Partners in Crime - Book Review

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I am trying to read through the novels of Agatha Christie in the order in which they were written and write a review on each one.

  

Partners in Crime. 


1929  
A Book of short stories.
Detectives - Tommy & Tuppence



Shelfari Description

Tommy and Tuppence take over a detective agency and assume the methods of such great fictional detectives as Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot to solve case after case...

My Thoughts

This is the 11th book by Agatha Christie and the Second one  involving Tommy & Tuppence who are now married.

Although the pair's previous book  "The Secret Adversary" was a full length novel this one is a series of short stories about their new life as Private Investigators - Mr Blunt and his assistant Miss Robinson.  15 completely different short stories all set around the Detective Agency that Tommy and Tuppence have taken over.  

Something that I particularly liked was the fact that this pair were not perfect and in fact made some quite wrong assumptions at times.

Albert is back in this book as well adding an extra bit of humour to the delicious atmosphere of the Tommy & Tuppence relationship


I adored the book and sat up late at night saying

 "just one more story and then I'll go to sleep" 

but that wasn't true at all, I just kept reading on.  

 Here is a link to a list of her novels on Shelfari
Books by Agatha Christie






Disclaimer:
If buying through Amazon via the link above I get a little commission but that does not mean any extra expense to you.

Pondering the Psalms - Psalm 121

Each Sunday I am going to choose a Psalm and write down some brief thoughts on it.


Today I'm looking at Psalm 121 



This is one of the Psalms of Ascent

This Psalm falls into three parts:


V. 1-2
Question
Answer



V. 3-4
God's deeds towards us
God's character for our benefit



V. 5-8
Reassurance & examples of all that God is doing for us

Question & Answer.
I believe that the Psalmist is looking up in awe and wonder because He knows the greatness of God.

The question is not a pleading or desperate one it is one that he already knows the answer to and finds comfort from it.  There is the feeling of the Psalmist resting content in his knowledge that God is in control of everything.

We must recognize the greatness of God

God's Deeds & Character.
Even though God is the great creator of all things He cares about us so much that He is always looking after us.  Continually aware of what help we need and not slacking on the job but ever awake and alert.

The Psalmist uses repetition here to stress just how important it is for us to know that God is always awake.  He doesn't nod off, doesn't take a siesta, doesn't take a cat nap.  He doesn't even let his eyes droop on us.
I have previously written about how encouraging that is for us in Forty Winks


Reassurance & Examples.
Again just to make sure we have taken in the awe and wonder that the Psalmist has of our great God; he gives us examples of what God does and we are left with complete reassurance that YES everything we need will come from God.

Oh how important it is that we see the greatness of God 

and

the One who is in control

but also that 

He cares so much for us 

that 

He is constantly looking after us.

Christian Songs for Kids - I Believe the Bible

Do you find it hard to get visuals and recordings for different kids songs?

I have always found this a problem so I am now sharing songs that I have used with children providing you with 

Visuals 
Powerpoint or Picture 

or details of how you can make one 


Words   
Chords also available


Recording  
mp3 or video to learn the song 

Then if you would like to download the visual of the song there will be a link provided to my creation, or I will direct you to where else you can find it.   

This month I am taking the theme of

 The Bible

I thoroughly believe we should teach and encourage children to get familiar with the Bible learning to trust God's word 

and to believe in what the Bible tells us about God and Jesus.

The song I have chosen is 

 I Believe the Bible

This is a song that I got to know through Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) when we had a Good News Club in our home before we even had any children ourselves.

It is such a repetitive song so very easy for the children to learn.

The song is full of the basic fundamental things we believe as Christians and should be teaching our children from an early age:

The Bible

Jesus

Salvation for sins

Resurrection

Christ's Return 

VISUAL

My visual is very old but still in good condition because I laminated it and took good care of it over the many many years of use in Kids' clubs and Sunday School etc.


This is a picture of the front of the 5 cards (1 card for each verse)

and here you see the words on the back of each card for the continuation of each verse.

The cards are A4 size and using this type of visual gives me the opportunity to involve 5 children in holding up the cards and turning them around at the appropriate time in each verse.



Where to Buy the Visual:

This version of the visual for the song is no longer available but a newer version can be found HERE at the US CEF Website, unfortunately no version is shown for sale on the UK Website.

Below is a screenshot of the new visual which is more modern and colourful than the original.  

These songs are good value for money and extremely good if you are like me and use them for years in many different places so I would recommend buying from CEF.

Disclaimer: 
 I am not compensated in any way for writing this blogpost it is purely based on my own thoughts and experience so buying from CEF will not benefit me.


NOTE:   The older version has 5 verses but the newer one has more so the words of the new song are slightly different but the tune is the same.

WORDS


I BELIEVE THE BIBLE

I Believe the Bible
I Believe the Bible
I Believe the Bible
It's the Word of God

I Believe in Jesus
I Believe in Jesus
I Believe in Jesus
He's the Son of God

Jesus died for sinners
Jesus died for sinners
Jesus died for sinners
Jesus died for me

Jesus Christ is risen
Jesus Christ is risen
Jesus Christ is risen
He arose for me

Jesus Christ is coming
Jesus Christ is coming
Jesus Christ is coming
In the clouds for me


To Download a copy of these words with chords for guitar and piano 
CLICK HERE




ACTIONS

We usually clap through this one.

RECORDING

This is the CEF YouTube recording for the song




Notes:
The author of the song is Hubert Mitchell and copyright is held by CEF.

I Hope you enjoy the song and this is a help to you.

Free Printables - Songs for kids - I believe the Bible

DON'T FORGET
If you are interested in finding out about more 

Christian Songs for Kids

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OR

See Our Other Kids Songs:   

Creation  -    Who Made?
Easter  -    He's Alive
Prayer  -    Whisper a Prayer
Bible  -    I will Make you Fishers of Men
Love of Jesus  -    Jesus Loves the Little Children
Love of Jesus  -    Jesus' Love is very Wonderful
The Attributes of God  -    God is So Good 
The Promises of God  -    No Never Alone

(Click on the names of the songs above to view them)

Invisible Reins - A Dose of Encouragement

One time a few years ago while a group of us were praying for a friend I had this impression of how she was being held back, constrained, as if a set of reins were attached to her back and being pulled quite taut.

Something was keeping this lady from having the full enjoyment available in her Christian life.  She was being restricted from advancing because of some tie.

The restriction I was sure was coming from some incident in her past, something that was keeping a restraint on all she was to experience in God.  I also felt that she wasn't aware of this but it actually was something she was allowing to hold on to her when God had forgiven her and all she had to do was to forgive herself.

          

There are many things in our past that can still affect us even when we believe we have left them behind.  

When we moved to live in America for three years everyone would have thought that things from the past in a different country could not have gone with me and been a hindrance, but they did.  

In fact one of the reasons God moved us was to help me be free of a person from the past that always wanted to rein me in and curb anything that I felt God was doing in my spiritual life.

However moving thousands of miles does not offer the solution in itself.  

I still had to come to the point where I put certain things behind me and only then could I open myself to let God make a real change in me.

In America I was seen in a different light from the way people (who had known me most of my life) had viewed me.

I was freer to step out and do as God was leading me which meant a change in me.

Yet there still remained the feelings of hurt and restraint that I had from before.

But God is gracious and during that period away from the previous environment I had time to develop without the distractions and restraints.

We need to fly free from all restraints

Also things changed back at home as well so that on our return to Northern Ireland I was not thrust back into the exact same setting as before to suddenly have that same pull put on me.

No matter what stage of life we are in or where we are God can provide us with the circumstances and setting we need to help us move on in Him.

The important thing is to move on with God

In my case He used a move to a different country but in other cases He will use the right thing at the right time to work in any of our lives - we just need to be ready to let Him remove those reins and be freer for His use.

The devil will always love to see us tied up and bound by anything at all so that we are not free to be used properly for God's glory but God is always in control of each situation and we need to keep in step with Him and allow Him to work in us.

          

Pondering the Psalms - Psalm 37

Each Sunday I am going to choose a Psalm and write down some brief thoughts on it.




Today I'm looking at Psalm 37

Many of the verses in this Psalm exhort us to do something and then we will see God work in us or around us.


V. 3
Trust in the Lord
We will dwell safely


V. 4
Take delight in God
We will gain the desires of our heart


V. 5-6
Commit our ways to God
He will act on our behalf


V. 7-11
Be still and wait patiently on God
The wicked will be cut off and we will possess the Land


V. 16-17
Be righteous
God will uphold us


V. 23-24
Walk in the steps that delight the Lord
He will establish us


V. 27-29 &  32-33
Depart from evil and do good
We will abide forever because God will not forsake His saints

It is important that we know how God desires that we live our lives

V. 30
Speak as a righteous person
God will give us the wisdom to be just


V. 31
Keep the law of God in our hearts
Our steps will not slip


V. 34
Wait on the Lord and keep to His Way
He will exalt us to possess the Land


V. 37
Be a person of peace
God will prosper us


V. 40
Take refuge in God
He will help, deliver and save us

It is important we know how God desires to work in our lives

but 

it is more important 

that we know how God desires that we live our lives.

A Fountain Display - A Dose of Encouragement

20 years ago our family went to a Fountain and Fireworks display one night in Pennsylvania and just oohed and aahed in amazement as the water gushed up in time to the music and the fireworks and special lights sent colours through the spray.

Everyone gazed fixedly at the fountains and fireworks and none of us wanted to take our eyes off them for a minute because of the beauty we beheld.

I have always been attracted to fountains and have previously written in this blog about some Unusual Fountains and also about my favourite one in Belgium, the Tervuren Fountain  but I have never forgotten that lovely night and the beauty of God's creation of water with man's creation of music.

Have you ever seen lots of little fountains in your church?  

No I'm not mad and seeing water spouting all over our church; but one Sunday during some quiet worship time I did have a picture in my mind of tall narrow fountains scattered around our congregation.  

They were in the place of various people and I felt God was telling me that there were people in our church who were like His fountains. 

So what is a fountain?  

Well it contains water, it moves water around and it spurts water up in the air. 

Fountains are always a centre of attraction and are considered to be beautiful features.

They give a sense of excitement as the water wells up and the feeling of continual renewing as the water is caught up time and time again.

Can we be like fountains? 

As Christians we have been washed clean by the blood of Jesus and have received His righteousness.

We have the Holy Spirit in our lives stirring us up to share God's love . 

We are the showcase of the beauty and grace of God's love to the world.

God wants us to be excited by our Salvation so that we cannot help but testify of this to others.

We can be renewed by the Spirit daily. 

Are you like a fountain?

Yes - We can be like fountains.  

The difference between us and the fountain display we watched all those years ago 

is that through us people should be led to 

ooh and aah 

not at us

but
at the true fountain of life
our Saviour Jesus Christ
and

at the beauty of the Gospel 

We should lead others to ooh and aah at the true beauty

Titus 3: 3-7

3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, 

serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, 

and hating one another.   

4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,

5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

The Seven Dials Mystery - Book Review

I am trying to read through the novels of Agatha Christie in the order in which they were written and write a review on each one.

  

The Seven Dials Mystery. 

1929  

An Inspector Battle Mystery.


Shelfari Description



Reclusive tycoon, Sir Oswald Coote, and his melancholy wife, Lady Maria, have come upon the ideal plan to spice up their quiet lives.

They'll host a lavish weekend party at Chimneys, their isolated estate, and invite only "bright young things". But the festive mood is clouded by doom. A practical joke involving seven clocks and a sleeping guest has ended in accidental death-and cause for alarm.

For the guests may not be all that they appear.
And as whispers of a strange club called Seven Dials echo through the halls of Chimneys, all hands will be pointing to murder...

My Thoughts

This is the 10th book by Agatha Christie and the 2nd for Inspector Battle.

We see a return to the home of Bundle whom we remember from "The Secret of Chimneys"

This time I found the characters easier to remember - I suppose it helped that there were a few in this story that had been in the other Chimneys one too - and I read through the story quicker, with less breaks which is always a good sign.

A few red herrings appearing and I few twists which I always enjoy but the logical working out of the solution is still there. The title is a good title for the story but probably makes the reader make an assumption that is also made by several of the characters.

Inspector Battle again was a good detective but not the uniqueness of Poirot or Miss Marple.

I had read the book many, many years ago but had forgotten it so I thoroughly enjoyed it and have to admit I did work out part of it, but not all and had to wait to the end to see what everyone wants to see.

I'll give you one little clue to think over if you decide to read this book - a woman may not always be as you are led to believe.
This however is not about the revealing of that person you need to get to at the end.

This Novel was adapted for television in 1981 by ITV and was kept quite true to the original story which makes me happy. I didn't have it on DVD so I hunted and managed to get a "not too expensive" copy of it on Ebay. I really did want to get it because one of the characters was played by the same actor who played Tommy in The Secret Adversary and I was not disappointed because he played it well and did not keep making me think of Tommy.

Here is a link to a list of her novels on Shelfari
Books by Agatha Christie

Pondering the Psalms - Psalm 98

Each Sunday I am going to choose a Psalm and write down some brief thoughts on it.


Today I'm looking at Psalm 98


This is one of Encouragement to Praise.

This Psalm falls into four parts:


V. 1-3
We are Encouraged to Sing a New Song to the Lord

V. 4-6
We are Encouraged to Make a Joyful Noise to the Lord



V. 7-8
Nature is Encouraged to Praise the Lord



V. 9
We are Encouraged because We know the Lord is going to return.

Sing a New Song.

Why?

Because The Lord has

• Done marvelous things
• Got the victory
• Shown His steadfast Love & faithfulness.

Make a Joyful Noise.

How?

By

• Singing praises with joy
• Using various instruments & melody

Nature's Praise.

Yes even Nature is encouraged to Praise the Lord.

Why?

Because all of Nature is the beautiful creation of God and speaks to us of His awesomeness.




The Lord's Return.

Yes everything must Praise the Lord.

Why?

Because of the knowledge that He is going to return and when He returns He will judge the world.

How?

He will judge righteously and fairly.

We can be so thankful that we have a 
loving
fair
gracious
merciful
God

who has looked past our unrighteousness
&
sees the righteousness of Jesus in us.

We should be thankful?

So we do not need to fear His return
and
the judgement to follow
if we are truly
redeemed by Christ.