Book of Days – Book Review
![Book of Days Cover[1]](http://www.ibegat.com/wp-content/uploads/Book-of-Days-Cover1.jpg)
Cameron Vaux is losing his memory. It started out as a small annoyance—forgetting he’d written himself a note five minutes ago—but now it’s become a big problem—losing memories of his wife, killed two years ago. The creepy thing is, Cameron’s late father predicted this would happen. And when it started, his father told him to find the Book of Days.
Desperate, Cameron decides to fulfill his father’s wish and go look for the Book. A lead takes him to a small town in Oregon where he realizes dark secrets are at work. One man knows more than he’s telling. Others are seeking the Book and will stop at nothing to get it. And they’re closer than Cameron ever imagined.
Book of Days was a great book. It was easy to read with well-rounded, likeable characters, surprising plot twists, and moments of humor that made me laugh. It did lag a bit in the middle but not too badly. It was definitely worth reading. The theme of letting go of past hurts and stepping into the life God has for you in the present was woven throughout the book.
A couple loose ends didn’t seem to be quite tied up for me but they were small, definitely not big enough to bug me to insanity and make me dislike the book.
Overall, I’d give Book of Days four out of five stars. The only reason I’m not giving it five stars is because of the slow spot in the middle. Other than that, I recommend it for good characters and an interesting plot that kept me turning pages.
My name’s Danielle Dodge. I’ve found it’s a hard job to summarize fourteen years of life into a small paragraph so I’ll just mention a few things. I’m an avid writer and reader. I love to write young adult fiction/fantasy novels and devotionals. I’m a ballerina, a violinist, an amateur photographer and an amateur horseback rider. I like BIG words, bright colors, cats, and of course, chocolate. And if you didn’t guess already, I’m a born again Christian, follower of Jesus Christ.
Man-eating Miracle
“My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. …” The king was overjoyed and ordered that Daniel be lifted from the den. Not a scratch was found on him, for he had trusted in his God. (Daniel 6:22-23 NLT)
It was Easter Sunday. At a church in West Africa, the congregation was absorbed in worshiping God and giving glory to him for his sacrifice and resurrection. They had no idea that danger had entered their village.
That danger came in the form of a lioness. Wild and angry, she entered the village, killed several livestock animals, and two people. As she approached the congregation, they realized what was happening and shook with fear. But their pastor shouted, “Don’t be afraid! The God that saved Daniel from the lions is here!” And with that, a lightning bolt shot out of the clear blue sky and struck the lioness, killing her instantly. When the police showed up to investigate, all they could say was, “The God of these people must be a God of miracles.”
God is a God of miracles. And he’s not afraid to use his power to protect his people. I think though that his people could do a better job trusting him. Here in America, we think we’re pretty self-sufficient. We have our own houses, jobs, multiple ways to make food in even the tiniest kitchen, places to exercise, to relax, to hang out with friends. Maybe in all this luxury, we forget that the entire universe is held together by God’s hands alone and that we are entirely dependent on him. God made this world perfect all the way down to the last oxygen molecule so earth would be safe for human life.
Human beings really can’t do anything independently. Everything we do relies on God in someway. We just don’t realize it.
Take time today to tell God you trust him. Take time to remind yourself that you are not truly in control of anything but you know the One who is. When tough times come, we don’t have to be afraid because God is on our side and He has the power to make miracles happen.
Simple Joy
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. (Psalm 28:7, NIV)
Satisfy us in the morning wi th your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. (Psalm 90:14, NIV)
On November 13, 2012, my family and I flew into Haiti. Haiti is a small country located off the southern coast of Florida in the Caribbean Sea. It’s the poorest country in the western hemisphere and terrifically humid to boot. So why was my family of five there? We were there to meet a little boy for the very first time, the little boy we are in the process of adopting.
My family and I found our luggage, boarded our adoption group’s bus, and drove to the hotel. We checked in, unloaded are bags in our room, climbed back in the bus, and were driven to the orphanage. We drove over rocky roads that hadn’t been paved in more than 40 years. People walked by carrying baskets on their heads or sat by the side of the road selling things. When the bus was stopped in traffic, boys ran up. From outside the windows, they offered to clean the bus for money.
When my family and the other adopting families arrived at the orphanage, the kids were happy to see us and all the families were happy to meet the kids they were adopting. We stayed at the orphanage for around three hours. While my parents held my little brother, I got to spend time with some teenaged girls, Miliane and Addy. Miliane showed me how to play jacks with rocks. She and Addy took turns holding my camera and clicking through the hundreds of photos on the camera display three times or more! My little brother himself found entertainment with a plastic bottle cap and a sippy cup.
It surprised me how these kids found entertainment and joy in such simple things. Who knew what they had been through already in their lives? Surrounded by so much poverty, how could they still find joy in such simple things? But maybe it’s the opposite than what I’m thinking. Maybe the harder people’s lives are and the more desperately they must lean on God, the more He shows them the simple, beautiful things he puts in life to bring them joy.
Here in America where we have so much technology and so many things to do, our lives are so busy. I wonder how many times we passed up the beautiful things God puts in our lives to bless us. Try taking time today to slow down and see the things that God has blessed you with. I can guarantee that God’s gifts—no matter how big or small or simple—will bring you joy.
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My name’s Danielle Dodge. I’ve found it’s a hard job to summarize fourteen years of life into a small paragraph so I’ll just mention a few things. I’m an avid writer and reader. I love to write young adult fiction/fantasy novels and devotionals. I’m a ballerina, a violinist, an amateur photographer and an amateur horseback rider. I like BIG words, bright colors, cats, and of course, chocolate. And if you didn’t guess already, I’m a born again Christian, follower of Jesus Christ.
Sunflower
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval. (Romans 14:17-18 NIV)
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. (Romans 12:12 NIV)
What’s big, tall, embodies sunshine, and brings a smile to anyone’s face? A sunflower! My mom loves sunflowers, so, of course she grows a lot of them. A funny thing about sunflowers is that the seeds spread. Every summer, bright yellow flowers pop up in unexpected places, like along the sidewalk, next to the front porch and in the pumpkin patch.
Did you know that the tallest sunflower ever was grown by Hans-Peter Schiffer in Germany in 2009? It was 26 feet and 4 inches tall. The largest head of a sunflower was 32 ¼ inches in diameter and it was grown by Emily Martin in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada in 1983.
I think God must have really enjoyed creating sunflowers, because even though they’re plants, they express a bit of God. They’re so cheerful and joyous with their brilliant colors. I believe God has a sense of humor and loves to smile and have fun. After all, if we humans like to laugh, then wouldn’t our Creator love to as well?
It’s also pretty funny how sunflower seeds spread out and the plants grow in different places. It’s a bit like joy. Joy is infectious and can’t help but spread. If you’ve ever been talking to someone who is smiling and joyful and you start to feel their happiness rubbing off on you, you know what I mean.
We can get pretty wrapped up in life sometimes and life can be awfully serious. Now and then we need to remember to smile. Can you remember the last time you smiled in the last 12 hours and were really, genuinely happy? If not, do it now! And even if you don’t feel cheerful, sometimes just smiling at yourself in the mirror or making funny faces can make you happy.
God loves His children and wants us to be joyful in all things. That must be one of the reasons He made sunflowers: to remind us to smile!
Danielle Dodge
Danielle Dodge is a fourteen-year-old girl who lives in Missoula, Montana. She’s in love with writing and reading. She also enjoys playing the violin, dancing, and horseback riding.
Death by Waterslide?
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:12 NIV)
“I’m going down the orange one,” I told my older sister.
We climbed up the stairs to the top of the waterslides. My sister walked to the line for the open-top, green slide. I stood in line for the closed-top, orange slide. The dark hole gaped at me.
Heart hammering, I sat down and pushed myself in. I lay back and zipped down an unexpected drop-off. I started going faster and faster, whizzing through the darkness so fast I couldn’t scream. The only thought running through my head was, I’m going to crash and die at the bottom.
Light glinted up the sides of the slide. I plugged my nose and in a rush of water, I splashed into the pool. I jumped up, wiped the water out of my eyes, and stumbled around, trying to get my bearings. My head spun with dizziness. But I was alive. I was elated at the realization.
Sin can seem like we’re whizzing down a long, dark slide and there’s no way to slow down or stop. We just have to wait for the bottom where we’re going to crash and die.
In truth, sin’s much different. Sin is more like a playground slide where we can grab the edges of it and stop whenever we choose. Sin feels like it’s uncontrollable but it’s quite the contrary. Jesus died and rose again so He could give the gift of forgiveness to us. Because of forgiveness, we don’t have to continue in sin until we crash. We can come back whenever we choose.
If you feel yourself sliding into sin, stop where you are and pray for God to give you the strength to resist the devil. And if you are already on a downward spiral of sin, you can still pray and ask God’s forgiveness. He is always ready and willing to forgive. He will never turn you away.
Jesus didn’t die and rise from the grave for His people to cower back in fear, unable to fight sin. He gave us the power to fight the devil and resist temptation and sin. With Jesus on your side, you are stronger than you know. Go fight the good fight.
Danielle Dodge “Waterslide” Devo
Danielle Dodge is a fourteen-year-old girl who lives in Missoula, Montana. She’s in love with writing and reading. She also enjoys playing the violin, dancing, and horseback riding.
The “Body” of Christ
You have legs to walk; eyes to see; ears to hear, and a nose to smell. If it weren’t for these body parts, which contain a specific assignment, we wouldn’t be able to accomplish certain jobs.
1 Corinthians 12:12-27 (NCV) says:
“If each part of the body were the same part, there would be no body. But truly God put all the parts, each one of them, in the body as he wanted them… Those parts of the body that seem to be the weaker are really necessary. And the parts of the body we think are less deserving are the parts to which we give the most honor… Together you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of that body.”
God has given each of us a gift to help build his kingdom. You have talented hands to write, but those same hands may not be skilled to paint. These talents were chosen by our Creator for each of us specifically!
We are called to glorify God and help others by using the talents he has given us. It doesn’t work well to go outside of your calling. Why would you want to use a body part for something other than the function it was given?
Think of how much stronger the body of Christ would be if each of us did the assignment that God has given us. Let’s all work together by using our gifts as we allow God to teach, heal, and reach others—one gift at a time.
TESSA HALL
Tessa Hall is a writing and coffee obsessed seventeen-year-old. She lives for Christ only and believes that it’s not just a religion, but a relationship. Her Young Adult, Christian fiction contemporary novel, Purple Moon, is currently under contract with Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. She also writes a blog called “Christ is Write” where she posts teen devotions, writing tips, book reviews, author interviews, and coffee recipes.
Tessa has always enjoyed writing and has a passion to spread God’s healing, love, and comfort to her peers through the written word. Some of her other passions include acting, film, music, photography, and dance. She has big dreams and high hopes for her future, but believes that God can grant the desires of her heart as long as she puts Him first. Her favorite scripture is Ecclesiastes 11:9 (MSG): “You who are young, make the most of your youth. Relish your youthful vigor. If something looks good to you, pursue it. But know also that not just anything goes; You have to answer to God for every last bit of it.”
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Spread the Love …
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” John 15:12 (NIV)
February 14th
Valentines
Singles Awareness Day
No matter what you call it – it annoys me…
I don’t like candy. The regular Hallmark movies already make me want to gag. And when I see so much pink and red and white together it makes me want to convulse into seizures.
When I see couples making out in the streets and singles making goo-goo eyes at the remaining brood – I really do convulse into seizures.
It’s just one of those days where I’d rather stay in bed and relive Discovery Channel’s Shark Week on TiVo.
Despite all the pomp and circumstance, and even my excessive distaste for the day, I think someone, somewhere along the line – got it right.
Showing love has changed throughout the ages. The ancient Greeks used to toss an apple to the woman they fancied, and if she caught it – they were as good as engaged.
Ladies in old England would fasten their handkerchiefs to a knight’s javelin to let him not-so-subtly know she favored him the most.
Back in the 17th Century, in Wales, a man would tediously carve a pair of wooden spoons – called Lovespoons – and would give them to the girl he loved to show his affection.
And in 30AD, God sent His son to die a butchered death and bear the sin of a world that had rejected him so that we, ungrateful children, may spend eternity with Him. Because no matter what we’ve done – and no matter what we will do – God loves us.
Kind of puts ‘love’ into perspective, huh?
So this Valentines-Singles-Awareness-Day, take a step out of conformity and spread the greatest love of all with those you hold dear.
The love of Christ.
CHRISTINE WESSELIUS
Christine grew up in the windowless basement of her grandparent’s house and has thus been fondly nicknamed “The vampire in a box” by her friends. She has a strong affinity for sarcasm, shiny purple things, and random, useless information that “normal people probably wouldn’t care about.” She likes to sing, act, draw, write, read, and make fun of Prince Charming in her spare time. Some of her epic skills include: surviving a piano being dropped on her, carrying on a five hour conversation with a wall, and making a grilled cheese sandwich spontaneously explode. (read more…)
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