Friday, July 22, 2011

The Blessing

The Blessing by John Trent and Gary Smalley is about "Giving the gift of unconditional love and acceptance." It is a simple read packed with great insight and advice. This book is divided into 4 parts with several chapters, each having multiple chapters. Part 1: Why is the blessing so importance? Part 2: Understanding the Blessing. Part 2 is the instructional meat, if you will, of the book. The chapters in this part explain how to bless others and your children-Meaningful touch, a spoken message, attaching high value, picturing a special future, and an active commitment. Part 3: When the blessing doesnt happen, and Part 4: Living the Blessing challenge.
This book is a great manual for helping raise children and also to help understand reasons adults may behave the way they do simply due to a withheld or missed blessing. "The Blessing" has biblical based evidence to help form the best relationships, meaningful and positive.
I was given this book as part of a blogger review program and the opinions expressed are soley my own. Thanks

Sunday, June 12, 2011

The Waiting Place

The Waiting Place-Learning to Appreciate Life's Little Delays, is a fantastic read by Eileen Button. This book is a collection of 22 stories that cover many years of the authors life, from childhood to parenting. It ranges in topics from fishing to death and all of those in between times. There are times in reading that I connected to the auther and times I felt sorry for her as well as empathy. It is just a great read!
I love being able to pick up a book and read for 15 minutes and feel like I have accomplished something and this is a book for that. These short stories evoke emotions of laughter, love, sadness, loniless, and a range of other emotions that make for good stories.
So, go ahead and give this book as a gift for anyone in a "waiting place" which happens to be most of us, most of the time!

Friday, June 3, 2011

Love at Last Sight

Authors Kerry and Chris Shook of the New York Times Bestseller "One Month to Live," write another insightful relationship book. "Love at Last Sight-30 days to grow and deepen your closest relationships" is a great book for daily challenges and quality advice. This book is divided into 4 weekly sections which are divided into daily readings, so one chapter a week with the daily challenges and the book is complete and relationships are strengthened. Week 1-The are of being all there, is exactly what it says. Its a week of practicing "being all there on a deeper level, during conflict, in tough times, and in the moment. Week 2 -the art of acting intentionally. This week is about intentional thinking, intentionally creating space, and intentionally giving encouragement. Week 3-the art of risking awkwardness. Among others, it discusses awkwardness or revealing your heart, expressing anger, unity, and asking. Week 4-the art of letting go. This week works of letting go of insecurity, pride, hurt, and unrealistic expectations, along with a few other topics.
Overall, the book was an easy to read, easy to navigate, and easy to understand book with functional advice and practical challenges. It includes biblical insight and scripture verses for reference as well. Read it, follow it, and deepen relationships!
This book was given to me through a blogger review program and the opinions expressed are soley my own.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Hannah's Hope

Hannah's Hope by Jennifer Saake (Seekig God's heart in the midst of infertility, miscarriage, and adoption loss), is a must read for anyone who is dealing or has dealt with infertility issues. This book discusses envy, lenght of hurt, bitterness, prayer, the churches response to infertility, grief,failed adpotions, ministering to others, and worshiping while waiting-among other touchy topics.
Having struggled with first time and secondary infertility, I caught myself going, "yes, I felt just like that", or "exactly what someone said to me." It is a great book that includeS biblical stories and scripture for infertility stuggles as well as a section at the end of each chapter for "burden bears." This section is for the people struggling along side the mate or friend dealing with infertility issues.
I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting a glimpse into the heart of someone dealing and struggling internally or outward with infertility or failed adoption issues.
This book was given to me through a blogger review program. The opinions expressed are soley my own. Thank you!

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Learning to Hear God

Learning to Hear God by Jan Johnson is a personal retreat guide. This book is divided into multiple sections for finding quietness, God's tone of voice, His unusual speech,and Hearing God in the word. The introduction gives a basic guideline of a personal or small group retreat, what to expect, what to do and not to do, and a timeline.
This book has valuable insight into biblical study for the "everyday person wanting to get more out of scripture" as well as ideas and thoughts on "how to hear God." It asks pointed questions such as, "are we a listener or someone who acts on what he hears?" to better help us gain insight in our christian walk. I enjoyed the book after muddling through the first chapter-would recommend to those wanting to hear what God's is saying for their life. This book was given through a blog review program by Navpress.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

The Take Action Bible

The New King James Version, The Take Action Bible, published by Thomas Nelson, is refreshing. This Bible has a nice preface that explains subject headings, the new and old testament text, and some of the footnotes. It has a special introduction section for 1. The Pentateuch, 2. The Historical books, 3. Poetical and Wisdom books, 4. The Prophets, 5. The Gospels, 6. The Acts of the Apostles, 7. The Letters of Paul, and 8. The General Epistles and Revelation. It includes a reaing plan for the Bible in 1 year as well as the words of Jesus in red. Throughout the Bible are interspersed short stories or devotions with scripture reading and a thought provoking question to take the devotion a step into action. At the conclusion of scripture the "Take Action Bible" includes a section entitled "52 Action Ideas." This section puts feet to the scriptures with ideas to help jumpstart action in faith. Each idea is atttached to a scripture verse. For example, idea #13. Find out how to start a Bible study at the local jail or prison. (Mathhew 25:36) Overall, this is a great addition to one's Bible collection. It adds a bit of new insight and would make a great gift for the action minded. I recieved this Bible for the purpose of blogger review, however, these opinions are my own.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Easy Read-nothing spiritual!

The Final Summit, by Andy Andrews was an easy read. Saying that, however, it was nothing profound, wonderful, or anything to recommend to an avid reader. This book, focused on a summit meeting of historical and biblical figures that included a troubled millionaire of modern day times. This summit was a quest to find the one principle that would save humanity. The Final Summit does entertain readers with historical stories and tidbits of biblical ones, but is certainly not anything to be considered "christian" except for the mention of the arch angels and the exclusion of bad language. Overall, this book was worth the read-if you read many, many books, and get enjoyment out of a large selection of book types.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Eat Your Peas-Faithfully

Eat Your Peas Faithfully by Cherly Karpen is definately a gift type book. It is cute and simple with whimsicle sayings tied with scripture. The book is filled with simple affirmation and uplifting encouragement. Although this is a cute little cook, don't expect it to be very deep. This is one of those little "add on" gifts that will bring a smile to someones face. This book was given to me for the purposes of review by Thomas Nelson. The opinion expressed is soley mine.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Devotional Journal

"God's Promises, Devotional Journal -365 Days of Experiencing the Lord's Blessing," is a simple, uplifting devotional. Included authors are: Max Lucado, David Jeremiah, Billy Graham, Anne Graham Lotz, Sheila Walsh, and others. Each page is set up with a paragraph style mini devotion with a scripture and a question for journaling. Such questions included are-"Is it difficult for you to trust God and give control of your future to Him?" and "Do you believe that the supernatural power of God presented in the Bible is still available today?" These are short, straight forward, and a nice addition to daily Bible reading. This book would also be a great lesson starter with the attached questions to supplement in sunday school or small group study. Overall, "God's Promises," is a nice addition to any devotional library. I received this book through book sneeze blogger review program and the opinions expressed are my own.

Friday, March 4, 2011

Principle of the Path

The Principle of the Path by Andy Stanley was a great read. It didn't have anything profound-only one of those books where you went, "I need to really think about that more." It had a subtitle that states "How to get from where you are to where you want to be," my opinion is that it could have just as well said, "the choices you make can detour you or keep you straight." This book was predominately about how simple choices affect the course of your life. For example-one may say, "I want to marry a christian man," but the reality is that she may date a non-christian, end up married, and regret those choices, simply due to a "date with the wrong person". Or take the example of, "I want to grow in my christian walk," however, I make time for the newspaper in the morning but not the Bible. This book is details how a simple idea of "principle of the path," can explain disappointment in our lives and how we can empower ourselves to make the choices that keep us in Gods will and on "the path." This book was given to me for the purpose of the blogger review program through Thomas Nelson-I was not required to write a positive review

Friday, February 18, 2011

Becoming a Woman of Influence

Becoming a Woman of Influence, by Carol Kent was a worthwhile read. In the book she outlines 6 principles of how we, as women, can better influence others. Principles such as, time alone with God, storytelling, asking questions, having compassing, and a few others. Time alone with God features prayer and influencing others to pray. Storytelling features making the truth relevent through stories. The principle of asking questions helps to draw people into conversation to share the truth. She discusses the idea that we influence others all of the time and we can make intentional choices of influencing rather than not thinking about how we influence others. Although, I did enjoy this book and feel that it has classic and timeless information, I also feel that it is geared a bit toward those who are mentors or who are starting to mentor others. Having said that, it is still relevent to women who just want to make intentional choices on their group of peers and coworkers.
I was given this book through Navpress blogger program and was not asked to write a positive review.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Chasing Elephants

I had the opportunity to read "Chasing Elephants, Wrestling With The Gray Areas Of Life," by Brent Crowe courtesy of Navpress Publishers as part of their blogger review program. The opinions express are my own in accordance with the FTC guidlines. This book pleasantly suprised me overall, however, the first 4 chapters of the book were a bit slow. The first several chapters were to help one better understand how and why the "questions to deal with the gray areas" came about. I personally think that these could have been omitted and the book would have had the same relevance as with them. Chapter 5 included the "list of questions" that would later help form your own opinion about the "gray areas". This is a comprehensive list with questions like:"will this decision addict or enslave," "is this decision made in the attitude of Christ," and "will this decision have a positive spiritual impact on self." The next chapters were the addressed areas-such as 1. Homosexuality 2.The Cyber World 3. Social Drinking 4. Entertainment and 5. Humanitarian Efforts.
Brent Crowe addressed each of theses touchy subjects with grace and knowledge that made me "like him." I didn't agree with all of his ideas but I did find that my views were a bit changed on ideas once previously thought, due to asking myself the listed questions and how they relate to these areas. This book is great for someone who wants to formulate their own opinions from a biblical basis rather than believe stricly based on what their church or parents may believe.
Great book Mr. Crowe-I look forward to your gracious and humble writing in the future!