OK, so sometimes my reasoning has no sense of reason. At all. And when it all works out for my good, I am beside myself.
Such is the case with the book I recently had the sheer delight to read. I wanted to be on this launch because I absolutely loved the cover of the book. Besides, I was more than a little curious as to what I could possibly learn from a donkey 🙂 I gave you fair warning about my lack of reasoning.
Flash: The Homeless Donkey Who Taught Me about Life, Faith, and Second Chances
Flash is a stray donkey who just shows up one day and never leaves. He wins the hearts of this family and inspires them to dream, to take challenges, and to grow in their faith.
Flash made me laugh. He made me cry. He also brought me to an awareness of God and His deep love for us all.
I may never forget the night I stayed up way later than I should have to read these words of comfort …
“God’s presence is always with us, even when we can’t feel or see Him. Even when we can’t understand our circumstances. And though we might try a million other ways to fill our voids and find shelter from our storms, there is no substitute for the real thing. Only God can be our true source of refuge.
How many times do we stand outside in the cold when shelter is so close at hand? Sometimes all it takes is a few more steps – and then we are in His arms, encircled in His care and carried by His comfort.” (page 57)
Shelter. Sanctuary. Refuge. A safe haven. True sanctuary is what we find in our God. In Him alone.
And that is one of many lessons I learned from this sweet animal. But see for yourself how sweet he is …
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqF5HUmXPBM&w=560&h=315]
Rachel Anne Ridge weaves a story with ease, enveloping the reader with each word infusing encouragement. Every page is a delight. The only regret you will experience is when you come to the end of the book as your heart will still want more.
So here’s the fun part … The publisher is letting me give away a copy of “Flash” to one of you. Leave me a comment in which you share the name of a beloved animal in your life – present, past or even a fictional animal. How easy is that? So don’t miss out for you will surely want to read this book. This giveaway will close on Friday, May 8th. I will share the name of the blessed winner on Monday, May 11th.
Please Note: The giveaway has been closed. I will announce the winner by Monday. Thank you to all of you who entered!
Using random.org, the winner was Sharon Carlson. I want to thank each of you for entering and for sharing your stories. I hope you will be able to get a copy of this book for yourselves as you will be so glad you did. Thank you!
****Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I am disclosing this as required by Federal Trade Commission.
Today I am joining … Testimony Tuesday and Unite and True Story and RaRa Linkup and #LifeGiving and Intentional Tuesday and The Book Nook and Literacy Musing Mondays and Cozy Reading Spot .
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Wow! I just saw your blog post from the book review tags section and it is amazing. You are the first reader not to overly compliment the book itself but you also tried to look beyond its meaning.
I would love to read this. I’m a Christian and I am always looking forward to read books that will make me appreciate God’s love more.
I hope I can get a copy 🙂
literaryblueprints.wordpress.com
This was a wonderful book which I enjoyed every chapter. It would be easy to over compliment this book but it will speak for itself 🙂 Anne does a beautiful job learning & sharing her insights from Flash with us all. You will greatly enjoy the book. Thank you for entering the giveaway!
This sounds like such a great book! I’ve been talking a lot about special animals lately since we just lost my sister’s precious pug, Frodo to old age and my boys are devastated. One of my boys has plans to somehow get another pug and this will be Frodo 2. I can only imagine that my boys would love this story about Flash too 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
-Sara, uncommongrace.net
Sara, it is so hard to lose a beloved pet. They truly do win our hearts. This book is going to win the heart of many as it is just precious. Thank you for entering the giveaway!
Mia is my sweet English Cocker Spaniel. I never had a pet growing up, so she is the first dog I’ve had in my life. She is silly, cuddly, smart, pretty, and the best part of every day. She definitely turned me into a “dog person.” 🙂 I would love to read and learn from Flash’s life and lessons!
Sharon, isn’t it amazing how they just wiggle their way into our hearts! This book is just precious. Anne does such a sweet job of sharing the deeper truths she learned from her experiences with Flash. It will make you want a donkey to walk into your yard 🙂 Thank you for entering the giveaway!
I will share my very special ‘Emma Rose’ she was a red australian cattle dog or ‘heeler’ and she was my sweet old girl up to last August when we had to put her down at age 16. The vet had her age at 1998 -2014 but I wasn’t sure if that was correct since we got her when our first grand daughter was not yet one. (she is almost age 16) It was very hard to let Emma go as i had just lost my mom in June. I would love to read this book it is such a cute whimsical story.
Sharon, I truly am sorry for both of your losses. This book truly will bless you as you read of the truths Anne learned & shared from Flash. He truly is one wise donkey 🙂 Thank you for entering the giveaway!
I’ve seen this book here and there and wondered about it! Thanks for the sneak peek!
Michele, it is just the sweetest book. I cannot believe how deeply it spoke to my heart. Thank you for entering the giveaway!
This book sounds so cute and fun and – inspirational! I love the quote you included in your post. I remember our dear sweet cat Honey that we had to give up – she went to live with my son and his family (we are in Florida; they are in Louisiana). We have not seen her in 3 years – but she has since disappeared from their home; so we don’t know if she is living with another family or has gone away to die…she was in her teens!
Thank you for sharing such a beautiful book – and for the giveaway!!
Barbara, this book is truly precious. So sorry to hear about Honey. Thank you for stopping to enter the giveaway!
Sounds like a cute book! We have a sweet farm cat that follows me and my kids everywhere. His name is Twix. My daughter especially loves him.
Kristen, love the name “Twix”. This book was just the sweetest. Anne’s insights are just wonderful & will speak to the heart of each reader. Thank you for entering the giveaway!
What a fun idea for a book! My favorite animal was my dog, Bubba. He was part boxer and part great dane and all heart! Oh how he kept us laughing. <3 Heart Hugs
Shelly, you would definitely have a dog who would keep you laughing 🙂 Flash is a treasure of a book. Thank you for entering the giveaway!
This story makes me think of my father and his dog that he found, they are both with Jesus now, but, it was truly touching to witness how God can send us a companion.
So very true that our God can provide a companion even in a pet. He so knows just what we need. So glad you entered the giveaway!
really want to get this book, will find it on amazon if I don’t win it :o)
Sharon, I loved this book & found each chapter spoke to my heart. I am glad you entered!
I had to read your review because I had the pleasure of meeting Rachel at Allume last year. Sounds like the perfect book! My favorite animal is my son’s dog-Parker! He’s a golden with the sweetest personality.
Mary, how exciting to have met the author! The book is just precious with each chapter giving a message all its own. Glad you entered the giveaway!
This sounds like such a special book. God has taught me a lot through our two dogs — especially Darcy, a terrier who was rescued from a puppy mill at age 4 or 5. (We’ve had her for two years.) Our other dog is very sweet and easy to love, but Darcy is kind of a basket case. She ran away from home twice within the first two months. The first time, I ended up chasing her all over the neighborhood in my bare feet, in a hoodie and shorts, my hair a total mess, since I’d been scrubbing the bathroom when she slipped out the door. Complete strangers stopped to help us track her down. Through this, God taught me about the persistence of His love for us — that He loves the ones who are a total mess, and who sometimes stray off to try to do their own thing, every bit as fiercely as He loves the ones who are easy to love. As someone who’s still a total mess at times, I’m very grateful for that!
Ashley, I love the story you have shared about Darcy. I can so remember the night we looked for our cat late into the night – flashlights & all 🙂 So grateful for how He teaches us to love persistently, even from our pets. Thank you for sharing & for entering the giveaway!
Thanks for sharing about FLASH the teaching donkey with us here at Tell me a Story. The photo of a cute donkey makes you want to have one as a pet. Our two dogs would probably welcome the company.
Hazel, the photo of Flash is exactly why I wanted to review the book. Something so endearing about him as I quickly found out from every story & chapter. Glad you entered the giveaway!
Thank you so much for sharing!!!
Rachel, it truly was my joy! Every chapter is precious with a message all its own which spoke to my heart. May God use this book beyond anything you ever expected. Blessings!
Sissy was the name of our little rat-terrier. She was very loved. â¤ï¸
So glad that you entered the giveaway!
Joanne, I love how the the simple teaching of a donkey brought you comfort from God. My favorite animal right now is our new girl Minnie (yorkie), but I also love my Lorito (parrot) too. Thank you, Joanne, for sharing your heart at #IntentionalTuesday on Intentionally Pursuing. : )
A parrot & a yorkie! Your home must be fun! So glad you entered the giveaway, Crystal & I so enjoy joining you each week!
my beloved favorite animal was my cat coco we had her for years. She is long gone now but she sure was loved.
Isn’t it amazing how we continue to remember them with love long after? That is how we all feel about our cat Patches. Grateful you entered the giveaway.
What a hilarious premise for a book! Thanks so much for sharing this at Booknificent Thursday this week!
Tina
It was the most delightful & thought provoking book. It was a hard to put down book which has won its way into being one of my favorites.