Sunday, December 17, 2017

The Lifestyle of a Watchman: A 21-Day Journey to Becoming a Guardian in Prayer



What does it mean to be a "watchman on the wall"?

Join prophetic leader and bestselling author James W. Goll for a powerful, 21-day journey into the heart of being a watchman--a mature intercessor called to wait, to be at the ready, alert to the presence and plan of God and confident of His will. With reflection questions, devotional prayers and practical applications, this book will help you move to the front lines of prayer. You will learn how to

· discern the spiritual atmosphere around you
· discover the strategies of God for specific times
· find your assignment
· pray more effectively for others and the nations
· understand how to intercede for current events
· partner with heaven and step boldly into your calling

Embark on this journey of faith, and become the strong sentinel that God created you to be!

My thoughts...

If only we would realize how important and powerful intercessory prayer is we'd be doing more of it...I enjoyed this book on prayer and how God uses His people to bring about change in other's lives and the world when we pray according to His will. The author uses prayer warriors from the bible as examples of the different types of prayer such as Abraham and Daniel...two people close to God's heart. He goes on to show the reader how to be effective and also included questions to ponder as well as interesting commentary. This is a very helpful book to anyone who has questions about prayer.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.​ ​

Spiritual Warfare for the End Times: How to Defeat the Enemy



As the time approaches for Jesus' return, the spiritual battle between good and evil is heating up. Evidence is all around: shootings, genocide, civil wars, increased persecution. Our enemy is real, and it seems as if he is winning.

The good news is that God is at work in powerful ways--and that Satan is not winning. But we need to know how to wage war against him and his plans for these turbulent days. We must understand not only the intensified warfare environment of the end times, but how we can walk in our authority in Jesus Christ. Here are the practical insights you need on how to fight using the spiritual weapons God has given us: the blood of Jesus, the Word of God, our own testimony, and more. When we learn how to wield these weapons, we will see victory over Satan and his kingdom and bring hope to these dark days.

My thoughts...

I found this author's story of depression and the healing power of Jesus to be inspiring and the signs of the times that lets us know His return is imminent are right on. The world is turning further and further away from God and our morals are declining rapidly. What Derek reminds us of though that God is in control and He is not at all surprised at what is happening. The book is one that makes you stop and think about the deep things of God and how Jesus could return at any time. Interesting read.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.​ ​

THESE HEALING HILLS



Francine Howard has her life all mapped out until the soldier she planned to marry at WWII's end writes to tell her he's in love with a woman in England. Devastated, Francine seeks a fresh start in the Appalachian Mountains, training to be a nurse midwife for the Frontier Nursing Service.

Deeply affected by the horrors he witnessed at war, Ben Locke has never thought further ahead than making it home to Kentucky. His future shrouded in as much mist as his beloved mountains, he's at a loss when it comes to envisioning what's next for his life.

When Francine's and Ben's paths intersect, it's immediately clear that they are from different worlds and value different things. But love has a way of healing old wounds . . . and revealing tantalizing new possibilities.

My thoughts...

The story of a broken heart and how love can be found a second time is one of my favorites by this author, she has made Francine a very likeable character and you can see her heart as she gets to know the hillbilly locals her mother warned her against. She's finding out these people may be very different and poor but they are hard working and genuinely care about others.

When Francine meets Ben, who has returned from war, their story takes off on a journey that is sweet and a bit comical. I totally enjoyed the setting and the people in this book.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.​ ​

Saturday, December 16, 2017

WHISPER by Mark Batterson



The voice that spoke the cosmos into existence is the same voice that parted the Red sea, and made the sun stand still in the midday sky. One day, this voice will make all things new, but it’s also speaking to you now!

That voice is God’s voice, and what we’ve learned from Scripture is that He often speaks in a whisper. Not to make it difficult to hear Him, but to draw us close.

Many people have a tough time believing God still speaks. Sure, in ancient times and in mysterious ways, God spoke to His people, but is He still speaking now?

Mark Batterson certainly believes so. And he wants to introduce you to the seven love languages of God; each of them unique and entirely divine. Some of them you might suspect but others will surprise you.

By learning to tune in to and decipher each language, you’ll be able to hear His guidance in simple as well as life-altering choices. God is actively speaking through: Scripture, Desires, Doors, Dreams, People, Promptings, and Pain. Batterson gives you the tools you need to unlock each of these languages.

God’s whisper can answer your most burning questions, calm your deepest fears, and fulfill your loftiest dreams.

Discover how simple it is to hear God’s voice in every aspect of your life!

He’s speaking, make sure you know how to listen!

My thoughts...

If you've ready any of Mark Batterson's books and saw how powerful and inspiring they are you'll find this one just as good. He digs deep into the Word which really inspires me to dig deeper as well, much is revealed in this book that uses unique ways to help you understand. There is so much in the book that I want to remember and go back to for further reading, I have many pages marked and look forward to the journey deep into the Bible. Mark knows how to teach and get the point across through the stories he uses and the things he compares them too. I thoroughly have enjoyed this book.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.​ ​

31 PROVERBS TO LIGHT YOUR PATH



Wherever you are on your journey, here is the wisdom you need for the road ahead. Maybe you’re stuck and want to move forward. Or you feel anxious and long to know what’s next. Or you’re ready for an uplifting reminder that God holds your future in His loving hands.

Chosen by hundreds of women as their favorite verses in Proverbs, these thirty-one nuggets of truth reveal how faithfully God honors His promise, “I will instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths” (Proverbs 4:11).

Best-selling author Liz Curtis Higgs examines each word with care and adds a sprinkling of humor through her honest stories and personal examples. For each verse you’ll find a unique “One Minute, One Step” challenge—a do-it-now task that requires one minute or less. You’ll soon discover how practical and meaningful the book of Proverbs is as you apply its ancient wisdom to your thoroughly modern life.

With a study guide included, 31 Proverbs to Light Your Path is a daily devotional and a small-group Bible study, wrapped in a beautiful gift book brimming with encouragement!

My thoughts...

Who doesn't like Liz Curtis Higgs? Her books are wonderful and this one is no exception, it's perfect for a devotional or to use as a study guide...either way it's a useful book to have. The pictures are pretty and the way she has it set up she shows you how to put what you've learned into practice. Easy to read, they don't take much time but it does help in jumpstart your devotional time.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.​ ​

PRAYERS FOR A HEART SHAPED LIFE



This beautiful prayer book from Barbour Publishing features more than 200 prayers that will inspire readers to draw closer to their heavenly Father as they spend time in quiet conversation with Love Himself. Each refreshing prayer and related scripture selection will help readers discover the best path to the good life. . .which is LOVE.

My thoughts...

First off I have to mention how much I like the cover of this uplifting book. Once opening the pages and reading the prayers I have fallen in love with the book, it's set up like daily devotions and oh, how they point one to and glorify God. Very inspiring to say the least and definitely not short little snippets. There's enough heartfelt emotion in the author's words that you cannot help being drawn to our heavenly Father. Refreshing and enjoyable.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review." ​

Saturday, December 2, 2017

SHE READS TRUTH BIBLE



SHE READS TRUTH

She Reads Truth is a worldwide community of women who read God’s Word together every day. Founded in 2012, She Reads Truth invites women of all ages to engage Scripture through daily reading plans, as well as online conversation led by a vibrant community of contributors. The She Reads Truth Bible offers the community’s favorite tools for Scripture reading, all in one place.





MAPS, CHARTS & TIMELINES

Introductions to books of the Bible include illustrated and designed maps, charts, and timelines. Placing a book in its geographical context helps us understand its cultural context. The charts illustrate how different passages of the Bible connect and relate to one another and to us. Including significant biblical and world events, the timelines provide historical context for the action of the book.

READING PLANS

Each book has its own custom reading plan, broken down into easy-to-read sections. Reading plans also include supplementary passages for added context and deeper understanding.

My thoughts...

I was so excited to receive this Bible, not only do I love the look and the feel I also love the beautiful pictures, font, charts, and oh my...so much more. This is a great Bible with room to make notes...a reading plan and sections that break each book down so that one may get a deeper understanding. I especially enjoy tracing the timelines and following the journey of one of God's chosen.

The group SHE READS TRUTH is an online community of women that read and study the bible together, hold each other accountable, and pray for one another. The bible is available in different colors at your local Christian bookstore.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.​

THE COMING APOSTASY



Jesus Christ is coming back. It is certainly a Christian’s greatest hope during these difficult times. The Bible warns us that the last days will be tumultuous―wars and rumors of wars will spread (Matthew 24:6). In our age, the world seems to be spinning out of control, creating fear, confusion, and uncertainty. In addition to violence, pestilence, and epidemics, the Bible predicts a great “falling away” from God in the end times. Bible teachers call that “the great apostasy.” Are we seeing evidence today in the church of this massive rejection of sound and wholesome teaching? Bestselling authors Mark Hitchcock and Jeff Kinley team up to examine the evidence from the teachers of our time. Are today’s teachers allowing people to follow their own desires by telling them what they want to hear, as the Bible clearly predicts? Are major portions of the church ready to abandon sound and wholesome teaching?

Together, Mark and Jeff explore alarming trends among today’s church leaders and they are simply stunned by what they discover. The great apostasy is coming, but is it closer than we imagine? What does that mean for the future?

My thoughts...

THE COMING APOSTASY is one of those books that definitely make you stop and think about the things happening in the world today and how much it resembles the warnings gven in scripture of things to come. It's a great book for those interested in prophecy. It shows what is happening in our churches and to those who call themselves christians but haven't really made the committment to Christ.

The authors have given us a call to examine ourselves and to make things right.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.​

Friday, November 3, 2017

WHERE WE BELONG



In the city of Chicago in 1892, the rules for Victorian women are strict, their roles limited. But sisters Rebecca and Flora Hawes are not typical Victorian ladies. Their love of adventure and their desire to use their God-given talents has brought them to the Sinai Desert--and into a sandstorm.

Accompanied by Soren Petersen, their somber young butler, and Kate Rafferty, a street urchin who is learning to be their ladies' maid, the two women are on a quest to find an important biblical manuscript. As the journey becomes more dangerous and uncertain, the four travelers sift through memories of their past, recalling the events that shaped them and the circumstances that brought them to this time and place.



My thoughts...

If you've ever read any of Lynn Austin's books you'll understand when I say "wow". I loved this book, it is a fabulously typical Austin book and at the top of my list of favorites. I felt like I was right there with these stubborn sisters and their unlikely ladies' maid, their story brought smiles and left me thinking about them long after I finished reading. This is just plain delightful, a fantastic storyline with the best characters. The sisters face danger but their obstinance keeps them moving on. Austin knows how to tell a story and what a story this is.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.​ ​

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

100 Days With Jesus



How do you capture who Jesus really is? What words would you use to describe Him? Explore the endless possibilities with these 100 names and attributes, pulled directly from Scripture, and presented with uncommon clarity and depth. Full in scope. Rich in devotion. Through prayers and insights that widen your view of Jesus’ nature and purpose, you will see Him in ways you’ve perhaps never noticed before—specific to your need, complete in His love for you. You won’t just be informed. You’ll be transformed. One day at a time, 100 days in a row, inspired toward a deeper, more knowing sense of worship . . . for a lifetime.

My thoughts...

A beautiful devotional with pages that are rich with inspiration and draws you closer to our Lord as we look at the names of Jesus to learn who He is. I love the color photographs and the scripture that point you directly to Him. Meditating on the words such as, "Prince of Peace", left me more in awe of our Savior who truly is the Prince of Peace. I really enjoyed this devotional.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.​ ​

A WOMAN OVERWHELMED



"A Woman Overwhelmed" is a phrase with which many women can relate. But what would happen if we could see the insanity in our pace and embrace our overwhelming God?

There is a reason they say that a woman’s work is never done— because it isn’t! As women, we often are overwhelmed by the demands and circumstances of life, resulting in stress, fear, worry, impatience, fatigue, frustration, and even depression. The truth is that we were created to be overwhelmed . . . not by life but by God! When we learn to be overwhelmed by God, the fruit in our lives goes from rotten to fragrant—filling our days with peace, hope, love, and joy.

In A Woman Overwhelmed, best-selling author Hayley DiMarco shares biblical insights and personal stories to offer a glimpse at the comedy of an overwhelmed life while encouraging us to discover the depths and heights of God’s love and power.

My thoughts...

What is it like to be overwhelmed by God instead of by life? Isn’t that the way we should be? This is a wonderfully written book about being overwhelmed and it’s an amazing read. Life has just gotten too busy and we’re stressed with not only the big things but the little things as well. Where does it stop? This author gives us an idea on how to begin with stories of her own daily experiences and how she turned things around. I must say they are amusing.

Only God is perfect and no matter how hard we try life will never be so why stress? What are you doing wrong? Read this book and realize how much different things could be.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.​ ​

Friday, September 29, 2017

BRINGING MAGGIE HOME



Three generations of women have had issues with their relationships due to a childhood trauma which affected how each girl was raised. When Hazel was ten, her three-year old sister disappeared while under her care and was never found. When Hazel’s granddaughter Megan, an investigator, finds out the truth, she begins an investigation that goes back to Arkansas seventy years ago when Hazel was a child. Megan begins to see how things that happened in their past makes them who they are today.

My thoughts...

A tragedy entwines the lives of three generations of women…one woman’s turning her back on God has affected so many lives… this really makes you stop and think how loving God is and how He doesn’t give up on us even when we do turn our backs to Him. The book is an emotional read, there’s mystery as well. Arkansas in 1943 a child disappears and deeply effects the life of another child who is kept in the dark which results in harsh feelings. Definitely an intriguing (and heartbreaking) story.

This book made me stop and thank God for His faithfulness and strive to be more in tune with His gentle voice. Great job Kim Vogel Sawyer!

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.​ ​

Monday, September 25, 2017

LIAR'S WINTER



Lochiel Ogle was born with a red-wine birthmark--and it put her life in jeopardy from the moment she entered the world. Mountain folks called it "the mark of the devil," and for all the evil that has plagued her nineteen-year existence, Lochiel is ready to believe that is true. And the evil surely took control of the mind of the boy who stole her as an infant, bringing her home for his mother to raise.

Abused and abandoned by the only people she knows as family, Lochiel is rescued by a peddler and given the first glimpse of love she has ever known. The truth of her past is gradually revealed as is the fact that she is still hunted by a brother driven to see her dead. Unsure if there's anyone she can truly trust, Lochiel is faced with a series of choices: Will she continue to run for escape or will she face her past and accept the heartbreaking secrets it reveals? Which will truly free her?

Set in the wild and beautiful Appalachian Mountains of nineteenth-century East Tennessee, Liar's Winter is an unflinching yet inspirational exploration of prejudice and choice.

My thoughts...

What a great book! I loved everything about it…the setting, the characters, the storyline…amazing. People in that era believed a birthmark was a sign of the devil marking the baby and they were afraid of that person. How terribly sad for a child growing up to think she belonged to the devil, people being afraid of her for fear of being hexed.

Lochiel’s worst enemy is her brother who vowed to kill her because of a port wine birthmark on her face, the misery this child went through makes one shudder to think about. Thankfully, Lochiel has someone that will try to help hide her from this threat on her life.

This is a wonderfully written novel that kept me reading every chance I could. If you have an interest in the Appalachians, the early 1900’s, or are just looking for a weekend read this is the book for you.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.​ ​

MANY SPARROWS



In the year 1774 in the Ohio Kentucky frontier, the Colonists begin taking over the Native American territories. Philip must leave his pregnant wife Clare and their four-year old son Jacob, alone on a mountain trail. The Shawnee Indians take Jacob and hold him captive. Philip does not return and Clare must find the best way possible to get her son back.

My thoughts...

An engaging story of the white man and Shawnee indian trying to learn to live together. The two main characters are so likeable, each with their own powerful stories to tell. Both are strong willed and have been hurt so are careful not to let someone get too close. This is not a sappy tale, it’s one of faith, patience, and believing in God’s timing. Vivid detail and wonderfully written, you feel the sense of loss and fear in Clare as she struggles to bring her sons home. You want to find out what happens yet you feel saddened as you near the end of the book.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.​ ​

Friday, September 22, 2017

WATER MY SOUL



Darla Weaver writes out of her own struggles with Christian discipleship so that others will know Old Order Mennonites are human too and often long to walk closer to God. She bares her heart in these 90 devotionals drawn from her home-centered life in western Ohio’s hills. While family, gardening, cooking with home grown food, and living as naturally as possible off the land are the focus of her days, her utmost goal is to serve and honor the Christ she loves and serves through all aspects of her life. Women especially will relate to these meditations generously sprinkled with stories from Darla’s children, marriage, community and wider friends and family. Daily scripture readings, poignant prayers and journal prompts or ideas for active responses are included with each inspiring devotional.

My thoughts...

This book is a really good idea, I so enjoyed how the author related how God speaks to us through ordinary daily busyness. If we listen even though we are active we will hear His voice…the key is listening and being attuned to the Spirit.

I use a devotional in the mornings and have been using this book in the evenings, it’s the perfect ending to my day. The cover is beautifully simple and the words will give you something to ponder and reflect. If we look we can see God’s greatness all around us.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.​ ​

JOURNEY INTO GRACE



Life is a journey of joyful moments and painful moments, including twists and turns that threaten to undo us. But if we allow God to work through the joy and the pain, that journey can lead to the life-sustaining richness of His Grace and an intimate relationship with Him. That truth is the core of international speaker and teacher Darlene Sala’s new women’s devotional, Journey into Grace. With Darlene’s heartfelt voice alongside two coauthors, including her daughter, Bonnie, the 150 readings explore themes such as fear, forgiveness, learning, loving, prayer, and relationships. This book offers women quiet moments with God as they bring their real life challenges to His feet.

My thoughts...

I enjoy a good devotional to enhance my bible reading. The subject of grace is never overdone, it’s what Christianity is all about. I found much wisdom in the book and a variety of encouraging topics which are backed with scripture. There’s 150 devotions along with questions & reflections ending with prayer…all of which helps you focus on Jesus. I like the book, it’s one I’ll enjoy using.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.​ ​

Sunday, July 23, 2017

SECRETS by Jonathan Daughtery



"I wish it never happened."

These are the words of Jonathan Daugherty, a man who had a secret, one that shaped his view of life and relationships for thirteen years. Secrets is his story of overcoming addiction, infidelity, and finally finding the path that led him to a place of true peace and freedom.

In this powerful and personal book, Jonathan reveals:

--The nature and danger of secrets
--The consequences of emotional detachment
--Insights for dealing with addiction, death, brokenness, and healing
--The secret to living a life of peace and joy

Secrets is a true story of one man's journey through brokenness and despair that will captivate you, encourage you, and ultimately motivate you to live your own life to the fullest. Whether you are living a double life of secrecy and lies or not, Secrets will move you to reconsider how you live your life from this moment on, challenging you to live each day with no more regrets.

My thoughts...

I admire the author for his openness about his sexual addiction, not an easy story to tell but I believe his confession will help others that are battling addiction whatever it may be. It helped me to realize no one has the right to judge anyone because of the sin in their life. We all are guilty of sin and though it may not seem as "bad" as others God still loves each of us and desires to set us free.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.​ ​



My thoughts...

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.​ ​

Sunday, July 9, 2017

COFFEE, THE WORLD, AND JESUS



When many Christians take a long, hard look at the lives of the spiritual elite in America, they want to shout, "I don't want to be like that!" Ron DeMiglio knows how they feel and he's not afraid to do the shouting--even when those shouts are sometimes directed at himself.

Coffee, the World, and Jesus is a collection of mildly contrarian musings from this international coffee businessman who happens to love Jesus. In these humorous vignettes about the relational, flawed, unwavering faith Ron clings to, readers will find glimmers of their own daily struggles to reflect Christ in a fallen world. For the religiously cautious, the disillusioned, and jaded followers of Christianity, this is a refreshing look at how God reveals Himself to be so much bigger than politics, dogmas, or western influences.

Ron's sidesplitting series of stories about how he found his spiritual groove smack-dab in the middle of his God-breathed, coffee-scented uniqueness will appeal to readers looking for a quick bite of spiritual growth with their next latte.

My thoughts...

This book is a little different from what I normally read but I will say it is a good different. The author is witty and down to earth. It's more of a personal reflection but there's lots of truths presented in a humorous way. He has a hard nosed approach to biblical things which is not a bad thing. Overall a good book.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.​ ​

THE TEA PLANTERS WIFE



Nineteen-year-old Gwendolyn Hooper is newly married to a rich and charming widower, eager to join him on his tea plantation, determined to be the perfect wife and mother. But life in Ceylon is not what Gwen expected.

The plantation workers are resentful, the neighbours treacherous, and there are clues to the past - a dusty trunk of dresses, an overgrown gravestone in the grounds - that her husband refuses to discuss.

Just as Gwen finds her feet, disaster strikes. She faces a terrible choice, hiding the truth from almost everyone, but a secret this big can't stay buried forever....

My thoughts...

What a beautifully written book, the author told the story well and though it's a love story it isn't sappy...it's graceful and alluring. The description of the area, the tea plantation, and the characters make it interesting and likeable, the plot fantastic. Very well done.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.​ ​

BIBLE STUDY: Included in Christ: Living A New Story from Ephesians



Break Free from the Darkness and Find Your New Identity in Christ

Included in Christ: Living a New Story from Ephesians by Heather Holleman

Chicago, IL – Have you ever battled insecurity, rejection, or a feeling of worthlessness? Maybe your ethnic background, family dysfunction, financial struggles, career failures, or your own inner battle with shame or fear have led you to feel like an outsider. Have you been telling yourself that you just are not special, chosen, included?

“As someone who spent a lifetime feeling like an outsider and experiencing rejection—both real and imagined—the notion that I’m included reaches my soul like healing balm,” says Dr. Heather Holleman, author of Included in Christ: Living a New Story from Ephesians (Moody Publishers, June 2017). “As we learn in Ephesians, we are part of the whole of God’s family.”

Holleman, a speaker, writer, and English instructor at Penn State University, who also serves on the Faculty Commons for Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ), struggled for years with loneliness, fear, and feeling like an outsider. God used the book of Ephesians to minister to her and to usher in profound and lasting personal transformation.

“Paul’s primary purpose in writing Ephesians has everything to do with explaining to readers—and reminding them again and again—that they belong not only in personal and actual union to a living Christ, but that salvation involves including them to one another as believers,” says Holleman. Written as part narrative but full Bible study, Included in Christ takes readers through an in-depth, eight-week study of the book of Ephesians. Designed to be studied in community, Holleman focuses the first seven week’s themes around a vivid verb—included, chosen, seated, strengthened, renewed, filled, and proclaiming. Each week, women study Ephesians through the lens of the verb, engage in personal reflection questions, discuss lessons in community, and work on developing, what Holleman calls, their Savior Story.

“The Jesus I met through the book of Ephesians is a God who includes us, chooses us, seats us at the table, connects us deeply with others, refreshes us, empowers us, and proclaims truth through us,” says Holleman. “Instead of the Shadow Narratives that often dominate our lives, we need to replace them with our Savior Stories and begin to live and walk in that freedom.”

Many women are stuck in their Shadow Narrative--a story that they tell themselves over and over again that keeps them in the darkness of exclusion and loneliness, weariness, and toxic patterns of jealousy, comparison, and despair. As readers study the verbs and phrases found in Ephesians and work through the discussion questions both personally and in community, they will replace these stories with those that have shaped their lives in Christ. These new stories are what Holleman calls Savior Stories, stories that look at who you are as a new creation in Christ, living with a different, biblical reality of a new mindset.

“Can you imagine living each day like an included person?” says Holleman. “Someone chosen instead of rejected or ignored? Someone seated at the Greatest Table with the Greatest King instead of lonely and fighting for belonging? Someone strengthened instead of weary and powerless? Someone renewed instead of languishing in sin? Someone filled with the Holy Spirit instead of living in self-effort all day long? And finally, someone proclaiming her Savior Story instead of living in silence or stuck in her Shadow Narrative.

The Unexplainable Church: Reigniting the Mission of the Early Believers by Erica Wiggenhorn



Frustrated with the watered-down, “light” Bible studies that are all too common, Erica Wiggenhorn wanted to write a study that went deep. She wanted to take readers verse-by-verse through a whole book of the Bible, offering theological and historical comments in each lesson while remaining practical and relational.

The Unexplainable Church is the result, and it offers readers two great takeaways. It will teach them by example how to study the Bible deeply, and it will challenge them toward critical life-change: submitting their will to the mission of Jesus, who gives life its fullest meaning.

The message of The Unexplainable Church is that the early church didn’t grow because Peter and Paul were so amazing, but because average people were transformed by God and brought together in His work. This 10-week inductive study of Acts 13–28 will sweep readers into the great drama of the Kingdom, inspiring them to live together in the power of the Spirit and accomplish what could never be done alone.

My thoughts...

I like bible studies that are deep and informative, one that makes me search the scriptures. This is one of those studies! I was so impressed with how the author really makes you think about what is being discussed and asked. She has included Hebrew culture and history which I so enjoy. From the opening page I knew this was a study I was going to glean from.

This is the second book in the study of Acts but can be used alone. I definitely will do that one once this study has been completed. If you're looking for a group study or one to do alone this would be a very good choice. The personal stories included are inspiring.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.​ ​

LOVE IN A TIME OF HATE



Love in a Time of Hate tells the gripping tale of Magda and André Trocmé, the couple that transformed a small town in the mountains of southern France into a place of safety during the Holocaust. At great risk to their own lives, the Trocmés led efforts in Le Chambon-sur-Lignon to hide more than three thousand Jewish children and adults who were fleeing the Nazis. In this astonishing story of courage, romance, and resistance, learn what prompted André and Magda to risk everything for the sake of strangers who showed up at their door. Building on the story told in Lest Innocent Blood Be Shed, German journalist Hanna Schott portrays a vivid story of resisting evil and sheltering refugees with striking resonance for today.

My thoughts...

I don't know what I was expecting from the book but I can honestly say it definitely opened my eyes to what bearing your cross really means. This is the story of Magda and Andre's journey that led them to the village that said no to the Nazis. Andre had such faith that God would not fail him, that he would be taken care of if he obeyed God's commands.

The love they showed in helping others and what they went through left me with tears in my eyes. You have to admire such people as these who lived their lives the way true disciples of Christ should.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.​

ISRAEL - GOD'S HEART



Israel-God's Heart: Landscapes and Legacy of Israel (Skypics Israel, November 2016) Soar across the skies of beautiful Israel and visit contemporary and historic sites beckoning visitors to stay and explore.

The beauty of Israel from above is captured by top aerial photographer Ron Gafni. As you sweep over ancient ruins, fly high in hot air balloons, and view vignette's of Israel's modern lifestyles,scripture will also come alive. Author Kathleen Barrett offers reflective narrative with scripture pointing to God's redemption plan for the world.

Learn more and purchase a copy here.

My thoughts...

The photos in this book tell a story and I found them to be very interesting, I wish there had been a little more explanation with each. There's a caption with each one and they include wildlife, landmarks such as the Dead Sea, and more. So much history in such a small book. Well worth having if you have any interest in Israel.

About the authors..



Ron Gafni works as a professional aerial photographer after spending more than a decade in Israel's High-Tech Industry. He brings his vast experience and personal perspective through the lens of a proud Israeli citizen. His work has been featured in "National Geographic," and his company, Skypics.co.il, provides books from its "Israel From Above" collection to the Israeli government, Army and Air force, as well as to large corporations in Israel.



Kathleen Barrett, a south Florida resident and former teacher is a student of the Word. She shares her thoughtful point of view in "Israel-God's Heart" from a personal, 40 year walk of Christian faith and study. In 2002, she authored a children's devotional. Before that and since then, she has published numerous articles from mission's outreach to local political events. Her more personal and reflective work has been featured in a number of collections. Find out more at http://skypics.co.il.

Monday, June 26, 2017

PRACTICING NORMAL

Practicing Normal by Cara Sue Achterberg on Tour June 1 - July 31, 2017

  Practicing Normal
Book Details
Genre: Women's Fiction
Published by: The Story Plant
Publication Date: June 6th 2017
Number of Pages: 336
ISBN: 1611882443 (ISBN13: 9781611882445)

Get Your Copy of Practicing Normal by Cara Sue Achterberg on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads!

Synopsis:

The houses in Pine Estates are beautiful McMansions filled with high-achieving parents, children on the fast track to top colleges, all of the comforts of modern living, and the best security systems money can buy. Welcome to normal upper-middle-class suburbia.

The Turners know in their hearts that they're anything but normal. Jenna is a high-schooler dressed in black who is fascinated with breaking into her neighbors' homes, security systems be damned. Everett genuinely believes he loves his wife . . . he just loves having a continuing stream of mistresses more. JT is a genius kid with Asperger's who moves from one obsession to the next. And Kate tries to manage her family, manage her mother (who lives down the street), and avoid wondering why her life is passing her by.

And now everything is changing for them. Jenna suddenly finds herself in a boy-next-door romance she never could have predicted. Everett's secrets are beginning to unravel on him. JT is getting his first taste of success at navigating the world. And Kate is facing truths about her husband, her mother, and her father that she might have preferred not to face.

Life on Pine Road has never been more challenging for the Turners. That's what happens when you're practicing normal.

Combining her trademark combination of wit, insight, and tremendous empathy for her characters, Cara Sue Achterberg has written a novel that is at once familiar and startlingly fresh.

Kudos:

"Does facing the truth beat living a lie? In PRACTICING NORMAL, Cara Sue Achterberg has given us a smart story that is both a window and a mirror, about the extraordinary pain ― and the occasional gifts ― of an ordinary life."
– Jacquelyn Mitchard, New York Times bestselling author of THE DEEP END OF THE OCEAN

"What does it really mean to have a normal life? Achterberg's stunning new novel explores how a family can fracture just trying to survive, and how what makes us different is also what can make us most divine." – Caroline Leavitt, author of CRUEL BEAUTIFUL WORLD and the New York Times bestsellers PICTURES OF YOU and IS THIS TOMORROW

"PRACTICING NORMAL takes a deep dive into the dysfunctional dynamics of a 'picture perfect family.' A compelling story about the beautiful humanity in the most ordinary of lives: from first love to a marriage on the downward slide to an unexpected family tragedy. Achterberg handles each thread with tender care and we can't help but root for every member of the Turner family."
– Kate Moretti, New York Times bestselling author of THE VANISHING YEAR

Read an excerpt:

Waving to Jenna as she waits at the bus stop, all I can think is, Please let her go to school today and stay in school all day. Jenna is such a smart girl; I don’t understand why she doesn’t apply herself to her studies. She could be anything. A doctor, even. I was a nurse, but Jenna is smarter than me. Of course, that was twenty years ago. Before I married Everett. Before Jenna and JT were born. Before we ever lived in Pine Estates.

I was the one who chose the house. Everett thought it was pretentious, and it was. All the houses on our end of Pine Road were pretentious. But it was the nineties. Everyone was building McMansions and taking out ridiculous loans to pay for them. Everett had just left his job as a police officer for the job at FABSO (Family and Business Security Options).

We needed to start a new life. We celebrated the new job and didn’t talk about the fact that things could have turned out very differently if his captain had chosen to bring charges against him. Instead, he recommended Everett for the job at FABSO and made it clear Everett would be wise to take it.

I remember lying in bed holding Everett the day he turned in his gun and his badge. He was devastated. Being a cop had been Everett’s dream since childhood. “All I’ve ever wanted to be is a cop. If I can’t be a cop, who am I?”

“You’re a father and a husband. That’s so much more,” I told him. He didn’t say anything about it again. He got to work. He made something of FABSO. And he’s tried so hard to be a good dad.

I don’t remember much about my own dad, and whenever I asked my mother she would say, “There’s nothing to remember about that louse except that he was a louse.” When I pressed her later, after I’d grown up, she’d said, “It doesn’t matter now. He didn’t want to be with us enough to stay.”

All that bitterness can’t hide the fact that when my father left, he apparently took my mother’s heart. She’s spent the rest of her life alone. Except for me. And Evelyn. Although, once Evelyn left home, she didn’t come around much. These days she visits Mama on Saturdays, unless she has something more pressing to do, which is most weeks. Mama annoys her. I suppose I do too. We don’t fit into Evelyn’s shiny, perfect life.

When I first met Everett and told Mama about him, she was skeptical. “A cop?”

I told her how he’d wanted to be a cop since he was a little boy, the same way I always wanted to be a nurse. I gushed about how he told me I was beautiful and how he said he’d been certain about us the first time he saw me. Mama said, “Men will say whatever it takes, Kate. When will you realize that?” But I knew she was wrong about Everett.

I met Everett in the ER. I was treating a patient who was high on coke or meth or God knows what. He was lean and riddled with track marks, his strength coming from whatever drug was flooding his body. I didn’t recognize him as one of our regulars—the ones who showed up like clockwork in search of pain meds. This guy was out of his mind and covered in his own blood from where he’d scratched his thin skin. Another nurse helped me attempt to strap him to the gurney with the Velcro holds, but he was out of his mind and reached for the needle I was about to use to sedate him. Everett was nearby at the desk filling out forms and heard me yell. In just moments, he wrestled the junkie to the ground and held him still as I plunged the needle in. When the man finally collapsed, Everett lifted him back onto the gurney and secured him.

When he turned and looked at me with his green eyes, the same eyes Jenna has, I knew I would marry him. I told him that on our second date. He laughed. I’ve always loved his laugh.

When Everett started at FABSO, he made nearly twice the salary he’d made as a cop. I didn’t need to work any longer. It was our chance. I would stay home and take care of our happy family in our beautiful house in Pine Estates. It was our new start. I thought we belonged there.

When I open the door to Mama’s house, she’s already calling for me. She may be losing her mind, but her hearing hasn’t deteriorated one bit.

“You’re late!” she scolds.

“Sorry, JT had a hard time picking out a shirt to wear today.”

“He’s not a baby! I don’t know why you put up with it.”

I smile at her. No sense taking the bait. “You’re right, Mama.”

“You’ve always been so indecisive. I swear if I didn’t tell you what to do next, you’d stand there like a statue.”

“Good thing you’re so good at telling me what to do,” I mutter as I go to prepare her tea.

Mama wasn’t always like this. When Evelyn and I were little, she was our whole world. She baked homemade cakes for our birthdays, and elaborately decorated them with whatever we were currently obsessing over—Tinker Bell, Barbies, guitars, or, for Evelyn, a computer one year, and the scales of justice the year she announced she was going to be a judge when she grew up.

Mama read to us every night. I remember snuggling into the crook of her arm, even when I was too old to be doing it. Evelyn would be on her other side and our hands would meet on Mama’s flat tummy. I loved the stories with a happy ending, but Evelyn demanded that she read “real books.” She wanted mysteries and thrillers instead of the children’s books Mama picked out at the library. So Mama began to read Nancy Drew, but Evelyn went to the adult aisle and picked out John Grisham, Tom Clancy, and Stephen King. Mama tried to read them to us. She’d come to a part that she felt was too racy for us and she’d hum while she skimmed ahead til she found a more appropriate section before beginning to read again. This drove Evelyn nuts. She’d pout and complain, eventually stomping off. Mama would return the books to the library unread, but it wasn’t long before Evelyn was old enough to have her own library card and checked them out for herself.

In the mornings, Mama would braid our hair, pack our lunches with tiny handwritten notes, and walk us to the bus stop for more years than was appropriate. When Evelyn reached high school, she demanded that Mama stop, but she still followed us with her car and waited to be certain we got on the bus safely.

Now that I’m a mom, I know it couldn’t have been easy raising us alone. As she’s gotten older, she’s gotten difficult. But I put up with her increasing number of quirks because I feel I owe her. Evelyn doesn’t see it that way, but then again Evelyn doesn’t feel she owes anybody anything.

“Here you go.” I hand Mama the bitter Earl Grey tea she likes over-steeped with no sweetener.

“I’ve already missed Phillip,” she says as I help her out the door to the back porch. She spends most mornings there, talking to the birds that frequent her multiple bird feeders.

“Who’s Phillip?” I ask, mostly to make conversation. She loves to talk about the birds.

The look she gives me is just like the one JT gives me when my random “Wow” comes at the wrong time in one of his lengthy soliloquies on his current obsession. “Phillip is the male cardinal who has begun stopping by each morning. He comes over the fence from the southeast. He’s usually here before the chickadees move in and take over the birdbath.”

I look at the crowd of birds fighting over the seed at the feeder. They all look the same to me. “I’ve got to take care of a few things at home after I run JT to school; I’ll be back at lunchtime.”

“Always leaving me!” she complains. “You can’t even spend five minutes with your mother.”

I’d protest, but there’s no point. She sees things the way she needs to see them. Rewriting history is one of her specialties. I’ve been listening to her do it all my life. When Everett and I took the kids to the beach last summer, she said, “Must be nice! I’ve never had a vacation.” Yet, I remember several summers when Mama took Evelyn and me to the same beach we were headed to. Or when I graduated from nursing school, Mama said, “I’ve always said you’d make a fine nurse,” when, in reality, she’d been telling me for years that I could never be a nurse because I was so weak at chemistry. She thought I should have considered something in business—like being a secretary. She’s been spinning her stories of Evelyn’s escapades, my mistakes, and my father’s general louse-likeness for so long, she probably believes them as gospel truth. They are, I suppose, at least to her mind.

I hurry home, hoping JT has finally decided on a shirt for school. We’re going to be late if we have to argue about it.

Excerpt from Practicing Normal by Cara Sue Achterberg. Copyright © 2017 by Cara Sue Achterberg. Reproduced with permission from The Story Plant. All rights reserved.

 
Cara Sue Achterberg

Author Bio:

Cara Sue Achterberg is a writer and blogger who lives in New Freedom, PA with her family and an embarrassing number of animals. Her first novel, I’m Not Her, was a national bestseller, as was her second, Girls’ Weekend. Cara’s nonfiction book, Live Intentionally, is a guide to the organic life filled with ideas, recipes, and inspiration for liv- ing a more intentional life. Cara is a prolific blogger, occasional cowgirl, and busy mom whose essays and articles have been published in numerous anthologies, magazines, and websites. Links to her blogs, news about upcoming publications, and pictures of her foster dogs can be found at CaraWrites.com.

CaraWrites.com | Cara Sue Achterberg on Twitter | Cara Sue Achterberg on Facebook

  My thoughts...

This is a look at the Turner family who are the outside seem like every other family, and really they are pretty much like every other family even with all their faults. The husband is having an affair, the mother is a stay at home caregiver, and the daughter is a 16 yr old truant, their son has Asperger's and doesn't really say much. When a relative makes a decision that will effect each member things get a bit hairy to say the least.

An enjoyable read overall.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.​ ​

Tour Host Participants:

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Wednesday, May 24, 2017

BEFORE WE WERE YOURS by Lisa Wingate



Two families, generations apart, are forever changed by a heartbreaking injustice in this poignant novel, inspired by a true story, for readers of Orphan Train and The Nightingale.

Memphis, 1939. Twelve-year-old Rill Foss and her four younger siblings live a magical life aboard their family's Mississippi River shantyboat. But when their father must rush their mother to the hospital one stormy night, Rill is left in charge--until strangers arrive in force. Wrenched from all that is familiar and thrown into a Tennessee Children's Home Society orphanage, the Foss children are assured that they will soon be returned to their parents--but they quickly realize the dark truth. At the mercy of the facility's cruel director, Rill fights to keep her sisters and brother together in a world of danger and uncertainty.

Aiken, South Carolina, present day. Born into wealth and privilege, Avery Stafford seems to have it all: a successful career as a federal prosecutor, a handsome fiancé, and a lavish wedding on the horizon. But when Avery returns home to help her father weather a health crisis, a chance encounter leaves her with uncomfortable questions and compels her to take a journey through her family's long-hidden history, on a path that will ultimately lead either to devastation or to redemption.

Based on one of America's most notorious real-life scandals--in which Georgia Tann, director of a Memphis-based adoption organization, kidnapped and sold poor children to wealthy families all over the country--Lisa Wingate's riveting, wrenching, and ultimately uplifting tale reminds us how, even though the paths we take can lead to many places, the heart never forgets where we belong.

My thoughts...

Lisa Wingate writes the best books! This story is full of depth, heart wrenching, and made me angry at what was allowed to take place years ago. Five children were left alone while their parents were at the hospital having their sixth child. Suddenly someone swept in and removed the children placing them in an orphanage. The next years of their lives are hard and really touches your heart. I recommend this book and any of Lisa’s others.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

ALABASTER



Maryam is stuck in an abusive marriage, living with her in-laws in a conservative, toxically religious village. A few years back, her father was given a jar of priceless perfume by a dying leper and it seemed as if their fortunes would improve, but then Maryam's father contracted leprosy and was exiled from the village. Maryam and her siblings, Eleazar and Marta, experience the shame and ostracism this brings. The precious jar that was meant to bring them freedom has only brought destruction. But rumors abound concerning a new doctor; perhaps hope is on the horizon...

Alabaster brings a biblical-era Middle Eastern village and its culture to life for modern-day readers.

My thoughts...

A beautifully written story with the best characters, the perfect setting, and informative about the way people lived in that time and area. I loved the twists that came along at just the right times. Fifteen year old Maryam’s life is so sorrowful, her beloved father has a disease and he has been banished from the village, her husband is abusive…women were treated so badly. This is fiction but there were biblical characters that woven into the story. Great book!

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Reclaiming the Lost Art of Biblical Meditation: Find True Peace in Jesus



Do you long to deepen your intimacy with the Lord? To find a sense of soul-steadying peace? To develop emotional strength? Then you will need to pause long enough to be still and know He is God. Trusted Pastor Robert Morgan leads us through a journey into biblical meditation, which, he says, is thinking Scripture—not just reading Scripture or studying Scripture or even thinking about Scripture—but thinking Scripture, contemplating, visualizing, and personifying the precious truths God has given us.

The practice is as easy and portable as your brain, as available as your imagination, as near as your Bible, and the benefits are immediate. As you ponder, picture, and personalize God’s Word, you begin looking at life through His lens, viewing the world from His perspective. And as your thoughts become happier and holier and brighter, so do you.

My thoughts...

The book has lots of information on how to meditate on scripture, the author has had problems with fearful thoughts and finds that by meditating on scripture he overcomes those thoughts and is left with peace. I firmly believe that the word of God can help us get through tough times but without an understanding of the difference of meditating on Gods word vs the world’s interpretation you can get confused. The author does a good job of explaining what true scriptural meditation is. Good information and a guide the reader can use.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

SMALL ADMISSIONS



One admission can change your life...forever.

When ambitious grad student Kate Pearson’s handsome French “almost fiancé” ditches her, she definitely does not roll with the punches, despite the best efforts of family and friends. It seems that nothing will get Kate out of pajamas and back into the world.

Miraculously, one cringe-worthy job interview leads to a position in the admissions department at the revered Hudson Day School. Kate’s instantly thrown into a highly competitive and occasionally absurd culture, where she interviews all types of children: suitable, wildly unsuitable, charming, loathsome, ingratiating, or spoiled beyond all measure. And then there are the Park Avenue parents who refuse to take no for an answer.

As Kate begins to learn there’s no room for self-pity or nonsense during the height of admissions season or life itself, her sister and friends find themselves keeping secrets, dropping bombshells, and arguing with each other about how to keep Kate on her feet. Meanwhile, Kate seems to be doing very nicely, thank you, and is even beginning to find out that her broken heart is very much on the mend. Welcome to the world of Small Admissions.

My thoughts...

Loved this witty, entertaining book. Absolutely loved the harebrained characters and the things they come up with, the things that drive people can be surprising to some and totally familiar to others. The main character, Kate, interviews prospects for admission to private school and these prospects along with their parents can be outrageous and hilarious. Definitely a lighthearted read I would recommend for all ages.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

DREAM VESSEL



Every night 7.2 billion people retreat into the realm of Dreams.

Dreaming is the universal experience.

Dream Vessel is the first-hand account of my attempt to escape God's call and His response to me defection. My experience illustrates how God speaks to "all flesh" through prophecy, dreams and visions.

The excerpts from my personal journals reveal:

• Characteristics of God-given dreams

• Unique qualities of visions

• Mysteries of God's symbolism

• Nature of prophetic gifts

It has always been God's intention to speak to us directly, just as He did in the Garden of Eden. Ours was an intimate relationship. The personal revelations I share will help you discover:

• Your glory

• Your Calling

• God's assignment

We were all designed to receive and interpret the messages of God's divine impartation. The spiritual gifts of prophecy, dreams and visions are to help us recognizes God's plan for our future when it manifest.

My thoughts...

This is pretty much a how to book on keeping a dream journal and interpretation of those dreams. Based on the author’s personal story about how she ran from her calling only to finally embrace it and is interested in teaching others. Whether you believe in prophetic dreams or not depends on how much you can get out of the book.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

ONE GOOD THING



Before you can fix it up, you might have to tear it down...

Embroiled in a battle to regain control of their renovation-turned-reality TV show, Do Over, Maddie, Avery, Nikki, and Kyra find themselves holding tight to the frayed ends of their friendship and relationships.

Maddie must face the realities of dating a rock star once again topping the charts and deal with her hapless ex-husband, while Avery is caught up in family drama even as she attempts to transform a tiny cottage into a home for the newly impoverished heiress who helped bankroll their last renovation. Put on bedrest, a hugely pregnant Nikki can’t quite believe love can last, or trust in her own maternal instinct. And Kyra, who has secretly put Bella Flora at risk in an attempt to salvage Do Over, must decide whether to accept a desperately needed bail out from her son’s famous father that comes with far too many strings attached…

But friendship is made for times like these, to keep each other—and their dreams—from crumbling.

My thoughts...

I have liked all of Wendy’s books and this one doesn’t disappoint me either. She tells a story in such a way that makes you love the characters and wish you were a part of the crowd. The TEN BEACH ROAD series is so so good I don’t ever want it to end. The words flow, the setting is beautiful, and the daily lives of those involved is familiar. These women don’t just sit back and take everything! Love their wit.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Saturday, May 20, 2017

INVITATION by Bill Myers, Frank Peretti, Angela Hunt, and Alton Gansky



In the first cycle of the Harbinger series, four strangers discover they have extraordinary gifts and are brought together to fight a growing darkness. Meet the members of the Harbingers team—each written by an acclaimed author—in four linked episodes! Fast-paced and ongoing, this thrilling suspense collection reads like your favorite TV series.

My thoughts...

Definitely a different type of book than I normally read, I really liked the characters and their interactions and the way the writers brought everyone together in each chapter. The writing styles of the authors fit together so well which made the story flow as though written by one person. The supernatural theme is interesting but just not my favorite genre. If you're into the supernatural you'll enjoy this book.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

LIFE AFTER by Katie Ganshert



On the day of a late spring storm, in Chicago, Autumn Manning boarded an “L” train. A bomb explodes, killing everyone in the train car except for Autumn—the sole survivor. A year has passed and Autumn suffocates under a blanket of what ifs and the pressing desire to bring the victims back to life, every day, if only for her. She doesn’t want their stories to be forgotten. She wants to undo what cannot be undone. An unexpected ally joins her efforts, also seeking answers and trying to find a way to stumble ahead.

But one victim’s husband, Paul Elliott, prays to let the dead—and their secrets—rest in peace, undisturbed and unable to hurt his loved ones. Caught between loss and hope, these restless souls must release the past to embrace a sovereign God.

My thoughts...

Katie is such a good story teller, this is another great book. She really leaves you with an understanding of what the characters are feeling after such a disaster and how one woman's recovery touches the lives of so many and facilitates healing. Not to mention trying to understand why you lived and others didn't.

I was so happy with the way the book ended, how the story was told, and how the relationship between the main characters developed. Very enjoyable.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

FORENSIC FAITH



Christianity has a rich evidential history, yet most of us are ill-prepared to make the case for what we believe. In Forensic Faith, veteran detective J. Warner Wallace teaches us the principles investigators use so we can develop a clear, evidence-based faith. Forensic Faith will help you:

embrace your duty to defend the truth
devise a training strategy to master the evidence for Christianity
learn how to employ the techniques of a detective to discover new insights from God's Word
become a better communicator by learning the skills of professional case makers
Are you ready to start a new journey as a follower of Christ? Are you ready to have greater impact on your culture? Forensic Faith provides you with the strategies and the tools needed to become an effective Christian Case Maker.

My thoughts...

I was excited to see another J. Warner book, this is the third in my collection and it was as good as the previous two. Warner gives us a look into investigating cold cases which highly interests me...lots of insight and information on making the case for Christ. A pleasure to read and an appreciation for what the author has gone through.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

THE GOOD BOOK



The Good Book offers a user-friendly guide to the Bible's biggest ideas.

A chapter from the Bible accompanies each chapter of the book, which helps readers understand the context and content of the Scripture passages in a way that can open the whole Bible.

Designed as a forty-day journey through forty key chapters of the Bible, The Good Book will appeal to those who already love and read the Bible regularly as well as to those who are just beginning their Christian journey.

The Good Book:

-is a great evangelism tool for explaining the major themes of Scripture to those who want to know more about God, Jesus, and the core beliefs of Christianity;

-gives new believers an overview of the Bible and lays a framework to help them understand Scripture passages;
-helps longtime Christians rediscover the basic themes of Scripture and experience these truths in a new way; and
-encourages Scriptural literacy as it pushes readers to read both one chapter of the book and one chapter of the Bible each day for forty days.

The Good Book is great for individuals, and it can also be used by small groups in an eight-week church-wide program or a forty-week journey that focuses on one Bible chapter each week.

My thoughts...

This is a great tool to use as you study the Bible or read it alone. It breaks the bible down to where it's easy to understand what's being said. I like the historical information the author adds as well as the stories he shares. He has highlighted forty chapters and points out how the things that happened years ago are still relevant to us today.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Thursday, May 4, 2017

LOCAL POET



A horrific road accident is just the start of a journey into the dark past of the local poet. Rob doesn't know Laney Grey. But when she deliberately steps out in front of his van and dies on impact, his life will never be the same. The police declare him innocent, but how will he deal with the guilt?

Now Rob is driven to know who she was, why she chose to die, and why he had to be part of her death. To understand her, he must read her poetry. To know her, he must unravel the mysteries of her past. As Laney's dark secret starts to come to light, and Rob's innocence is questioned, he must learn the full truth. But truth comes at a cost. Will Rob be the one who has to pay the price?

My thoughts...

This book is oh so good! What a great storyline, it's one of those you can't wait to finish. Rob is determined to find out all about the woman he hit and killed with his car and why she deliberately stepped in his path. Sometimes it's best to just let things go but for Rob, he couldn't do it. What unwinds is a murder mystery with an ending I wasn't expecting. Kudos to the author...good job.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

'The NKJV Woman's Study Bible'



The Woman's Study Bible poignantly reveals the Word of God to women, inviting them to receive God's truth for balance, hope, and transformation. Special features designed to speak to a woman's heart appear throughout the Bible text, revealing Scripture-based insights about how godly womanhood grows from a woman's identity as a Christ-follower and a child of the Kingdom.

Now with a beautiful full-color redesign, The Woman's Study Bible reflects the contributions of over 80 women from a wide variety of ethnic, denominational, educational, and occupational backgrounds. Since the publication of the first edition of The Woman's Study Bible under the editorial guidance of Dorothy Kelley Patterson and Rhonda Harrington Kelley, this landmark study Bible has sold over 1.5 million copies.

My thoughts...

First off, I love the color design throughout the Bible, the articles that are very informative, the topical index and concordance. This is a great study bible, lots of information along with the scripture makes understanding easy and if you like to dig deeper like I do, there's history, links, and helpful tidbits.

What I didn't especially like about the bible is the cover, I'm not a fan of hard covers but what's inside makes up for it. The large print is perfect, there's still room for notes and prayers. I'm a fan of the NKJV, it's truly a great study bible any woman would enjoy.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

You're invited to receive God's truth for balance, hope, and transformation in the fully revised and redesigned The NKJV Woman's Study Bible. The new edition features a beautiful, full-color redesign and poignantly reveals the Word of God with Scripture insights and the contributions of more than eighty women from a wide variety of ethnic, denominational, educational, and occupational backgrounds. Special features designed to speak to a woman's heart appear throughout the Bible text, revealing Scripture-based insights about how godly womanhood grows from a woman's identity as a Christ-follower and a child of the Kingdom.

This spring, cultivate your heart's spiritual roots and enter to win the Grow in the Word Giveaway!


One grand prize winner will receive:
Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on April 27. The winner will be announced April 28 on the Litfuse blog.

Saturday, April 8, 2017

A FRAGILE HOPE by Cynthia Ruchti



Hope grows when seeds are planted—even in the muddy middle of life.

Josiah Chamberlain’s life’s work revolves around repairing other people’s marriages. When his own is threatened by his wife’s unexplained distance, and then threatened further when she’s unexpectedly plunged into an unending fog, Josiah finds his expertise, quick wit and clever quips are no match for a relationship that is clearly broken.

Feeling betrayed, confused, and ill-equipped for a crisis this crippling, he reexamines everything he knows about the fragility of hope and the strength of his faith and love. Love seems to have failed him. Will what’s left of his faith fail him, too? Or will it be the one thing that holds him together and sears through the impenetrable wall that separates them?

My thoughts...

The title is perfect for this book, hope can be fragile...one of the hardest things to hold on to. The people that surround Josiah certainly teach him this truth as they endure their own struggles. Spending your days and nights in an ICU waiting room you meet others going through similar emotions. Though they're similar each one is unique, Josiah learned his wife was leaving him, she was pregnant, and that the babys father was killed, all on the night of the accident. Being in a relationship where communication is poor can lead to very wrong impressions...Josiah was very wrong in his thinking. Though it takes time for him to learn the truth he puts himself through unnecessary agony as well as hurt those who love him.

There's heartbreaking loss during this time which turns him to God and as he begins to understand what really happened and where things went wrong he untimately starts to become a better person. There's tears and unepected surprises throughout this beautiful story. Another awesome book by one of my favorite authors.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

HOME by Ginny Yttrup



Melanie runs away. From conflict. From pain. From reality.

When novelist Melanie Vander faces a looming deadline, she decides it’s time for an escape to an inspiring, novel-worthy locale. She’s not running away. Really. She just needs time to focus. But as she disappears into her writing, she encounters a man whose tenderness leaves her reeling. Engaging and wise, psychologist Elliot Hammond tempts Melanie to question everything, including her marriage.

But that’s ridiculous. Dr. Hammond isn’t even…real.

Melanie’s husband, Craig, has his own problems, including a recession that’s threatening his business. Waning finances, a looming home foreclosure, and a wife who’s checked out emotionally, has Craig feeling as though he’s carrying his burdens alone. When his client, the beautiful and single Serena Buchanan, offers him a solution to his financial woes, he’s tempted by more than her offer of a business solution.

At a crossroads, Melanie and Craig seem headed in opposite directions.

As Melanie runs away from her problems by escaping into her own fictional world, Craig dives into his struggles, seeking God for strength and healing for his marriage. Ultimately, Melanie must choose whether she’ll check out completely, or allow her characters to lead her home.

My thoughts...

As I followed the lives of the four main characters I experienced waves of emotions, each one going through their own struggles just like each of us. I got to know and understand the people in HOME and often thought that I wouldn't mind having neighbors like Jill and Marcos or Craig and Melanie. Their friendships were strong...stronger than Craig & Melanie's marriage it seemed. Craig didn't think he was to blame for anything that had gone wrong with his and Melanie's relationship...she, on the other hand, was tired of being alone even when they were together in the same house. Ginny really hits the nail on the head with how men and women view things differently...relationship is what it's all about. Relationship with our Lord and with each other. If only that word was truly understood it would make a difference in each of us.

Ginny's books always leave me thinking about what truths I've learned from reading them and how I can apply those truths in my own life. I haven't read a book of hers that I didn't like.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.