Very Good NKJV Bible

I am always on the lookout for new Bibles which will help me grow as a Christ-follower.  So, I was excited to see this new Bible, the NKJV Word Study Bible: 1,700 key words that will unlock the meaning of the Bible.  On virtually every page there are references to key words in the Bible which help unlock some of the deeper or somewhat hidden meanings of the Bible. 

I have a similar Bible, and found this to be a helpful Bible.  At times, you have to search in other books of the Bible to find the referenced word.  But it was not cumbersome to do this. 

One of the things I appreciated about this Bible was the font and the darker black used throughout.  It made reading through this Bible much easier on my eyes!! 

Included in this Bible is a brief introduction, along with words to watch for throughout that book.  The words of Christ are in red, there is a nice concordance, along with maps and word searches in the back of the Bible.  This is a hardcover Bible which is very nicely done if you are looking for a NKJV Bible, this would be a good choice.

I received this Bible from booklookbloggers.com in exchange for an open and honest review.

The Power of Prayer!

I was excited to receive a copy of Dirty Glory: Go Where Your Best Prayers Take You, by Pete Greig.  This book is a sequel to his earlier excellent book, Red Moon Rising.  He wrote this to help readers, that is, Christians become more passionate about prayer and what can occur when we come together in prayer.

Greig explains he had 4 main purposes in writing this sequel ~

1. Celebrate the INcarnation, the "Word made flesh."
2. The Presence Paradigm.  We experience the power and presence of God, but also community.
3. What it means to be an authentic "House of Prayer."
4. What does it mean to have a life of prayer?

Greig includes a study guide at the end of the book with study questions and Scripture verses to review.  His writing style is conducive to draw the reader into the stories about miracle after miracle which has occurred in his life and within his ministry.  He is the author / founder of the 24 / 7 Prayer movement.

His hope was for the reader to see prayer as an integral part of their daily life.  Prayer is not just something to do because we are supposed to, but it is an event which draws us closer to God and to one another.

If you are seeking a book which is inspiring, filled with 14 different stories, then this is an excellent book to read.

I received this book from Tyndale House Publishers, Nav Press, in exchange for an open and honest review.

Chase your Dreams!

Chase the Lion: If Your Dream Doesn't Scare You, It's Too Small, by Mark Batterson is the sequel to his best selling book, In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day!  Batterson plays off the passage from 2 Samuel 23:20, which says, “And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada…went down and struck down a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen” (ESV). He uses the NLT which uses the term, chased a lion . . .

In some ways, he is retelling some of the story from In a Pit. . . but he adds to it.  This is a book of encouragement.  In some ways, you may be skeptical that this will all work.  If you don't follow your dreams, if your dreams are too small . . . There is that utopian image he portrays.  

Yet, this is a book which focuses on not settling for a less than life.  It's about not accepting mediocrity.  He tells stories about the advent of National Community Church and their coffee house and many of their ministries and the lives of others who have been changed over the years because they caught a vision of hope.  

In the end, this is a very good book, meant to give the reader a vision for something better, to give the reader a sense of purpose and hope, to dream.  

I received this book in exchange for my unbiased and honest opinion from www.bloggingforbooks.com.

A Great 5 Minutes!

I was looking forward to this little devotional by Sheila Walsh, with Sherri Gragg.  The title is 5 Minutes with Jesus: A Fresh Infusion of Joy.  It's pretty obvious what the premise of the book is seeking to accomplish.  

It seems that we live in a world which is devoid of joy.  We have our few happy moments, but there is little joy in the heart and spirit of too many people.  Walsh and Gragg hope that this book can bring, or maybe usher in an extra jolt of joy to your day.

Each chapter is only about 1 1/2 to 2 pages, followed by a section called 5 Minutes in the Word, a listing of scripture verses to read.  

Walsh and Gragg get right to the point with each devotion and seek to remind the reader of the presence of God in their lives, through stories which are touching as well as humorous.  This book / devotion would make a great gift for someone.  She is an encouraging writer who has a great sense of God's presence within her, as she shares with the reader.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Engaging Book to Read!

A Month of Sundays: Striding Towards Spiritual Refreshment One Sunday at a Time by Paula Hartman is a wonderful book which was written to help the reader learn, practice and make spiritual refreshment a reality.  Hartman is a wonderful writer who shares her journey with the reader in a variety of ways, which helps the book remain fresh and engaging.

She recounts stories from her life, as a child, a wife, parent, as she moves in her spiritual journey.  She has a sense of humor which leads the reader to chuckle and identify with her through the stories she shares.  As each chapter concludes she includes a recipe which are very doable.  They are not filled with special ingredients, but everyday ingredients you find in your home. 

It’s a fun, easy to read book which engages the reader and benefits the reader.

I would recommend this book.

I received this book from booklookbloggers.com in exchange for an open and honest review.

Go is a Good Read

Go: Returning Discipleship to the Front Lines of Faith, by Preston Sprinkle is a powerful book seeking to help followers of Christ to engage in discipleship.  Sprinkle refers to a study by the Barna Group focusing on Discipleship which indicated too many Christians are biblically illiterate and not engaged in growing and serving Christ.  He quotes a number of statistics, such as, 52% of church attenders believe the leaders are doing a good job to help them grow, while leaders have a much lower belief in their effectiveness. 

Sprinkle spends a great deal of time discussing issues which are wrong, leading to ineffective methods of discipleship.  He also gives some ideas about how to overcome some of the barriers. 

Go is an easy to read 177 pages.  The book flows well, and would be a good book to read.

I received a review copy from Tyndale Publishing in exchange for an open and honest review.