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December Caravan
December Caravan is a collection of personal short stories, encouragement, and inspiration on the concept of hope and an ever-present God despite difficult circumstances. Throughout the book, Rebecca shares stories from her life, specifically over a five-year period that started in 2008, when her world crumbled after her fiance walked out on their relationship and their wedding, which was to take place a few months later. Within the next months and years, Rebecca experienced extremely difficult circumstances of loss, including finding out that her health was deteriorating due to advanced late-stage Lyme disease and cancer. December Caravan tells the stories of trials and hope despite many difficult situations. Rebecca shares her foundation of hope for those who are hurting and the beautiful knowledge of learning the Lord's constant love despite heartbreak and loss. December Caravan will encourage you to run back to the heart of God and to find hope and joy in His word."
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Published August 23, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 21, 2016
December Caravan is a series of personal short stories about Rebecca's life, from her fiance ending their engagement to her health issues stemming from advanced-stage Lyme disease and cancer.
Despite these unfair circumstances Rebecca is in, she still finds hope in the Lord. Rebecca's short stories about her life and experiences show me that despite everything, God is still good. God is good and He is the ultimate healer and provider. We can endure all things because God's love never fails.
We don't have to have the happy ending to show God's faithfulness. We can still be "in the middle," still "broken", because there is hope. There is hope that one day, when we reach Heaven, God will wipe away our tears.
December Caravan reminds me that I can show the Kingdom of God to others despite any circumstance I am in. No matter what God places in my path, I can trust Him and know that He works for all things good.
December Caravan was inspirational and brought me to tears. I plan to buy a copy for my sister who suffers from a chronic illness.
*I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Despite these unfair circumstances Rebecca is in, she still finds hope in the Lord. Rebecca's short stories about her life and experiences show me that despite everything, God is still good. God is good and He is the ultimate healer and provider. We can endure all things because God's love never fails.
We don't have to have the happy ending to show God's faithfulness. We can still be "in the middle," still "broken", because there is hope. There is hope that one day, when we reach Heaven, God will wipe away our tears.
December Caravan reminds me that I can show the Kingdom of God to others despite any circumstance I am in. No matter what God places in my path, I can trust Him and know that He works for all things good.
December Caravan was inspirational and brought me to tears. I plan to buy a copy for my sister who suffers from a chronic illness.
*I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
September 13, 2016
Rebecca Vandemark takes you inside her life, one that has more struggle in a short amount of time than most will ever have in their lifetime. She writes beautifully, and truly paints you a picture of her hardships and faith. One of the things I admire so much from this author is her faith. She always leans on faith and that in itself is a beautiful thing to behold. I can't wait to see what else Rebecca writes, knowing it will be just as beautiful as this book.
*I received this book complimentary in exchange for my honest opinion.*
*I received this book complimentary in exchange for my honest opinion.*
August 23, 2016
December Caravan is a must-read for people of all ages and backgrounds!
Through only 13 short chapters, Rebecca wows the reader with her unshakeable faith and hope that God will deliver her in spite of unimagineably difficult circumstances. I love that this book was an easy and fast read that leaves a lasting impression on the heart. Though the author is a single woman in her thirties, the content and easy to understand writiing style makes December Caravan both suitable and relatable for teenagers, newlyweds, mothers, fathers, grandparents... anyone will enjoy and benefit from reading this powerful testament of a faithful God through the darkest nights!
As a young woman struggling with serious/longterm illness, I connected to many of the author's experiences involving a broken body, confused doctor visits, frustration, shame, and feeling left behind. But even more, I connected to the HOPE that surrounds us no matter the circumstance. My heart is so grateful for her bravery in sharing these very intimate stories with the public and I truly believe the Lord will use them to spread hope across the country.
*I recieved a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Through only 13 short chapters, Rebecca wows the reader with her unshakeable faith and hope that God will deliver her in spite of unimagineably difficult circumstances. I love that this book was an easy and fast read that leaves a lasting impression on the heart. Though the author is a single woman in her thirties, the content and easy to understand writiing style makes December Caravan both suitable and relatable for teenagers, newlyweds, mothers, fathers, grandparents... anyone will enjoy and benefit from reading this powerful testament of a faithful God through the darkest nights!
As a young woman struggling with serious/longterm illness, I connected to many of the author's experiences involving a broken body, confused doctor visits, frustration, shame, and feeling left behind. But even more, I connected to the HOPE that surrounds us no matter the circumstance. My heart is so grateful for her bravery in sharing these very intimate stories with the public and I truly believe the Lord will use them to spread hope across the country.
*I recieved a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
August 22, 2016
Rebecca Vandemark is one of the most gracious, inspiring, and kind women I have ever known. This book allows those who may not know her personally to get to know her heart in an inspiring, vulnerable, and intimate way. I love this book for many reasons. 1) Because of the immense truth that it shares about Jesus and what it means to walk with him during good times and hard times. 2) Because it helps us to know how to care for our brothers and sisters when they're walking through their hardest days. 3) Because Rebecca's story is one of my favorites, and I often find myself sharing her story with the high school and early-college aged women who I interact with. I have already recommended 'December Caravan' to some of my dearest friends and to some girls who opened up to me about struggling with heartbreak or battling illness over the course of the weekend since I have read this book.
You will be encouraged. You will be reminded of how very loved you are by your heavenly Father. You will get to know Rebecca's beautiful heart in the same way that I have come to know and love her as a dear friend and sister in Christ.
You will be encouraged. You will be reminded of how very loved you are by your heavenly Father. You will get to know Rebecca's beautiful heart in the same way that I have come to know and love her as a dear friend and sister in Christ.
August 22, 2016
December Caravan warmed my heart! It was an easy read, but an emotionally moving read. Rebecca's struggles brought tears to my eyes as I related with her pain, heartbreak and joy. Her conversational writing style makes you feel as if she's sitting beside you telling her story. Her honesty is refreshing! Seldom do you find an author so honest about walking through tough times. As I read through the book, I related to her pain and heartbreak. As a single girl, it was encouraging to realize I'm not the only one who's experienced devastating heartbreak and encouraging to see how the Lord worked in her life and brought her joy and hope. The stories of her students and their love for her were astounding. As a reader, it was uplifting to see how much of an impact that had on her. I love the scripture woven throughout the book. I highly recommend this book!
Note: I received December Caravan from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts above are my own.
Note: I received December Caravan from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts above are my own.
September 19, 2016
December Caravan takes the reader along a path of stories meant to make us fall more in love with God. These stories are meant to show us that God is in the everyday. From being abandoned at the altar, through Lyme disease, and an endometriosis diagnosis, we feel the magnitude of the weight placed upon Rebecca Vandermark. She walks through it all hand in hand with God.
Although, her healing is not complete, God has placed in her path students, family, and people to help her march to the Promised Land as the Israelites marched to theirs. These stories filled me with hope through conversational writing. Her resilience is powerful; just as the boy with two barley loaves and two small fish, she keeps showing up and she keeps her eyes focused on Jesus. What a dedicated life.
I recommend this book. "Keep showing up every day, keep praying for wisdom, and remember that nothing you do, no matter how small, is ever wasted on the Lord. There are never any small offerings to God." - RV
Although, her healing is not complete, God has placed in her path students, family, and people to help her march to the Promised Land as the Israelites marched to theirs. These stories filled me with hope through conversational writing. Her resilience is powerful; just as the boy with two barley loaves and two small fish, she keeps showing up and she keeps her eyes focused on Jesus. What a dedicated life.
I recommend this book. "Keep showing up every day, keep praying for wisdom, and remember that nothing you do, no matter how small, is ever wasted on the Lord. There are never any small offerings to God." - RV
August 19, 2016
This book was very inspiring as Rebecca chronicled a time in her life in which she experienced many trials. She was honest and open with her struggles and how she worked through and overcame those trials. That is an aspect of her book that I appreciated as many inspirational books can be somewhat "fluffy." Rebecca shares a few Bible verses that were an encouragement to her and as a reader, I was touched by the verses she included. She was not preachy in her style, but rather encouraging and inspiring. December Caravan was easy to read as it was written in a very conversational tone and style. I would highly recommend it to anyone, especially those going through hard times.
*I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
*I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
August 26, 2016
A must read for anyone in need of some encouragement!
December Caravan is a beautiful depiction of a life broken before Jesus. So many have a beautiful story with the fairy tale ending, but what does that tell those who haven't yet had that ending? What are you doing wrong to not deserve it? Well, author, Rebecca VanDeMark, takes you on a journey through the last few years of her life, showing that even in the midst of the darkness, there is still Light. That Light is what you can hold on to and claim as our prosperity. Are you living in the Light even in this dark world? Is your foundation made of Stone and not sand? December Caravan shows you a glimpse of Rebecca's journey and reveals how even the broken middle of your story can be a mess made beautiful.
December Caravan is a beautiful depiction of a life broken before Jesus. So many have a beautiful story with the fairy tale ending, but what does that tell those who haven't yet had that ending? What are you doing wrong to not deserve it? Well, author, Rebecca VanDeMark, takes you on a journey through the last few years of her life, showing that even in the midst of the darkness, there is still Light. That Light is what you can hold on to and claim as our prosperity. Are you living in the Light even in this dark world? Is your foundation made of Stone and not sand? December Caravan shows you a glimpse of Rebecca's journey and reveals how even the broken middle of your story can be a mess made beautiful.
September 12, 2016
From the very fist page, the author drops the reader into the heartbreaking challenges of her life. Through the breakup of her engagement, cancer, and Lyme disease, Rebecca VanDeMark shares an honest account of her long-standing struggles, while fixing her eyes on the ultimate redeemer. This memoir provides readers with hope and encouragement during tough times and reminds us all that beauty can arise from the ashes of our lives. As someone mentioned in an earlier review, there were some typos and grammatical errors throughout the book. However, for me, they didn't distract from the candid, emotional story of perseverance and faith. This is a must-read for anyone who's spirit needs a boost.
September 12, 2016
December Caravan is a collection of short stories that beautifully capture the heart of a woman relying on her faith and trusting God amidst many various challenging circumstances. Rebecca provides her readers with a window into a period of suffering and how God has remained faithful throughout it all. She eloquently shares her heart, honestly shares her struggles, and encourages her readers to lean on an ever faithful God. I found Rebecca's stories to be enlightening, uplifting, and laced with wonderfully balanced light hearted moments.
August 22, 2016
Rebecca's writing transforms stories of the ordinary ups, downs, heartbreaks and hurts of life into a beautiful narrative of redemption and light, of hope and healing. The themes of her story and the stunning way she shares can resonate with many readers from all walks of life, and December Caravan certainly reminds me to search for the light, hope, joy and comfort in Christ regardless of my circumstance.
August 23, 2016
As a believer and fellow sufferer of Lyme Disease, I enjoyed this book very much! Rebecca shares her story in a personal, draw-you-in sort of way. So that by the end of it, you feel that you could go meet her for coffee and already be the best of friends. She repeatedly draws you back to the wonderful power and support of Christ. I highly recommend this book for any ages as a wonderful reminder of Christ's unfailing love and presence in our lives!
August 23, 2016
December Caravan was such an amazing book. From start to finish I was hooked. This book was filled with the reality of life, emotion, struggle, pain, heartache, and still seeking the Lord through it all. I felt as the reader that I was walking through Rebecca's life with her as she went through this journey. I would recommend this book to anyone, this isn't just meant for the ones that have problems in their lives, this book was written for everyone, from every circumstance.
September 12, 2016
This is truly an inspirational book! Rebecca relates different life experiences and struggles that we can all learn from. We are not alone on this journey, and she truly speaks from the heart of experience. No matter how hard our struggle is, God has a plan for our life, and uses our struggles for His glory. In a world that seems out of control, this book was a refreshing glimpse into life's purpose and meaning!
August 22, 2016
December Caravan was a pleasure to read. It's inspirational without being preachy and written with tenderness and compassion. I highly recommend it!
September 13, 2016
Rebecca shares her story in an incredibly vulnerable and raw way. It is a story filled with heartache but also overwhelming hope. A beautiful read!
October 16, 2016
THIS IS AN INSPIRATIONAL COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews