Rosebud Blooming by Nancy Maggio



What a life! So much, so much to endure!  Though I am one-third her age, I understand and relate to the things/events/trials/pains/sufferings/joys she has gone through.  Nancy Maggio has a beautiful and artistic way of sharing the joys, struggles, pain, etc. in her life.  Being  into poetry myself, I truly appreciated her medium of expressing and writing.  It was very cool to share in her experiences in a similar way I share my hurts and joys/experiences.  She artistically combines her personal stories, struggles, joys and God's work in her life with her beautiful and creative poems.
Sometimes what you are going through in your life is or feels less painful when greater suffering is acknowledged. Or you're going through something similar and it helps to know how God is always and will always be there for you, no matter where you are at.  She has endured betrayal, fear, loss, emotional pain, physical pain and so much more, but most of all she has experienced and lives in the great joy of Jesus Christ.  She leans on Him and seeks Him, she asks Him why?  She asks Him for help, she rejoices in His sacrifice and comfort and guidance.
Thank you Ms. Maggio for sharing and putting your life out there to help others.

The Love & Respect Experience by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs

The Love & Respect Experience by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs
Reading through the devotional and especially selected excerpts, I have found very insightful and beneficial concepts and information by Dr. Eggerichs.  He made a very profound statement about devotions.  Devotions are not supposed to be about the two of us (as a couple) connecting as husband and wife emotionally and sexually.  Devotions is our time to spend in God's word, seeking Him and Christ.  Not spending time correcting or judging one another.  Seeking, learning and following God's word.  As he stated, devotions are not to be used to motivate your husband to better love you.  It's nice that Dr. Eggerichs understands the dynamics in the marriage, which we rarely talk about.  Women knowingly and unknowingly have a tendency  in certain areas to make a husband feel inadequate or have an "I know better or more" attitude. We have the more emotional personality, the more connected feelings, relationally.
Continuing on, we find more directions and Biblical teaching, as well as, Dr. Eggerichs personal insights and wisdom.  His 80/20 theory for example, is very awakening and eye opening, in marriage we tend to focus on the small empty part of the glass, versus the beautiful, almost full part.  We have so many good things/moments/parts of our lives that outweigh the negative parts and we tend to let that tiny negative looking glass affect all the positive points/parts.  These insights and more you will find in the Love & Respect Experience.  I believe it will help my marriage prayer life and I hope yours too.

God's Love Letters To You

God's Love Letters to You by Dr. Larry Crab

This 40 day devotional is inspirational and comforting.

It starts with a key verse, Dr. Larry Crab then writes a small segment pertaining to that verse and how it explains God's love for us from God's point of view.  He has a mall segment called, "Take a Moment to Reflet".  Here he gives you some readings, some thought provoking questions and questions of understanding God's love for us.  His last segment is, "Take a Moment to Pray." Here he provides a lead prayer for you to repeat, you can always talk to God more, but these prayers tend to help when you don't know what to say or if you need help getting started praying.

This book demonstrates God's love for us in many different ways, be it through his comfort, his understanding, his compassion, his mercy, his grace, his discipline, etc.  God loves us and wants the best for us.  This devotional points out in a brief straight forward manner, what those things are that he wants for us and shows us through the many paths of his love.