THE PSALMS AND PROVERBS DEVOTIONAL FOR WOMEN

Women are searching for wisdom beyond themselves, for discernment that makes God’s will and way clear for daily living. No books in Scripture hold more instruction for how to live according to divine wisdom than do Psalms and Proverbs, and these daily devotions mine their riches with choice, seasoned counsel. Blessed will be the woman who pursues this path to wisdom with passion and commitment.

​My thoughts...

Love this devotional, the content fits perfectly into my day leaving me with thoughts to ponder and scripture to read. Love the cover and size as well, it’s overall a beautiful book that will take you through the year with Psalms and Proverbs and the richness of the Word of God. It leaves me feeling encouraged, there’s also room for notes & prayers. It’s definitely my favorite.

I received a copy of this book from B&H Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

IN HIS IMAGE

After first teaching women to go deeper in their study of the Bible in Women of the Word, and then unpacking why our limits are a good thing in light of God’s limitlessness in None Like Him, best-selling author and Bible teacher Jen Wilkin helps readers see what human beings are to be like as they reflect the image of their Creator. In His Image explores 10 attributes of God that Christians are called to reflect—they are called to be holy, loving, just, good, merciful, gracious, faithful, patient, truthful, and wise. This book calls readers to discover the freedom and purpose in becoming all that God made them to be.

​My thoughts...

Another informative and biblically based book on the characteristics of God, a loving, holy, faithful, patient, and merciful Father. What struck me the most is His holiness…if we could just understand what this really means and strive to be holy. This is a big part of Christianity the church is missing. Too often we become too worldly and grieve His heart which should break our hearts. Jen understands how to write the words in a way that is understandable and definitely makes you stop and think about your life. I truly enjoyed this book.

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

THE PRAYER MAP FOR WOMEN

This engaging prayer journal is a fun and creative way for you to more fully experience the power of prayer. Each page features a lovely 2-color design that guides you to write out specific thoughts, ideas, and lists. . .which then creates a specific "map" for you to follow as you talk to God. Each map includes a spot to record the date, so you can look back on your prayers and see how God has worked in your life. The Prayer Map for Women will not only encourage you to spend time talking with God about the things that matter most. . .it will also help you build a healthy spiritual habit of continual prayer for life! ​

​My thoughts...

What don't I love about this prayer journal? I can't think of a thing! From the size to the prompts on each page I love everything about it! Helping keep my thoughts organized and keeping me focused with the perfect space for noting scripture or things God gives me during my prayer time. This journal holds so much yet takes up little space. I knew when I saw it for the first time this was going to be my prayer journal!

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

IF YOU ONLY KNEW

This book is that story. It’s stepping out of shame and insecurity into gospel freedom. It’s letting God turn our failures and frailties into testimonies of His faithfulness. I’ve discovered that when we quit hiding, God gets the glory and we are able to fully embrace not only our relationship with Him, but also with one another. Transparency brings freedom, and in every moment, we'll find that God can absolutely be trusted.

​My thoughts...

I love the way Jamie writes as though she's talking face to face with you, it's a really good book for someone who is experiencing the guilt of past sins and cannot let go. She teaches you how to see yourself as God sees you and that you are forgiven, and how to take a stand against the accusing darts of the enemy. Jesus is enough to wipe away our sins, His sacrifice on the cross removes them as far as the east from the west. If you are feeling the shame of bad choices this is the book for you.

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

THIS I KNOW

We live in a culture of unknowns. Every day, the headlines report news of acts of terror, political upheaval, and grievous sins against others. In our personal world, we may receive unwanted news from the doctor, struggle with wayward children or worry how we’re going to pay the next bill when finances are stretched thin. We want to know the future—to know what is coming—so that somehow we can control the outcome, often leading to needless anxiety and fear.

“The desire to see what lies ahead lives within each of us,” says Laura Dingman, author of the new Bible study, This I Know (Moody Publishers, January 2018). “We wonder. We dream. We anticipate and hope. But at times we also worry. We fret. We fear. All that leads us to want to control events. When we lose our grip on control (which happens quite often since we aren’t really in charge of things), anxiety appears. At times, it clutches us, taking our very breath.”

​My thoughts...
I'm amazed at how good this study is...one of the things I enjoy in a bible study is going deeper and this one fits the bill. Interactive questions, scripture to search, thoughts to keep you focused along with a big helping of prayer kept this so interesting and left me hungry for more. There are 6 weeks of study with daily homework that help you learn to live without fear and anxiety or how to help someone else experiencing those strongholds.

THIS I KNOW reminds us God is with us, He cares about our lives and everything that effects us and most of all He will never leave us.

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

LIES WOMEN BELIEVE STUDY

Satan is the master deceiver; his lies are endless. And the lies Christian women believe are at the root of most of their struggles.

"Many women live under a cloud of personal guilt and condemnation," says Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth. "Many are in bondage to their past. Others are gripped by fear of rejection and a longing for approval. Still others are emotional prisoners."

In this bestseller, Lies Women Believe, Nancy exposes those areas of deception most commonly believed by Christian women—lies about God, sin, priorities, marriage and family, emotions, and more. She then sheds light on how we can be delivered from bondage and set free to walk in God's grace, forgiveness, and abundant life. Nancy offers the most effective weapon to counter and overcome Satan's deceptions: God's truth!

​My thoughts...

Some women beat themselves up over anything and everything. This book educates women on how the enemy twists truth and uses it to degrade & shame. The author also teaches how to discern truth. We need to know the Word of God and fight those lies.

I didn’t care for Eve’s fictionalized diary, that was a big turn off as well as the wifely and parenting advice, DeMoss is neither so I suggest you glean what you can and toss the rest.

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

THE MASTERPIECE

A successful LA artist, Roman Velasco appears to have everything he could possibly want―money, women, fame. Only Grace Moore, his reluctant, newly hired personal assistant, knows how little he truly has. The demons of Roman’s past seem to echo through the halls of his empty mansion and out across his breathtaking Topanga Canyon view. But Grace doesn’t know how her boss secretly wrestles with those demons: by tagging buildings as the Bird, a notorious but unidentified graffiti artist―an alter ego that could destroy his career and land him in prison.

​My thoughts...

A beautiful story that covers so much of what people are experiencing today, full of life & romance & a few tear jerking moments in the midst of their chaotic souls. Written in a way that is so real you forget you’re reading fiction! People deal with problems in different ways, Roman is on his way to destruction. Gripping, and clever with a way out...one that points to the light. One of my favorites.

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

ROOTED by Lara Williams

A six-week study of the book of Ephesians, Rooted digs deep into the transformative power of love. Through reflection and study questions, participants will discover what it means to receive God's love and explore what love looks like in a broken world.

​My thoughts...

I enjoy bible studies and always have one or two going, ROOTED takes 15 minutes a day and is packed with such eye opening and heart warming knowledge about God's love and how He pours it out on us. Written so well and easy to understand Lara adds her insights which are just what I needed to hear so many days. Ephesians is a great book to study and Rooted is the perfect companion.

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

UNHITCHING FROM THE CRAZY TRAIN

You have a picture of how your life should go. We all do. The dream job. Close friendships. Loving, grateful children. A perfect marriage. But more often than not, life doesn’t go according to plan. So we corral and control, determined to make our picture come true. Our emotional, spiritual, and even physical well being are taken for a crazy ride as our very sanity becomes dependent on how closely reality matches our expectations. No wonder we’re exhausted. We’re hitched to the crazy train, and we want to get off. But how?

“Come to Me,” Jesus says, “and I will give you rest.”

Join counselor and teacher Julie Sparkman as she explores Jesus’ gentle yet costly invitation to true rest—rest that is dependent on the finished work of a Savior who will never leave us alone.

​My thoughts...

Julie’s book is one most women can identify with, life gets so hectic we forget there is a way to unhitch from the crazy train this fallen world throws at us. If we trust in God and His plan for us we would see He really does give us peace and life, to stay focused on Him is the way.

There are many treasures in the book that her scripturally sound teaching helps us to see and understand, I can’t say enough good things about it.

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

GOOD NEWS

Everything the Bible has to say about the gospel is simply an exposition of its central message: Jesus Christ lived and died to save sinners. The gospel is about Him, and it answers Jesus’ key question: “Who do you say that I am?” It is good news.

In Good News: The Gospel of Jesus Christ, Dr. John MacArthur examines the Bible’s revelation of Christ and encourages Christians with the vast implications of all that Christ accomplished for them. This is a book to rekindle love and awe for the Savior.



​My thoughts...

It took me a minute to decide how to start this review...Good News is not like anything I've read before. At first, I thought the guy was just dissing on tv preachers and certain religions but when he backed up those comments with scripture I realized the author was correct in calling them false gospels. I then thought about how much the church has changed its beliefs over the years and just how watered down the message of the Good News is becoming.

We must speak the truth to the lost, tell them they are in danger of hell no matter the good they do, there is only one way to Heaven and that's through Jesus Christ. This is one of those books that will stay with you for a long time.

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

DEVOTIONS FOR THE HUNGRY HEART

Shellie Rushing Tomlinson, the Belle of All Things Southern, is back with a devotional guide for the Jesus-hungry heart. Grounded in scripture and offered in the author’s signature storytelling style, this devotional invites you to God's table for a continual feast. With six prominent themes including Sharing, Needing, Celebrating, Praying, Surrendering, and Being Intentional, you'll be challenged and encouraged to develop God-honoring traits in your spiritual life.

​My thoughts...

A small hardcover devotional with a pretty cover I found the author's love of food shown in the pages of the book. Full of personal stories and lots of humor she gives a true to life scenario with a verse of scripture each day, several southern recipes are also included. It's more of an inspirational read. Not exactly my style of devotional but for those who enjoy food as much as the author I think you would enjoy it.

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

EXTRAORDINARY

EXTRAORDINARY tells the amazing story of ultra-marathon runner and college professor David Horton, his wife, Nancy, and their attempt to finish their marriage race well. Although proud of his incredible athletic accomplishments and the impact he has on his students, David's family continuously pays a high price for his years of competitive running. Following his open-heart surgery and irreparable damage to his knees, Nancy is ready for Dave to hang up his racing shoes for good and focus his boundless energy on their family. Instead, feeling called by God to "inspire people one last time," Dave sets off for a 2,900-mile race across America.

​My thoughts...

EXTRAORDINARY is about a college professor who is good at inspiring people and that he does. Setting out for one last race against his wife's wishes doing irreparable damage to his knees, it is a difficult journey.

I enjoyed the wife's story much more and that of her friends, they are such fun, likeable, people who enjoy laughing and encouraging each other (even if it means getting into trouble with the cops). She is more inspiring. To me, there just wasn't much depth in Dave's character and I felt disappointment. He does have stamina and completes the race but not without troubles.

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

Sacred Rest: Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, Restore Your Sanity

Dr. Dalton-Smith shares seven types of rest she has found lacking in the lives of those she encounters in her clinical practice and research-physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, sensory, social, creative-and why a deficiency in any one of these types of rest can have unfavorable effects on your health, happiness, relationships, creativity, and productivity. SACRED REST combines the science of rest, the spirituality of rest, the gifts of rest, and the resulting fruit of rest. It shows rest as something sacred, valuable, and worthy of our respect. By combining scientific research with personal stories, spiritual insight, and practical next steps, SACRED REST gives the weary permission to embrace rest, set boundaries, and seek sanctuary without any guilt, shame, or fear.

​My thoughts...

A very insightful book for anyone but especially those who never seem to slow down. Rest is important for every area of our bodies including mentally and spiritually. I like that the author points out the signs that indicate the need for rest, some of which we've all seen but maybe not recognized and also one thing she brings up is the need for creative rest....never thought about that before. I enjoyed the journey with this book and appreciate what I've taken away from it.

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

A SONG OF HOME

Pearl Spence is finally getting used to life in Michigan. She’s made her peace with the piles of snow that come with winter. She and Ray are making friends and figuring out how to fit in. Pearl has even discovered the library, a place she’d never heard of back in Dust Bowl Oklahoma. In fact, a chair in the stacks, surrounded by books, might be her new favorite place on earth— until she discovers swing dancing.

Now Opal Moon, the family’s hired help and an expert in swing, is teaching Pearl the steps to this new style of dance. The sheer fun of the moves and music is a distraction from the fact that Mama is still missing, too caught up in her own grieving to spare a thought for her family.

When Mama unexpectedly returns, it isn’t a happy occasion. Pearl must decide between forgiveness and bitterness—and when calamity strikes again, there are no easy answers.

Finkbeiner’s portrayal of both tragedy and everyday life in times of great change is charged with a raw beauty that will haunt the reader. Fans of the two prior Pearl Spence novels won’t be disappointed!

​My thoughts...

The third book in the trilogy is so very good. I can't pick just one thing I liked best about the book, it's got everything you could want in a heartfelt story with awesome characters and realistic storyline that tugs at your emotions. A sad story yet delightful and authentic. The sadness and hardness faced can make you stronger and yes, joy does come in the morning. I liked Pearl's character so much, she reminds me of just how much inner strength we have that is unrealized until the depths of the soul are reached. Definitely worth the read!

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