First and Goal by Jake Byrne Reviewed by Bonnie Roof

Jake Byrne dreamed of playing professional football but, at age 14, found out he had type 1 diabetes - determined, he persevered. 'First And Goal', written by Jake and his mother, Holly Michael, is a collection of 90 devotionals. Each titled alphabetically with a football term, and relating a personal experience from his journey to the NFL, enhanced by a related scripture which the reader can apply to his/her own situation. It will appeal to both youth and adults, male and female. I enjoyed reading Jake's story, and was inspired by his courage, determination, and faith. He currently works in Dallas, and has a blog to "educate and encourage others, especially diabetic youth, to be active and achieve goals - regardless of what life throws at them". 

Following are excerpts from 2 of the devotionals:

TWO MINUTE WARNING (A stop in the game clock, 2 minutes before each half. Normally results in a TV commercial.):

Jack relates his first year of tackle football, as a 3rd grader, and in his awkward chubby stage. Constantly being yelled at because of his mistakes, he hated football - yet his father forced him to complete the season. Just as the 2 minute warning is a time for the team to regroup, he needed 2 years to regroup and decide if he would continue the sport. Two years later, when his friend encouraged him to sign up for youth football because of his size, and knowing all his friends would be playing - he decides to try it again. It was the right decision and time.

When pushing oneself, or being pushed by another, and it doesn't work out - he urges that it not be counted as a failure. "Is there anything that you gave up on because of poor results, thinking you weren't good at it? Have you given it a season of rest? Maybe it's time to try again."

(There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. Ecclesiastes 3:1)

EXTRA POINT (After a touchdown, the offense has a chance to kick the ball through the goal posts to earn an extra point, which is also known as the point after touchdown or PAT.): 

Lying in her hospital bed, the doctor confirmed what Holly Michael already knew - she was miscarrying. She argued with, and questioned, God. Why would He take her first child? A nurse entered the room and encouraged her to "always have hope", leaving without physically examining her. Considering the cramps and huge loss of blood, hope seemed useless. Yet, contemplating the nurse's encouraging word, Holly realized hope meant giving one's trials to God, and trusting the outcome to Him. Obstacles can prevent an extra point after a touchdown, yet an attempt is made. Scared and sad, Holly made an attempt by giving her situation to Him - dedicating the baby to Him in prayer, trusting Him for the outcome, and understanding that a miscarriage would be His decision. Immediately after, she was filled with a peace, bleeding ceased, and the baby was okay! Hearing the baby's heartbeat, for the first time, brought her to tears, also surprised looks from the medical staff - she never again saw the nurse who had comforted her.

A few months later, looking into her newborn's eyes for the first time, he stared at her with what she can only describe as "wisdom from heaven", cooed, then just as suddenly, his gaze switched to one of an innocent newborn. She knew from that moment, God had big plans for Jake's life. "Like the football soaring into the end zone for the extra point, hope - rising up to heaven - always brings the best results. It's never pointless." (You have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth. From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother's womb. I will ever praise you. Psalm 71: 5-6.) 

Quotes taken from 'First And Goal' (Jake Byrne and Holly Michael, Harvest House Publishers), and Jake Byrne's blog: www.typewon.net

Giveaway: We're giving away a copy of this new devotional this week. Currently #1 in Teen Devotions on Amazon!Leave a comment to enter!

Interview with Felicia Bowen Bridges

Felicia Bowen Bridges

Felicia Bowen Bridges is a contributing author for God’s Provision in Tough Times and for Then Along Came an Angel, Messengers of Deliverance. Both are available on Amazon.com. You can also follow Felicia on her blog at Psalms204.blogspot.com.

Felicia, welcome to Overcoming With God.  We appreciate your willingness to share your testimony of overcoming with our readers.

Would you tell us about the most difficult thing in your life you have had to overcome, with God’s help? Although God’s Provision in Tough Times deals with God’s provision during a financial crisis, this was by no means the greatest challenge I’ve overcome thanks to my Savior. Prior to our season of financial loss, the Lord saw me and my husband through the loss of three unborn children. Compared to the devastation of losing a child, our season of unemployment following Randy’s call to ministry was a walk in the park. God had already taught us the most important lesson which is at the core of the story I shared in God’s Provision – that is, that having a relationship with God is enough for us to find joy in life, even when we have nothing else.

Disability friendliness: Is this latest release available in audio format or do you have any other works available on audio? Do your e-books have audio capability? Do you have any in large print?  God’s Provision in Tough Times is available for Kindle.

In this latest work, do you have any topics useful for bibliotherapy, or therapeutic influence through reading about a disorder or situation?  

This book is the ideal gift of encouragement for someone experiencing unemployment or financial distress. The true stories included in God’s Provision in Tough Times present a variety of situations that have a single thread in common – God’s overarching love and sovereignty regardless of our circumstances. The authors do not share feel-good platitudes about the power of positive thinking – instead, they share with transparency their personal struggles and the encouragement that they received. These struggles haven’t necessarily ended; however, each one has experienced the victory of seeing God work in the midst of the struggle, regardless of the eventual outcome.

Thank you Felicia for agreeing to answer these questions.  Have a blessed day and keep on writing!!

Bio: FELICIA BOWEN BRIDGES grew up an Army brat, living in eight states and two foreign countries. She writes non-fiction short stories centered on God’s grace and novels inspired by her nomadic childhood which reflect God’s power in the lives of His children. Her first novel, CzechMate, is the first in a series of Missionary Kids’ Adventures designed to bring the exciting stories of young missionaries around the world home. Felicia’s short stories have been included in Then Along Came an Angel, Messengers of Deliverance and the recently-released God’s Provision in Tough Times.

Felicia's links:

Website  feliciabowenbridges@gmail.com

Blog: psalms204.blogspot.com

Twitter: @fbridges272

Facebook: Felicia Bowen Bridges

GIVEAWAY:  A copy of God's Provision in Tough Times, which Carrie also contributed to!

The Overcomers: Christian Authors Who Conquered Learning Disabilities

The Overcomers: Christian Authors Who Conqured Learning Disabilities

The Overcomers: Christian Authors Who Conquered Learning Disabilities

By Molly Noble Bull, Margaret Daley, Ginny Aiken, Jane Myers Perrine, and Ruth Scofield

(Westbow Press, 2011)

This book shares first person perspectives on coping with having a learning disability.  Our featured author this week, who has also been a teacher of special needs students, shares her own journey. 

I recommend this book for parents of children with learning disabilities, persons diagnosed with learning disabilities, and for teachers.   It is a great resource for what it is like to experience these difficulties first hand and to overcome them, with God’s help.

My own husband and my son both had problems with reading and both received vision therapy and special education services. I thank God that our son, now 10, who didn't read two years ago by himself, now is reading at the 11th grade level. And my husband is a successful marine engineer despite his early difficulties. Margaret’s comments paralleled much of what my husband has said to me over the years. I really appreciate her sharing her experience with others.

Thank you, contributors to “The Overcomers: Christian Authors Who Conquered Learning Disabilities” and keep getting your message out there!

 

Giveaways: In addition to Margaret’s giveaway and our OTT-WGH giveaway of one of Margaret’s fiction books (choice of book and format) we will be giving away a copy of The Overcomers: Christian Authors Who Conquered Learning Disabilities to a reader who would be one of the people I recommend this book to in particular.  

Interview With Murray Pura by Carrie Fancett Pagels

Murray Pura

Murray Pura is the author of The Face of Heaven and The Wings of Morning and a dozen others books that include fiction and nonfiction titles. Website: www.murraypura.com

Murray, welcome to Overcoming Through Time – With God’s Help.  We appreciate your willingness to share your testimony of overcoming with our readers. Would you tell us about the most difficult thing in your life you have had to overcome, with God’s help?

That would have to be my mother’s suicide. She was the only other Christian in my immediate family and a depression, spread over many years, that she could not shake, led to her taking her life. Dealing with that has been a God journey of many years.

What is your favorite bible verse and why?

*It changes from time to time because the Christ journey changes. But I love Psalm 139:12. It is always meaningful to me in rough times:

English Standard Version (©2001) Even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.

Disability friendliness: Murray’s books are available in Kindle format which allows print size to be increased and also audio capability of text-to-speech.

The Wings of Morning by Murray Pura

What has been the most important thing you hope your readers will get from your books and why?

*Ordinary people going through extraordinary events and experiences can overcome with the help of others and the very real help of God. This God help comes to them in ways that are both easily recognized and not so easily recognized (the “angels unawares” idea).

As you researched your books, did you learn anything that particularly touched your heart?

*In The Wings of Morning I was very moved by how the Amish were persecuted during World War I and how they withstood it without retaliating, suffering silently like Christ before his persecutors. In The Face of Heaven, in which I deal with the American Civil War, I was very touched by how often soldiers from one side took care of the wounded from the other side.

The Face of Heaven

In this latest work, do you have any topics useful for bibliotherapy, or therapeutic influence through reading about a disorder or situation?  

*The biggest dilemma for the hero and heroine is the book is knowing that if they do what they believe is right it will alienate them from their family and friends, perhaps permanently. In addition it will go against deeply ingrained ideas in their own hearts and minds about the evil of war and violence. Thus when they choose to proceed and risk division with their families as well as within their own hearts there is a great deal they must work through on a daily basis. The greater part of the story deals with this ongoing struggle. The reviewer in Publishers Weekly recognized this about The Face of Heaven: “The war is merely a backdrop to the personal conflicts of these young Christians who feel compelled to follow their convictions despite the impending consequences.”

MURRAY PURA BIO 

Murray was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. His first story was published

in Teen Power in the USA when he was 16 and earned him the princely sum of

Murray's Daughter was the model.

$25.00. His first novel was released in Toronto in 1988. Since that time he has published five more novels, two collections of short stories, and a number of nonfiction titles including Zondervan's books Rooted and Streams. He has been a finalist for the Paraclete Fiction Award, the Dartmouth Book Award, the Kobzar Literary Award, and the John Spencer Hill Literary Award. In June of this year he won  the Word Guild Award for his novel The White Birds of Morning (Toronto's Word Guild Award is the Canadian equivalent of the Christys). Murray pastored for 25 years and wrote on the side. He now writes full-time and currently publishes with Zondervan, Harper One San Francisco, Barbour, Harvest House, and Baker, among others. As well as his homeland of Canada, Murray has lived in Scotland, Ireland, Italy, Israel, and California, and currently makes his home in southwestern Alberta near Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. He and his wife Linda have two children, Micah and Micaela. The Face of Heaven, Number 2 in Harvest House's Amish-American Snapshots in History series, is Murray's most recent book.

Murray's books can be purchased through Amazon, at CBD,  also available through Barnes and Noble, and other bookstores.

Thank you Murray for agreeing to answer these questions.  Have a blessed day and keep on writing!!

GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment and your email to be entered in this week's contest. Drawing will be late Saturday. Your choice of Murray's books, choice of format*. Void where prohibited by law. *International winners only receive the book in ebook format, not as a paperback.