A Husband's Christmas Prayer by Kathi Macias | Christmas Book Review

A Husband's Christmas Prayer

Kathi Macias

Christian Fiction / Christmas

WILL MINISTRY TO HIS OWN FAMILY

BE ENOUGH TO MAKE A HAPPY HOME?

Pastor Paul has been handed the promotion of his dreams, but his formerly supportive wife doesn't share his sentiment about moving. She liked where she was--her home, church family, and coffee with friends while the kids were at day care. Why did they have to move? For the first time in their seven-year marriage Paul feels distance growing between them. As he struggles to minister to difficult people in his congregation, he also finds he has to minister to his own family. Will it be enough in time to create a united home for Christmas?

My Thoughts

A Husband's Christmas Prayer is my first Christmas book of the season and I am so excited. Granted it's still in the upper 80s around here and October may seem too soon to dive in but for me it's just perfect. 

Each year I look forward to Kathi Macias' Christmas book. I think I've read all of her past seasonal novellas and thoroughly enjoyed them. This year's edition was another delight. The main characters are Paul and Diana Michaelson. When we first meet them Paul has just accepted a Senior Pastor position in the tiny community of Desert Sands. Unfortunately Paul got all caught up in the "we are one" aspect of marriage and forgot to include Diana in the discussion. Diana is a wonderful wife and she set aside her reticence to follow her husband. But the hurt ran deep and eventually it just had to be dealt with.

I particularly enjoyed the use of Ephesians 5:21-33 in the storyline. Pastor Paul preached a sermon on it that was meant to encourage his flock. But God is so gracious that he used Paul's own message to speak to his heart. 

Another of my favorite things about this novel was the supporting characters. Virginia and Mitchell are beautiful examples to each of us as we get older. Until you breath your last God has a plan for you. The McDonald family reminds us to be aware of those around us that aren't in our usual circles. After all the Bible instructs us that we are blessed to be a blessing.

Now for all of you that are still saying that it's too early for a Christmas book, let me say that the majority of this book has nothing to do with Christmas. The culmination of the story is on Christmas but the heart of the narrative takes place in the months leading up to it. You literally can read this book at any time of year and be moved by it. I heartily recommend it to all.

Other Reviews For This Author

The Moses Quilt

Unexpected Christmas Hero

The Deliverer

A Christmas Journey Home

Connect With The Author

www.KathiMacias.com

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Book Review ~ The Moses Quilt via @alandkathi

The Moses Quilt

Kathi Macias

The Quilt Series, book 1

Contemporary Christian

Buy it on Amazon!

About the book:

The Moses Quilt is a contemporary novel that bridges racial and generational divides. With a realistic and compassionate look into a twenty-first-century dilemma, multiple award-winning author Kathi Macias introduces readers to a confused and apprehensive young woman, Mazie Hartford. Facing major decisions about the love of her life and her future, she must also wrestle with a nagging question about her family's past. She finds the answer to her questions in a most unexpected way—her great-grandmother's Moses quilt. As her great-grandmother begins to explain how each patch represents a story of courage and freedom, Mazie must decide if she has the courage and freedom to overcome her own personal fears and prejudices.

About the Author:

Connect with Kathi: www.KathiMacias.com

Facebook: , Pinterest & Twitter: @alandkathi

Kathi Macias is a multi-award winning writer who has authored nearly 40 books and ghostwritten several others. A former newspaper columnist and string reporter, Kathi has taught creative and business writing in various venues and has been a guest on many radio and television programs. Kathi is a popular speaker at churches, women’s clubs and retreats, and writers’ conferences. 

She won the 2008 Member of the Year award from AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association) and was the 2011 Author of the Year from BooksandAuthors.net. Her novel set in China, Red Ink, was named Golden Scrolls 2011 Novel of the Year and was also a Carol Award Finalist; her October 2012 release, Unexpected Christmas Hero, was named 2012 Book of the Year by BookandAuthors.net. Kathi “Easy Writer” Macias lives in Homeland, CA, with her husband.

My thoughts:

The Moses Quilt is a novel with two story lines. The first is a contemporary love story. It is about the love of a woman for a man and the love of a grandmother for her granddaughter and great-granddaughter. Mimi is the grandmother we all wish we had. She is 93 and her health is beginning to fade. Before she goes to be with Jesus she feels it is her last mission in life to give her precious Moses quilt to her great-granddaughter Maize. Mimi wants Maize to know the story behind the quilt so that it can continue to be passed on to next generations.

The story behind the quilt is the second tale in this book. Through Mimi’s narration we learn about the life of Harriet Tubman. Nothing is left out. We are taken on her journey from her humble roots to the horrific treatment she receives. Throughout her story we are reminded of her passionate desire to be free and to help her people be free.

I loved how Kathi Macias wove these two story-lines together. The hope of one spilled over into the other. The Moses Quilt has a different feel than Kathi’s other books, but her compassion for people and their plight once again shines through. This is a perfect read for Black History month. It reminds us exactly how far we have come and at the same time reminds us there is still a ways to go. I would not only recommend it for adults interested in the subject matter, but I think it would be a fabulous read for your teenager.

Other books we have reviewed by this author Unexpected Christmas Hero, & The Deliverer.

 “Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or

Services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it

on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally

and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance

With the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides concerning the

Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Unexpected Christmas Hero ~ Review & Giveaway @alandkathi #ChristmasGiftGuide

Unexpected Christmas Hero

Kathi Macias

Christian Fiction/Christmas

Buy it on Amazon! 

Back of the book:

Josie Meyers thinks she is living the American dream when she marries a nice, handsome man with a promising future. The dream quickly becomes a nightmare when Josie becomes a widow and must deal with the fallout of her husband’s decisions. She soon finds that she and her two small children are forced to live on the streets and in homeless shelters.

While the scenes surrounding Josie are filled with Christmas decorations and carols, Josie finds herself struggling with the demands of caring for her two small children. She is forced to lean on the experience and lives of other homeless people she meets. What she doesn’t know is that the influence of one homeless man in particular is about to change the course of her life and lead her home to the One who waits for her. He becomes her unexpected Christmas hero.

About the author:

Facebook Page 

Twitter @alandkathi 

Website kathimacias.com

Though I'm a wife, mother, grandmother, and yes, great grandmother, I also ride on the back of my hubby's Harley and am known as "Easy Writer." (Update: Hubby sold Harley and bought a 2005 sunburst orange Corvette, so I'm still "Easy Writer" but in comfort now!)

My thoughts:

I have once again been profoundly affected by a Kathi Macias novel. This time she delves into the world of homelessness. I’ve never experienced this personally so there were aspects of the situation that I had never thought about.

Josie is busy living the good life when out of the blue her world begins to shift. First she loses her mother then her husband becomes ill and she loses him as well. The breaking point comes when her home is foreclosed upon. She and her two young children are forced to learn to navigate the system in order to survive.

Because of her limited funds there are times when she and her children sleep in an alley behind a dry cleaner’s shop. As a mother, how could you ever sleep? You would constantly be jerking yourself awake to make sure your children were okay. Sleeping in a homeless shelter probably wouldn’t be much better. Of course you are warmer and relatively safer, but being surrounded by desperate people that you don’t know would be very unsettling.

The story delves into so many areas, such as obtaining nourishment and lodging. Have you ever thought about how you would spend your daytime hours, especially with two little children in tow? How do you go about getting out of these circumstances? The situation seems dire.

Just when I was totally overwhelmed with grief for this family, a ray of sunshine began to peak through. God began to weave people into their lives that would change them and ultimately draw them unto Himself. The most profound pairing was that of Rick and this family. Rick is a homeless Vietnam veteran that suffers from some mental disabilities. Rick chooses the streets rather than a veteran’s home where he would most likely spend his days on mind numbing medication.

Through Rick we are able to glimpse what total dependence upon God looks like. It seems like an oxymoron to be jealous of what a homeless man has, but that is exactly how I felt. Rick embodied the Christ-like character of laying down his life so that others may obtain life.

As I sit here writing this I am completely overwhelmed with feelings. This story will of course make me view the homeless and their situation differently. It will also make me take a look at my reliance upon God to provide my every need. I urge you to get this book and let it speak to you.

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or

Services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it

on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally

and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance

With the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides concerning the

Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Giveaway:

One reader will win their own copy of Unexpected Christmas Hero!  Open to US only 18+. Giveaway will end on 12/03/2012 at 12:01am EST. Fill out the Rafflecopter form below to be entered.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review & Giveaway ~ The Deliverer Kathi Macias @alandkathi

The Deliverer

Kathi Macias

Freedom Series, Book 3

Fiction/Christian/General

Buy it on Amazon!

Back of the book:

Will she make the right choice? Will she find her ultimate freedom? And what about Jonathan—what will become of their relationship?

Mara, a young woman who has spent the majority of her life as a sex slave is now faced with her ultimate challenge. Who can she trust? Does she risk her freedom to return to Mexico and find her family? As she struggles against the One who can give her ultimate freedom, she must also decide if she can trust her ultimate freedom, she must also decide if she can trust her feelings for Jonathan, a Bible college student. Her choice to forgive is the only thing that can enable her to stop living under the shadow of her name’s meaning (“bitter”) and move into a life filled with true joy. Will she make the right choice? Will she be able to let go of her past life and all the fears and scars that go with it?

About the author:

Website: kathimacias.com

Facebook

Twitter @alandkathi

Pinterest

Bestselling and multi-award-winning author of 35 books, plus popular speaker and Bible teacher, I am also a wife, mother, and grandmother!

My thoughts:

One of my favorite things about Kathi Macias’ stories is that she consistently makes sure that the hope of Christ shines through. She takes situations that we see as impossible with our earthly eyes and allows us to watch the characters struggle while finding their way to the Truth.

This series takes on the difficult topic of sex trafficking, especially involving children. It isn’t a pretty story in fact at times it is downright ugly. But sin itself is ugly. What this story contains is hope and redemption. Does everyone live happily ever after? Unfortunately not. Is every sex slave rescued? Unfortunately not. But some are…and that is where the hope lies. It starts with getting one out and then spreads to two and goes from there.

The first book in the series is called Deliver Me from Evil. The second book is Special Delivery. This is the third and final installment in this series. The storyline of Mara and Jonathan carry through each book with additional characters interwoven in the separate books. I would highly recommend reading this series in order if you haven’t started it yet.

You won’t be able to walk away from this series without your heart being broken for those that are held in such despicable bondage. There are listings in the back of the book of agencies that are in the business of making a difference in the lives of these that have been exploited. I urge you to get involved. Join Kathi in shouting Abolition! This must end!

Giveaway:

One reader will win a copy of The Deliverer. Open to US only 18+. Giveaway will end on 10/08/2012 at 12:01 am EST. Fill out the rafflecopter form below to be entered.

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or

Services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it

on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally

and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance

With the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides concerning the

Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

a Rafflecopter giveaway

National Human Trafficking Day & #Giveaway for Deliver Me from Evil by Kathi Macias @alandkathi

HumanTrafficking is modern day slavery. There are more than 30 million slaves in the world today, more than at any other point in human history. You can check out this Slavery map to give you a better idea of this epidemic. For more information on Human Trafficking head over to Not for Sale

With today being National Human Trafficking Awareness Day this would be a good time for you to learn everything you can about this dark but necessary subject and then get involved! With that being said Author Kathi Macias has offered her book Deliver Me from Evil to help promote National Human Trafficking Day.This book will open your eyes...and your heart...and call you to action.

About Deliver Me from Evil:

Deliver Me from Evil introduces readers to Mara, an eighteen-year-old girl who has been enslaved for nearly ten years, having been sold by her parents in Mexico and then smuggled across the border into San Diego where she was forced into sexual slavery. Readers will also meet 18-year-old, Bible-college-bound Jonathan and his 16-year-old sister, Leah, whose paths cross Mara’s and who become involved in her dramatic rescue.

Interwoven between the stories of Mara, Jonathan, and Leah is the heartbreaking story of another young woman in captivity in the Golden Triangle of Thailand, whose past life mysteriously connects to the young people in San Diego.

A Christmas Journey Home by Kathi Macias

A Christmas Journey Home

Kathi Macias
Christian Fiction
5 out of 5

During Isabella Alcantara’s seventh month of pregnancy, her parents and siblings are murdered in gang- and drug-related violence—in a home targeted by mistake. Isabella knows the same thing could easily happen to her and her husband, Francisco. When her grandfather offers to hire a “coyote” to bring them across the border to America, she agrees.

Living on one of the smaller spreads along the Arizona border, Miriam nelson becomes furious with God and turns from her faith when her border patrol agent husband, David, is killed in a skirmish with drug smugglers. Her mother and young son do their best to woo her back from anger and bitterness.

Isabella and Miriam—one driven by fear and a promise, the other by bitterness and revenge—must make their journeys along different pathways to the same destination on Christmas Eve. Forced to face their personal demons, Isabella and Miriam soon discover a common yearning to bind them together in a most miraculous way.

My thoughts:

Kathi Macias has a unique way of taking a seemingly impossible situation and turning it on end to show the amazing way that nothing is impossible with God. She has done it once again in The Christmas Journey Home. In this story she tackles the subject of illegal immigration and all that surrounds it.

At the beginning of the book I started thinking that I’m not going to like this one because of the views that I have on the subject. I should have known better! If you think it is a pro illegal immigration book, it is not. If you think it is a hate the illegal’s book, it is not. It is a story of two women in a seemingly impossible situation. One is by choice and one is thrust into the situation.

This is a story about decisions made and the repercussions from those decisions on both sides. In my opinion that is the beauty of this book. A solution to the problem of illegal immigration is not provided. A story is told about two flawed individual families. The solution that is given is the grace of God. We are told in the Bible that we are to obey the laws. Often times we do not. We not only disobey man’s laws but we disobey God’s laws. There are consequences to those actions. The amazing thing about it is that through all of it God walks alongside us and gently guides us through bringing us to the place that He originally intended.

If you are looking for a warm fuzzy Christmas read, you might be disappointed in this one (unless you hang on till the very end). But, if you are looking for something that will provoke thought and discussion be sure and pick this one up. I promise you won’t be disappointed!


*I received a copy of this book from the author. No other compensation was received. This review is my honest opinion and may differ from others.