Teresa Mathews Reviews Callie;
The Women of Valley View;
by Sharon Srock
Harbourlight Books
5 Stars*****
In her soul-stirring debut novel Sharon Srock introduces us to the women of Valley View Church. Callie Stillman is haunted by the sight of a small casket being lowered into the ground. She still believes it is her fault that eighteen month old Sawyer is dead. Because of the pain of things that went wrong Callie is determined to never again go out of her comfort zone to help anyone.
When April, Callie’s granddaughter, brings a new friend to church, Callie feels a tug on her heart that something is not quite right with the little girl. She seems too quiet and withdrawn for an eleven year old. Callie starts to argue with God that she is not going to get involved, the most she’ll do is make a few inquiries and then let someone else step in if she finds out the child needs help. When Callie tries to get answers from Iris the poor child breaks down in tears but won’t share the reason. Will Callie do something she has vowed not to do….get involved?
Samantha 17 and Iris 11 have had to endure too much in their short lives. First it was the abandonment of their father, and then the death of their mother and if the wrong people were to find out about their situation more trouble could hit them. When Iris has a desperate situation to come up she takes a chance and calls Callie. Will Callie reach out to the girls or will she let her fears keep her from being the friend these girls need?
Sharon Srock is a very talented writer that has woven a story of betrayal, forgiveness and learning to trust God utterly and completely. This story line is so touching that it drew me in from the very first page. There is also a secondary story line concerning the girls that is just as compelling as Callie's relationship with them.
You can find Ms. Srock's books at Amazon and CBD.
GIVEAWAY: We are giving away two copies of Ms. Srock's books, one from OWG and one from Ms. Srock. Winner's choice of book and format. International winners e-book only. Please answer the question and leave your email address in order to be entered in the drawing.
QUESTION: Has God ever moved you out of your comfort zone?
You can find Ms. Srock's books at Amazon and CBD.
GIVEAWAY: We are giving away two copies of Ms. Srock's books, one from OWG and one from Ms. Srock. Winner's choice of book and format. International winners e-book only. Please answer the question and leave your email address in order to be entered in the drawing.
QUESTION: Has God ever moved you out of your comfort zone?
Teresa--you have me stumped. The only thing I can think of is having to learn to get around by subway (sometimes on my own) while in foreign countries. Being an Oregonian I had never even been ON a subway before. I'm now pretty confident at finding my way around, as long as I have a subway map to follow. I will come back if I think of something better.
ReplyDeleteVicki
Vmarney(at)hotmail (dot)com
Vicki, I would be terrified on a subway. Good luck,
DeleteVICKI think that was a good example of being out of your comfort zone. I think I would rather walk 100 miles than to get in a subway! If you can do that, especially in a strange city God has blessed you with a much braver spirit than me! lol
DeleteExcellent review TERESA... this story sounds intriguing and stirring!! It can be a risky thing at times going out of your comfort zone to help others not knowing where it will lead, and I think the main fear is like Callie's... whether we will let the person down that we are trying to help. And that's when we need to put our trust in God instead of ourselves!
ReplyDeleteA few things come to mind, but I'll share this experience to also show how important it can be to listen to God's leading no matter how uncomfortable -
One evening I saw someone online on FB who was seriously suicidal, but knowing many other mutual friends could see my attempt I hesitated momentarily at first in case I said the wrong thing, but no-one else stepped up and I knew I HAD to help this person. I sensed an urgency in my spirit that this was very serious. The outcome was, she is now in rehab and going fantastic! When she first saw me after this, I was nearly hugged to death myself lol, and she told me I literally saved her life that night. Praise to God!!
Noela, so glad you followed God's tug on your heart. It's a scary thing, isn't it?
DeleteNOELA Praise God you listened to His urging. Sometimes it's very scary to take that first step, I know you are so glad you did!
DeleteYes he has. He moved me out of my comfort zone to go on a Mission Trip that I did not I had the skills to do but supplied me with everything I needed and the trip changed my life. Praise God!!!angelachesnut246@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteAngela, God always supplies when we obey. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteANGELA God only requires a willing heart, when we step out GOD will step up! So glad you stepped out on faith and you were rewarded for your obedience.
DeleteYour wonderful review tugged at my heartstrings, TERESA! How many times have we turned someone away who needed help (perhaps not intentionally), but b/c we were afraid to get involved? I know I have.
ReplyDeleteI definitely stepped out of my comfort zone when I decided to be a contributor on this blog! I knew nothing about blogging, my reviews were just so so (at least to me), and I had just barely learned to use the computer. Yeah, I was scared and definitely out of my comfort zone! But I obeyed God's leading and it has been a wonderful ride with Him at the wheel!
DIANA I'm so glad you stepped out of your comfort zone and tried your hand at reviewing books! GOD always knows just what we need when we need it and HE knew there would be a lot of people blessed by your lovely written reviews. :)
DeleteDiana, We don't grow much when we stay in the shade. No pain, no gain is a truer statement than many would like to believe.
DeleteWhat a sweet story. It is difficult to maintain any element of 'same-old-same-old' in a stressful world. I don't believe I have a comfort zone. I'm directed by God and the WORD through all types of chaos -- praying it through with whoever is on the other end of the rope. It has become the normal.
ReplyDelete(judy@barjdcommunications.com)
Surely it is good to see Christian and faith based books reviewed on the Internet. I am working on building my spiritual review collection at CardinalBluff.com
JUDYANN I must confess you made me smile. I think not having a comfort zone would be a good/bad situation. It's wonderful to trust GOD all the time in everything we do, and that's the way we should be all the time. Then again when you think about all we have to go through to get there is a little scary, but there is nothing we can't do with GOD's help!. :) God Bless you JUDYANN and thanks for coming by and sharing with us. :)
DeleteThe review was great and the book sounds wonderful. Yes, I am out of my comfort zone now. I have a spine disease and my last surgery, they placed a cervical spine artificial disc that's not FDA approved. It has serious complications. I don't know the reason for this to happen, but with the Lord, my family, my pastor, my church and friends, I'll make it through. Thank you for the opportunity to participate in your giveaway.
ReplyDeleteBarbara Thompson
barbmaci61(at)yahoo(dot)com
BARBARA I am so sorry to hear of your back problems. It angers me to know things like this can happen. I will be praying for you and I'm sure your beautiful spirit is touching the lives that you have met because of this happening to you. Hope you get to read this great book. :)
DeleteBarbara, what a difficult situation. I pray God will continue to lead you through it. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you get a chance to be encouraged by Callie's story.
Deleteyes, I'm taken out of my comfort zone as a pastor's wife.
ReplyDeleteABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com
Apple Blossom, I'm so glad God did not call me into that role. Pastors wives are a special breed of person. I admire you!
DeleteHI APPLE BLOSSOM I didn't realize you are a pastor's wife, as a young girl I always thought I would marry a minister and as I got older I realized they can have a very hard life so I married a Minister of Music instead! lol Thanks for sharing with us, :)
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed the review. The books sounds very interesting.
ReplyDeleteAs to God moving me out of my comfort zone, He certainly has done that from time to time. Ever since I was in school I was drawn to nursing but didn't follow through (because I felt too "dumb" to go). God had been impressing me to go to nursing school and I finally took the leap of faith after I had been out of high school for over 18 years. My sons were 10 and 8 when I started college and my wonderful husband took over the house work, cooking/cleaning and everything so I could spend my time when home from work (full time) and school studying. I never was good at school work, so this was a huge challenge for me. But, with family and Church family's help and prayers I finished and graduated from nursing school 5 years later in 1993. The Lord then led me to work at our local hospital on the Oncology unit (worked there 13 years).
Blessings,Tina Rice
tfrice@comcast.net
MRS. TINA what a wonderful testimony I am so glad you listened to what GOD wanted you to do. It sounds like you were placed where you could be a great blessing to people in need. Thank you for sharing this wonderful story.
DeleteMrs. Tina. I'm sure the comfort you bring your patients is exactly what God had in store for you.
DeleteI had lived out in the countryside all my life. When I finished High School I moved to a large city to begin my nursing training. It was confusing and terrifying, but it soon became exciting and fun.
ReplyDeletemarypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
MARY I'm glad your move turned out to be exciting for you. I think I would have been a little frightened too. Thanks for coming by.
DeleteMary, I live in to country and work in the city. Night and day transition every day. So glad you made it.
DeleteWhen my husband lost his job, we had no place to live. The Lord provided more than one place, one of which was to rent by the month. Just what we needed, since he got a new job, and we had to move in about 10 days. The job I have is different than I have ever done, but The Lord has and is giving me the strength and knowledge to do it.
ReplyDeleteBetti
bettimace(at)gmail(dot)com
BETTI isn't it wonderful how GOD knows just what we need at the exact moment? I'm so glad things are working out for you and your husband.
DeleteTeresa, David was so right. "I've never seen the righteous forsaken..."
DeleteBetti, not forsaken, but occasionally blonde and blind at 4:45AM.
DeleteOften, I have been moved out of my comfort zone - dealing with problems I never dreamed would make my life so complex. Perhaps at times I was moved into such discomfort that I wondered if any one of us involved would survive. God's grace and his intervention has turned bad zones into miraculous zones so often....that I wonder when I'll run out of survival tokens. He is a gracious and wise God...my Heavenly Father.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this great giveaway and the chance to win a wonderful read.
Blessings,
Barb Shelton
barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com
BARBARA GOD'S grace is always sufficient for anything we go through and that always amazes me. Thanks for sharing with us. Good luck in the drawing!
DeleteBarbara, God's good gits to His kid's never runs out!
DeleteNice review and great Q, T!!! God has moved me out of my comfort zone so many times that I am not sure I have one any more, lol! He has to do that to get us ready to move on to other things He has planned for us. Hugs!!!
ReplyDeleteCarrie, I feel that way a lot. Especially this week as I was going over a presentation for our local ACFW group. I am NOT a speaker.
DeleteHI CARRIE we missed you this week!! Glad you had a great trip we are really GLAD you are BACK!!
DeleteI know exactly what you mean about GOD moving us out of our comfort zone. He moved our family WAY out of our comfort zone, it was quite a shock and we were hurt a lot by the church we had been attending for years. What satan meant for bad GOD turned it round for good and for HIS GLORY!!
Yes, I've felt convicted to say or do things I wouldn't normally. shopgirl152nykiki(at)yahoo(dot)com
ReplyDelete