latest episode was so good…and tear-jerking…)

Writing Update: I’ve been working on some personal revisions for A Song of Home, but stay tuned for the January update…it should be far more satisfying than anything I can tell you right now, Lol!

A Book I am Anticipating for January: Speak Truth in Your Heart by Sarah Mally. It’s her newest book, and I am so excited about this Bible Study! I also hope to put a dent in Jefferson Davis, American and read my Paw-Paw’s copy of Killing Lincoln by Bill O’Reilly in preparation for book 5 rewrites…😉
 
And now for the whole reason you have stayed around this long…to see my list of 2019 Top Books!

Okay, so maybe that’s not why you are reading but, a girl can hope, right?

I specifically chose these books because they touched me personally, and I hope that if you read them, they will move you too.

10. The Real Lincoln by Thomas DiLorenzo.
This book showed me there are still people who know the truth about history, particularly about the War Between the States. The author is from Pennsylvania, giving him more credibility (though the region shouldn’t decide ones’ ability to serve the facts) and a larger platform than the average Joe could hope for. If you want the truth or some hope that real history can still be found, pick up this book.

9. Through the Tunnel by Rebekah A. Morris.
Foster kids have always touched me. Their lives are so sad in general. But this story provides hope. The forever home is out there, if not physically, then certainly spiritually. This is one of my favorite books by Ms. Morris.

8. Freedom by Faith Potts.
Now, this book will need editing for those who do not prefer Romance (like myself), but the message of this story goes far beyond any fictional relationship. This is about PTSD, a very real thing our servicemen go through daily. And it’s about another frightening reality: Suicide. Because of the romance content and suicide, I recommend this for 18+. But this book was so powerful. It was not written to entertain. It was written to educate, encourage and reach out to those in need. And most importantly, this book is about the most essential Relationship you could ever have: A Relationship with Jesus Christ.

7. The Auschwitz Escape by Joel C. Rosenburg.
This one is fiction, but so powerful. The ending wasn’t entirely satisfactory for me, but it was still so eye-opening. I’ll never think of the Holocaust quite the same way again.

6. Three People by Isabella Alden.
This is my favorite book by my favorite author. If you have never read any of her books, and need one to start with, pick this one!

5. Wedding Score by Amanda Tero.
This book was such an encouragement to me, particularly in the Bible Study section of the story. It was profound, compelling, and very touching. I hope to re-read it soon, it was so encouraging in waiting on God’s time in all things.

4. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand.
I’ve wanted to read this book ever since it came out. And this year, I did. It’s deep, and definitely not for young people without being editing first. But it’s a compelling story and one we can all learn from today.

3. Let’s Roll! by Lisa Beamer.
If you’ve read my testimony, then you know how much 9/11 has impacted my life. This book has only endeared the heroes of that day to me even more. I will never forget. I hope you won’t either. But this book will ensure that you don’t.

2. Worth Dying For by Rorke Denver.
It’s by a Navy SEAL…😊 But Seriously, this book explains some of the core values of the American Spirit. And in teaching us what things are worth dying for…He has shown us some things worth Living for.

And finally...





1. O To Be Like Thee by Kassie Angle.
I know you saw that coming, but this book really did touch me deeply. It’s powerful. Heart-wrenching…and real. For those of you looking for a Clean Military Read not meant to be forgotten…yeah, get this book ASAP.
 
And that, my friends, concludes the blog posts of 2019!
God Bless and Keep Standing!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22

So today is the official first day of the 12 Days of Christmas! Last year, I posted everyday…that is not happening this year 😉 But I do have some fun posts planned to share with you over the next few days. And I will link a few posts from last year as well!

Today, I have a few new Christmas books to share with you! So let’s hop right in!

The Quiet Little Woman and other stories by Louisa May Alcott
Never thought I would be recommending one of her books, but here I am! Granted, I’ve only read this one and Hospital Sketches (it was pretty good, but there were a few parts that made me want to shake her!) but I’ve heard some things that have made me leery of her writing. This book was great! So sweet and perfect for a winter evening!

A Providence Christmas by Rebekah A. Morris
This book was so sweet! I enjoyed the setting and the sweet story of a girl without a home. It was old-fashioned, and a sweet Gospel presentation. And it’s even better if you have some colonial style music to listen to in the background! (Disclosure: I received a copy of this book as a beta-reader from the author. I was not required to review the book or to give a positive review.)

A Police Force for Christmas by Rebekah A. Morris
Another new Christmas short story from Miss Morris! This one was so sweet! I love Police officers and this book didn’t disappoint. While Christmas isn’t about the presents, it’s so sweet to see others reach out to those who don’t have what others have…or have been struck by a random act of meanness. Also a good lesson in paying it forward to our friends walking the Thin Blue Line!

In the Heart of the Christmas Pines by Leona Dalrymple
Now to me, this seemed more like an old-fashioned winter story, since there wasn’t just a whole lot mentioned about Christmas, other than the giving of gifts to the poor and someone dressing in a red suit in one scene towards the end (I do not condone this!), but it was a sweet story about how a widow woman, a young heiress, a soldier and a hermit boy find out what really matters: People, not things. Relationships, not prejudice. Very sweet, innocent and old (1914!).

Christmas Quilts by Rebekah A. Morris
Okay, I’ve read a lot of her books 😉 Anyway, this one was super sweet! I love the story line, the sibling banter and the story of the quilts in general. Be sure and check this one out!

Don't forget to Check out Faith's Post and more Christmas fun here!

Merry Christmas!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22