Book Review: Money Secrets of the Amish

Book Description from Booksneeze.com

Discover the money-saving and wealth-building secrets of America’s thriftiest people, the Amish.

Author, journalist, and descendant of the Amish, Lorilee Craker, was just like the rest of us, feeling the pinch from the financial fallout of 2008. As a freelancer, her income was going the way of the dodo—family dollars seemed like an extinct myth, the bank account some archeological evidence of past prosperity.

Then, inspired by a news segment covering her people, the Amish, and how they emerged from the economic crisis unscathed, she realized it was time to get back to her roots and learn a thing or two about their time-tested approach to personal finances. While the middle-class was wringing its hands over the family budget and the wealthy were weeping over their slashed portfolios, the Amish were content as always, spared from the cares of the world and worldliness. They not only had financial health to support their lives, they exuded a wholeness that eludes so many when the financial bottom drops out.

In Money Secrets of the Amish, readers go on an “Amish money makeover,” learning the choices, secrets, and disciplines that safeguarded the contentment and the coffers of America’s favorite plain folk by spending less, saving more, and getting happier doing it.

Review:

I really enjoyed this book.  As an expectant parent through adoption, I am always looking for inspiration to save on our budget and put that "extra" money towards our adoption fund.  (Let's face it, adoption is expensive.)  I loved reading the author's experiences and interactions with the Amish as she was researching for this book and the money-saving tips are amazing as well.  While many of these "tips" were not new to me, it is always re-affirming to hear someone else say things like, "Use it up, wear it out, make do or do without" and talk about the awesome deals you can get while secondhand shopping.  We live fairly close to an Amish community and I have always been fascinated (and maybe a little jealous) of their culture of hard-working, fun loving, family oriented simplified way of living.  This is a very interesting read that I recommend to anyone looking to pinch a few more pennies!

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review: Lazarus Awakening

I was given the amazing opportunity to review Lazarus Awakening by Joanna Weaver for the blog tour.  I really didn't know what to expect when the book arrived in the mail and put off starting it for a few days.  But when I did start it, I couldn't put it down!  Here is a little about the book, Joanna, my review and a blog party with a Kind.le giveaway!

About the book: Lazarus Awakening


Getting God’s Love from Our Heads to Our Hearts

You believe that God loves the world…but sometimes you wonder if He truly loves you.
For many of us, moving the truth of God’s love from our heads to our hearts is a lifelong process. As we consider our inadequacies or grieve our shattered dreams, we find it difficult to believe that God cares for us personally.

In this life-giving book, Joanna Weaver shows you how to embrace the truth that Jesus loves you apart from anything you accomplish, apart from anything you bring. Just as He called Lazarus forth to new life, Jesus wants to free you to live fully in the light of His love, unbound from the graveclothes of fear, regret, and self-condemnation.

Love is calling your name.

Combining unforgettable real-life illustrations with unexpected biblical insights, Joanna Weaver invites you to experience a spiritual resurrection that will forever change your understanding of what it means to be the one Jesus loves.

About Joanna:

Joanna Weaver is known the world over for her transparent and life-changing books, Having A Mary Heart in a Martha World and Having a Mary Spirit. These two books have sold over a million copies and have been translated into several languages including Spanish, French, Dutch, Chinese, German, Korean and more. Joanna has appeared on a wide variety of nationally syndicated radio and television broadcasts. Past appearances include: The Harvest Show, At Home Live With Chuck & Jenni, Midday Connection, HomeWord, and Janet Parschall’s America. She is also a highly sought after speaker and shares her message at intimate gatherings and several high profile events each year. But Joanna's greatest joy is found in being a wife and mother and her role as a pastor’s wife. For more information about Joanna, please visit her website. www.joannaweaverbooks.com.

My Review

This book was more than I expected.  I have studied the story of Lazarus many times, but every time I have really focused on the sisters.  What was it like for Mary and Martha.  They sent word to their savior friend, "The one you love is sick." And waited.  Then their loved one died.  They knew Jesus.  They were friends and yet he waited two more days to come to them.  Yes, I often relate to the sisters.  Grieving and questioning while still loving the one who could have prevented it all.  Joanna writes, "These difficult times-these dark nights of the soul-rattle our convictions and shake the foundations of our faith".  I know so many that when their foundations were shaken, they really understood the rock that it was, or sadly, their foundation was showed not to be on the rock at all.   

In this book, I really began to think more about Lazarus.  What were the first moments in that tomb like?  Joanna has such imagary that I was smiling through my tears as I read the possibilities and about the joy and laughter that would more than likely filled his life after being raised.  That's right, joy and laughter.  If you are a follower of this blog, you know how much those two words mean to me.  Especially when they are seen together.  And in this book, Joanna discusses the laughter and joy that probably over flowed from Lazarus after death no longer had a hold on him. For Lazarus, there was no more fear in death, he had been there.  God had conquered it and he had nothing to fear.  I can't even begin to imagine the joy and laughter that could have filled his life.  This chapter in particular was one of my favorites.

Overall, I thought this book was a great book and I plan on reading it again and referring it to friends!

About the giveaway:


Joanna is celebrating the release of Lazarus Awakening with the Heart of God KINDLE Giveaway!

In Lazarus Awakening Joanna writes about getting God’s love from our heads to our hearts. We all know Jesus loved Mary – look how she worshiped. And we can understand why He loved Martha – after all, look how she served. But what about those of us who don’t know where we fit in the heart of God? Lazarus Awakening explores the tale of the third follower – Mary and Martha’s brother, Lazarus. We never hear him speak, we never see him serve. The only thing of any significance that Lazarus did was to die. And yet, the Bible is clear. Jesus loved Lazarus. And He loves you and me as well. Lazarus Awakening looks at different aspects of the story we find in John 11. We learn what it means to be a friend of God and begin recognizing the tombs we spend far too much time in. Find out more here.

One grand prize winner will receive:

* * A Brand New KINDLE with Wi-Fi
* * Having A Mary Heart in a Martha World
* * Having A Mary Spirit
* * Lazarus Awakening