Patricia Harper Cummings takes the reader on a fascinating journey into and out of her inner realm of make-believe and "beautiful" lies. She believes that her story can serve as an illustration of the saving power of the Good Shepherd who gently delivered her out of this shadowy world of pretend and brought her back into reality, the One who brought her out of her darkness and into His marvelous light.

The year is 1977. Beth, a 39-year old woman, decides to visit Colin, the handsome piano teacher she had loved as a girl. She's hoping to find out if he had had similar feelings for her in the past. However, just before approaching the portico of his magnificent Tudor-style mansion, she is overwhelmed with a series of flashbacks, reminding her of her teenage years - her hopes, her dreams and even her failures. The moment that Colin opens the door and welcomes her in, she discovers something she needs to know far more than if he had ever loved her. What she learns and what she does about it will change her life forever.

Educators consider the parable to be a great instructional tool. Certainly, it was one of Jesus' favorite methods of teaching. The writer has chosen this technique as well. In this volume, Life's Little Parables and Other Lessons Along the Way, Patricia Harper Cummings shares stories collected over a lifetime, each a tale that teaches. She believes that God reaches out to each of us daily and longs to touch and enlighten us by transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. He does this so that we may learn how to distill timeless spiritual realities from life's simple lessons along the way.

Patricia Cummings' response to her husband's call into the ministry was basically, "Me, a minister's wife! What is God thinking?" She says that she knew it was going to be hard, but she didn't know how hard. Through his years as a solo pastor at the Pebble Creek Community Church in Goodyear, Arizona, she learned ways to meet this challenge, which she openly shares in this book. She admits that her main problem was being a "people pleaser," and so she searched for ways to practice being a God-pleaser instead. This book contains suggestions on: Honing your hospitality and etiquette skills Money management Support systems Setting personal boundaries Making time for fun Handling unrealistic expectations How to say "no!" Assessing giftedness and preferences. . . . . .and much more. Each chapter ends with a suggested prayer or exercise. It is obvious that the writer has a heart for pastors' wives. She has written a book aimed at helping women with this calling to learn how best to care for themselves - body, mind and spirit.

The author, Patricia Harper Cummings, shares unique and unexpected ways in which Jesus, the Good Shepherd, has helped her through what she calls her valley times. In the final chapters she offers some ways in which we, as Christians, can learn to draw on the very presence of a loving God to help in times of personal crises.

Does your prayer life need a boost? Making Room for Jesus is a book that will inspire you to go deeper in your relationship with the Lord. It will encourage you to find fresh ways of talking with your Heavenly Father - every day. The writer, a pastor's wife, knows from experience the value of a quiet time. She offers personal anecdotes, sample prayers (including classic prayers), plus an abundance of suggestions for revitalizing your daily time spent with our Lord. This is a book that will help you find new and living ways to Make Room for Jesus.