The One Year Home & Garden Devotions by Sandra Byrd

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Ah, I might have a weakness for one year devotional books like this or any kind of daily devotionals. I like to have them, but I can struggle to stay caught up and it really is hard to find a good one, one that speaks to me.  I also recognize that there is no way one human author can write a devotional that will speak to me every day of the year.  But still, I continue to collect and I think one of these days I should have a purging party of my various books.  I'm not sure how many I have, but quite a few. Okay, I went to go look and count.  I came up with 15 of them: not all of these are for a whole year, but they are devotionals of some sort. I think Dave might have had one or two of them too when we got married.  I have devotional for married couples, for wives, for moms, for women, and just unspecified for everyone.  And now, I have a Home and Garden one.  And I like it.

It's a nice, bigger soft cover book. I wasn't sure when I first opened it because most of my devotional books are the nice little hard cover books that scream Daily Devotional Book.  This doesn't scream that and I like it.  The pictures on the front are warm and inviting.

I read a few readings and they seemed to be applicable to me.  I like when daily devotionals start with a story; in the interest of honesty, I like when any inspirational book starts with a story. Most days seem to start with a story and so that is a plus. I think I will enjoy it.  Of course, being the personality that I am, I cannot stop my current devotional book (which came as a review book last year) to start this one. Oh no; this book will sit until January 1st and then I will get it out and use it for the year 2016. That is my plan right now anyway.

I am going to put one day's reading here:

September 29: Laborers, Craftsmen, and Artists

After a couple of bad experiences, my husband and I decided that from now on, the people we hire to work on our home need to come with good training, good reviews, and professional credentials.  It's not that beginners can't be good; they can. And when beginners work under the guidance of a mentor, their work can be both fresh and solid. It's just that we've had a few experiences with those wanting to make a few bucks on the side without having the proper training.

My favorite people to hire are those who are nerds about their professions. They know all the ins and outs of the plumbing pipes, why some paints set better than others, or how some plants will sprawl and some will not. You know them--the kind of people who talk on and on while your eyes glaze over. I have to admit to being the cause of glazed eyes sometimes too. I've been known to drone on about historical  or biblical accuracy or how not to drop a souffle, because I care about those things.

I love this quote from Louis Nizer: "He who works with his hands is a laborer. He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands and his head and his art is an artist."

You, too, are an artist. You were created to create, to love, to excel. You have gifts and interests and skills that intersect in a unique way. What are you passionate about? Where do you share that passion?

Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.  I Corinthians 10:31
I'm looking forward to starting 2016 with this book and seeing what I can learn from it and grow in and be challenged.

This book was a complimentary copy from Tyndale House in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions expressed are my own.

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