Financial counselor and life skills coach Steve Diggs offers bite-sized nuggets of truth throughout Life’s Too Short to Miss the Big Picture: Making the Most of What’s Important. Divided into seventy readable chapters called “Life Notes,” his book comes from the perspective of a fellow struggler rather than an expert. Each chapter shares personal and/or current illustrations, biblical solutions, and practical takeaways that allow the reader to move from principle to practice. Diggs’ warm, engaging style grants him ready permission to speak the truth to his readers. He consistently emphasizes his own shortcomings as he urges us to focus on life’s essentials, the “big picture.” But he also takes the next step and adds practical handles to that picture. A review of the chapter titles alone (“Help Meet Needs of Others,” “Cherish the Interruptions,” “Lay Down Your Pride,” etc.) reveals much about the caliber of their content. The book’s readable, accessible format makes it work well as devotional reading, one chapter a day. It can also be covered in a few sittings—the literary equivalent of a series of personal sessions with a caring life coach. At this time of year, a fresh graduation announcement arrives in the mailbox almost every day. Life’s Too Short makes a great gift for any eager graduate and would be equally appropriate as a Father’s Day offering. Steve Diggs has it right: Life’s Too Short to Miss the Big...

Cancer diagnosis. Financial reversals. Death of a child. Job loss. Marital betrayal. We plan for few—if any—of these situations. So what do we do when they confront us? Author, speaker, and Bible teacher Debbie Taylor Williams tackles this question and more in her new book, The Plan A Woman in a Plan B World (Leafwood Publishers, 2010). Powerful stories, personal examples, and sound biblical exposition fill the pages of this practical, inspirational volume. Williams begins with the accurate premise that, in a fallen world, reality’s hammer often shatters our crystalline dreams. Down-to-earth and sympathetic, the author offers her readers no excuses. Instead, she suggests ways to transform life’s Plan B into the abundant life God intends for every believer. In “Live Out Loud,” the book’s extended first section, Williams avoids pat answers as she helps readers tackle what she calls “land mines” (wrong thinking) and replace them with the truths of Scripture. Two brief final sections cover the importance of both relationships (“Love Out Loud”) and humor (“Laugh Out Loud”). One chapter contains a complete set of discussion starters, thoughtful questions matched to each chapter that are ideal for either individual or small group consideration. As I wrote this review, a power outage shut down my computer. It lasted mere seconds but caused me to readjust my schedule as I waited for the computer to restart and the programs to load. This minor Plan B served as a tangible reminder of the unexpected changes our lives often include. The Plan A Woman in a Plan B World helps prepare readers move from groans to grace—and victory. What about you? Have you lived as a Plan A woman (or man) in a Plan B World? What has God taught you through the Plan Bs? Let’s...

Harvest House PublishersRelease Date: 1/1/10ISBN: 978-0-7369-2429-0Retail: $10.99Hardcover: 6X6For every time you’ve wished for the right words to say… Today, I feature a new book by my friend and mentor Cec Murphey and his coauthor Liz Allison. Like most of you, I’m no stranger to loss. The first three funerals I heard my pastor husband preach were those of his father, grandfather, and our premature son. We learned that our times of grief prepared us to minister to others who hurt. In the same way, Cecil Murphey and Liz Allison have allowed God to turn their pain into a source of healing and hope. BONUS: read to the end to learn how you can enter the Grand Prize Giveaway—and a special article on ways to deal with grief. About the Book: Through great personal loss, authors Cecil Murphey and Liz Allison have gained insight to share with others who are going through uncertainty, depression, and loneliness after losing a loved one. They also offer advice for those comforting someone who is grieving. Among comforting paintings by artist Michal Sparks, brief stories, personal experiences, and prayers offer a meaningful path toward healing for readers when they: • feel alone and lost in their grief and want to reconnect with others and to life • seek to make sense of their loss alongside their sense of faith, purpose, and God • want to honor their loved one without clinging to the past in unhealthy ways Readers are given gentle permission to grapple with doubt, seek peace, and reflect on loss in their own way without judgment and with understanding and hope. A perfect gift for a loved one dealing with loss and grief. About the Authors: Liz Allison was married to NASCAR driver Davey Allison until his tragic death in 1993. Widowed at 28 with two young children to raise, Liz faced the long journey of pain, loss, and grief with great faith. Committed to encouraging others, she returned to her work in TV reporting, has published eight books, and hosts a weekly radio show. Please visit www.lizallison.com Cecil Murphey is an international speaker and bestselling author who has written more than 100 books, including New York Times bestseller 90 Minutes in Heaven (with Don Piper). No stranger himself to loss and grief, Cecil has served as a pastor and hospital chaplain for many years, and through his ministry and books he has brought hope and encouragement to countless people around the world. Please visit www.cecilmurphey.com Why We Write About Loss (personal letters to readers from the introduction to Words of Comfort for Times of Loss): On the morning of July 12, 1992, my husband, Davey, left home like any other morning—he...

Sometimes our deepest family secrets are the ones we refuse to acknowledge. Sixteen-year-old Tally Bachmann forces more than one issue when a sudden death and an absentee father thrust her into a new environment. Her sudden encounter with what appears to be the perfect suburban life of the Janvier family (her San Diego aunt, uncle, and cousins) exposes her own wounds. But it also brings to the surface the hidden hurts of her new family members as they struggle to relate to one another and to a girl they barely know. Powerful storytelling draws us in. Believable characters keep us reading. Layers of intrigue—including an unusual link to the Holocaust—add depth. And an underlying theme of redemption provides needed impetus to look behind our own white picket fences and seek relational transparency. Bravo to this award-winning author and White Picket Fences for another thoughtful...

Here we go with Part III of my Homeschooling Today interview with author C.J. Darlington. Although this concludes the main portion of the article, be sure to check out Wednesday’s post for C.J.’s hints for breaking into print as well as her tips for young writers and their teachers. I’m a bit late posting my blog today because we were shopping for our family mega-cooking in which we prepare meals to stock our freezer. On a morning trip to Sam’s Club in Sanford, Florida, I made my customary visit to the book section. I was thrilled to see Thicker than Blood among the stacks of novels! M.P.: What would you say to encourage today’s homeschool students? C.J.: First, recognize the gift homeschooling has given you. It’s hard sometimes (especially for students like me who never knew anything else) to see what you’ve been spared by not attending conventional school. You don’t have to face peer pressure and temptations other kids encounter daily. If someone says you’re sheltered, be thankful. Then show them that your knowledge reaches far beyond your home. You’re not missing out. Really! Also, realize that it’s okay to have many interests. I used to feel like a failure if I didn’t master everything I tried. But my mom always reminded me that I had to explore many areas so I could discover what interested me most. It’s fine to have a hobby for a few months and then move on. That’s how you develop into a well-rounded person. M.P.: Do you have words of encouragement for homeschooling parents who may be weary in well-doing? C.J.: By homeschooling, you’re giving your kids an awesome gift. On those days when nothing seems to go right, know that you are not wasting your time. It will pay off. Homeschooling works. I’m living proof. Also, be willing to adjust your curriculum for each child. Change gears if necessary and try different techniques until you find one that works. And don’t be discouraged if your child doesn’t excel in every subject. I was a horrible speller. But now Tyndale House is publishing my first book! M.P.: Tell us about your family’s response to your winning the Operation First Novel Contest. Were they present when you received the award? C.J.: My dad wouldn’t stop crying, my mom wouldn’t stop screaming, my sister wouldn’t stop talking . . . for a week! And yes, Mom was with me when they announced the winner at the Christian Writers Guild’s annual Writing for the Soul Conference in Colorado Springs. The second I left the stage, Mom and I ducked into a hallway and called my dad and sister who were waiting beside the phone. M.P.:...

Homeschooling Today magazine recently published my interview with homeschooled author C.J. Darlington. I’ll share it with you in four parts over the next four “Read” and “Write” blog days. In spite of its homeschool slant, I believe non-homeschoolers will be equally blessed to read about this gifted young writer who’s also become my friend. Enjoy! Keep the foundations strong.Our family watched this principle come to life when faulty construction forced a neighbor to vacate her home. Within two years of its construction, huge cracks appeared in the floor. An improperly laid foundation threatened the home’s integrity and its owner’s safety. Today, the house sits abandoned—beautiful on the outside, hopelessly flawed within. Homes that endure time and testing provide encouragement to keep the foundations strong. In the same way, we find hope when we look at longtime homeschool families and the fruit of their labor. Often, this fruit comes in the form of people: students who succeed, parents who persevere, and lives that are changed. As a writer and veteran homeschooler, I took particular delight in the news that homeschooled writer C.J. Darlington had won the prestigious 2008 Operation First Novel Award from the Christian Writers Guild. C.J.’s prize, presented by CWG owner and bestselling author Jerry Jenkins, included $20,000 and a contract with Tyndale House for her novel Thicker than Blood. Homeschooled throughout her school years, C.J.’s story offers unique encouragement to parents and students alike. Although Thicker than Blood releases in January, C.J. and her identical twin sister, Tracy, have already earned a strong reputation in the world of Christian publishing and entertainment. In 2006, they began www.titletrakk.com to promote Christian books, music, and other media. The Darlington family also runs an online store dedicated to the same type of book search featured in Thicker than Blood. But I’ll let C.J. tell that story herself. Marti Pieper: Can you tell us about your family? C.J.: The cool thing about being a twin is that I had an instant fellow classmate. We were in the same grade with similar interests, which made homeschooling a lot more fun. It was also easier for Mom since she only had to teach one grade level. But although Mom did most of the teaching, our dad taught us science and took us on most of the field trips. I’m not sure who had more fun, Dad or us. M.P.: Please describe your interest in antique books and explain how that developed into a business.C.J.: For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved to read and visit the library or bookstores. At age seventeen, Tracy and I became book scouts who bought used books and resold them to retailers. As the Internet dawned,...