Becoming a Warrior

I was excited to receive the book, The Way of the Warrior: An Ancient Path to Inner Peace by Erwin McManus.  I was intrigued by the title, as I appreciate the warrior mentality.  Yet, this was not what I expected.  McManus’ thesis is that one must become a warrior to attain inner peace.  Without this peace, we are devoid of real spiritual power.

Peace does not come naturally, but is something one must fight for.  As Paul states, he fought the good fight . . . which is life.  It is a fight for peace.  McManus believes without inner peace, we will never have world peace.  And so many are struggling with the attainment of peace within themselves.

A warrior, then is one who becomes a servant, as Jesus was a servant.  A servant, a warrior, a person at peace within themselves does not seek attention, but works / fights for the ability to draw closer and have a tight connection to God.

The book was an encouraging book.  At times a how to book, and at times it was a book encouraging to be the person God has uniquely called me to become.

He encourages the reader ~
“Never forget who you are.
You are a warrior of light.  Do not fear the darkness.
You are a warrior of hope.  Do not fear despair.
You are a warrior of faith.  Do not fear uncertainty.
You are a warrior of love.  Do not fear hate.
You are a warrior of peace.  Do not fear the war within.
This is the fight of your life.  This is the fight for your life.  This is the way of the warrior.”

I would recommend this book.  It is easy to read, yet filled with great nuggets of encouragement.

I received this book from Waterbrook Press in exchange for a honest review.

Simple Discipleship

In his book, Simple Discipleship: Grow Your Faith, Transform Your Community, by Dana Allin obviously focuses on discipleship.  Discipleship is not necessarily easy, since its road is one that takes us on a journey with many ups and downs.  Without discipleship we are lost.  And in many respects that’s where the state of the church is at the present time.

I appreciated that in each book there is an assessment tool, a test you take on line which helps you to better understand yourself.  There is a hidden code on the back cover of the book.  I believe this helps each person better understand themselves and how they relate to Christ and which areas they need to focus on so they can be a better disciple of Christ. 

We make this process way too complicated.  It should not be, but because of the unknown, we tend to shy away from growing in discipleship, which is simply growing in Christ as a follower.  Allin attempts to lay out goals for each person, with 3 separate appendicies at the end of the book.

The book was easy to read and follow, which is helpful.  The book is designed for followers of all shapes, sizes and varieties.  Overall, this would be a good book for a group to work through together.

I received this book from Tyndale Blog Network in exchange for an honest review.

Sequin Sparkle and Change Bible!

The Sequin Sparkle and Change Bible is sure to be a hit with girls! This fabulous material is on everything from pillows to T-shirts. The "mermaid" sequins change color right before your eyes. Girls will love the design and will want to carry the Sparkle and Change Bibles with them everywhere!

This Sequin Sparkle and Change Bible features rainbow sequins that change color depending on which way your child swipes. It’s double the fun! It’s perfect for kids ages 6 to 10 to take to Sunday school, read with the family, or study on their own.

The ICB, the first Bible translation created specifically for children, is easy for children to read and understand with a third-grade reading level and is typeset in a large, readable font.  The Bible text is set in ten-point type, with bold in-text subject heads that help kids easily find the passages they are looking for. Also included are boldface words that correspond with a dictionary and concordance entry to explain word definitions. A great new feature in this updated setting is more than 300 key verses that are highlighted throughout the Bible for kids to read and learn. The beautifully illustrated insert pages are in a style that children love and will delight their imaginations, including topics such as:

• A Bible timeline
• A presentation page
• A place to keep favorite Bible verses
• Bible maps
• Articles on topics such as how Jesus loves them, knowing Jesus better, and how to pray, etc.

Your young girls will love this Bible.  If they are into rainbows or coloring and want to read a Bible which seems "fully alive" and shouldn't a Bible appear that way!!  Since the Bible is fully alive?!  It really is easy to read and the font is a good size as well at just under a 9 point font, but seems bigger than that.

Your girl will love her Sequin Sparkle and Change Bible!

Details about this Bible are ~ 

• Age Range: 6 - 10 years
• Grade Level: 1 - 5
• Hardcover: 1312 pages

I received this Bible from Booklookbloggers in exchange for an honest review.

Non-Traditional Catholic Bible

This Bible is amazing!  Yes, I'm a Baptist Pastor, but this is a Bible I would read, or would be great for presents for Christmas for someone who wants to read the Bible and is creative.  There is a great deal of richness to this Bible.  While the NLT is not my preferred Bible, it still is rich with meaning for who God is, and the story about Jesus.

Introducing Tyndale’s newest addition to the bestselling
Inspire line, and the first ― and only ― Catholic coloring Bible. The Inspire Catholic Bible features over 450 beautiful Scripture line-art illustrations to color plus two-inch-wide lightly ruled margins with extra space to write notes and reflections or to draw and create original art. Inspire’s generous 8.65-point font is larger and more readable than most other journaling Bible fonts, and the high-quality white Bible paper is great for colorers and creative Bible journalers of all skill levels.

Inspire Catholic Bible’s New Living Translation text has been approved by the Catholic Church for personal reading and features the official Imprimatur. The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, communicates God’s Word powerfully to all who read it, and Inspire is a wonderful legacy Bible for readers to record their faith journey.

This Bible is amazing!  Yes, I'm a Baptist Pastor, but this is a Bible I would read, or would be great for presents for Christmas for someone who wants to read the Bible and is creative.  There is a great deal of richness to this Bible.  While the NLT is not my preferred Bible, it still is rich with meaning for who God is, and the story about Jesus.

I would highly recommend this Bible for all this interested in a nontraditional Catholic Bible.

I received this Bible from Tyndale Press in exchange for an honest review.

Spiritual Friendships

Becoming Gertrude: How our Friendships Shape Our Faith, is written by Janice Peterson.  When I received this book, I did not realize Janice is the spouse of Eugene Peterson.  He greatly influenced me as a pastor, and I greatly appreciated reading this book. 

Becoming Gertrude focuses on how we can develop spiritual friendships.  For Janice it started with her neighbor, Gertrude Floyd, who invited her over for some lemonade, and a great friendship developed.  This book is filled with easy to do, practical ideas for reaching out in order to become spiritual friends. 

There are only 5 chapters in this book ~
Caring: Choosing to See Others
Acceptance: Receiving What Is Offered
Service: Caring in Action
Hospitality: Reaching Out and Bringing In
Encouragement: Building Others Up

The actual book is only 119 pages, but is filled with great wisdom, passed on with gentleness and power!

I received this book from Tyndale Press in exchange for an honest review.

Maxwell Leadership Bible!

The NKJV - The Maxwell Leadership Bible: Lessons in Leadership from the Word of God by John Maxwell is an excellent resource tool.  I have the first edition of the Leadership Bible and find this edition to be an excellent update.

Features include ~ 

• Now available in Thomas Nelson’s NKJV Comfort Print® typeface
• Over 120 “Profiles in Leadership” lessons drawn from the people of the Bible
• Hundreds of compelling short articles and notes on mentoring and influence
• A complete reference index to the 21 Laws of Leadership and the 21 Qualities of a Leader
• Easy-to-read 10-point print size

I enjoy reviewing Bibles because I want to see what is out there which can help Christ followers better grow in Christ.  I have been a long time fan of Maxwell's writings.  And in this Bible there are many nuggets of leadership truth available to the reader.

Maxwell takes the "21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader", another of his best-selling leadership concepts and partners it with some of the well known, and not so well known characters throughout Scripture.

Hundreds of compelling short articles and notes on mentoring and influence, and there are over 120 “Profiles in Leadership” lessons drawn from the people of the Bible.

Not only are there positive ways we can do leadership, but he looks at some of the shortcomings we find ourselves in, areas such as pride, envy and a me-only attitude are some examples. 

Overall, this is an excellent Bible.  Do remember, this is not a study Bible.

I received this Bible from Booklookbloggers in exchange for an honest opinion.

Ancient Modern Bible

I was excited to receive the NKJV Ancient - Modern Bible.  I love the idea and the way it is constructed throughout the pages of the Bible.  There are so many extra writings by so many people from the past.  There are so many writers, they are too numerous to mention.

There are also wonderful paintings which are glossy at the end of the book, which adds to the flavor of this Bible.  The Bible also comes with a very sturdy box for giving the Bible away as a gift. 

My only concern is the font size!  The font was really small and surprised me at its size.  It did make for difficult reading for my old eyes.  That was the only potential issue for this Bible.  Otherwise, I would highly recommend this for those who wish to read others commentaries about the scripture.

I received this Bible from Booklook Bloggers in exchange for an honest review.

Becoming a Minimalist!

Last night I finished reading The Minimalist Home: A Room-by-Room Guide to a Decluttered, Refocused Life.  It's an interesting book with a great premise.  Is is possible to declutter our homes so that we may be able to refocus on what our priorities should be?

As you look around your home, is it possible that there is too much clutter in our homes?  Isn't it true that we generally buy a larger home, then fill it up?  So, Becker writes about ways in which we can begin the process of removing the clutter from our lives, which then frees us to focus on what the real priorities should be.

Becker wants to help the reader better define what their vision is for their homes and their families.  To do this, he offers practical advice on how to encourage the family members to begin the process of minimizing. 

He takes us on a room by room journey through the house so that we can better discover what it is we are holding onto.  How many of each item do we really need?  How many old movies do we need to hold onto?  And more.  He includes a minimizing checklist at the end of each chapter.  I will admit, some ideas seemed really great, and others not so great or practical.  But maybe that is my reluctance to let go of some of my "stuff."

He discusses the advantages to being a minimalist before you hit retirement.  He also admits that it has been difficult for some of his children to buy into this as well.  I appreciate his honesty in talking about his family.  Not all family members are going to embrace this.  The key is discussing this in advance and having a plan, rather than going at it willy-nilly.

Overall, this is a great book, an interesting read, which hopefully will help families better focus on what's really important.

I received this book from WaterBrook and Multnomah Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

Learning from Less Than Perfect!

When I ordered Less Than Perfect: Broken Men and Women of the Bible and What We Can Learn From Them, I did not realize this was really more of a devotional book.  I may not have ordered it, but I am glad I did.  Author Ann Spangler looks at 38 different people from the Bible who were not quite perfect and helps us to see some things in each person we can maybe identify with and learn from.

We see people struggling with sin issues of all varieties, we see different personalities, temptations and successes as well.  They help us see a little more of ourselves in some of these biblical characters.

There are 38 chapters averaging about 10 pages or so each.  There are also questions at the end of each chapter / devotional to help you dig a little deeper into your own life.  This may be good for a small group discussion, as you can also pick and choose the characters you wish to study and learn from.

Overall, this is a very good book and I would highly recommend it.  It is a paperback book.

I received this book from booklook bloggers in exchange for an honest review.

You've Got This!

In this devotional from KariAnne Wood, You've Got This! (because God's got you), the author gives us 52 short devotionals which are are meant to encourage the reader.  Wood also has a blog at the following site https://thistlewoodfarms.com.

On the days when life feels a little less than amazing, remember: you’ve got this.  You do. Even when the dinner’s burnt or you missed an important event on the calendar or your hair has suddenly developed a mind of its own. Even when you feel invisible or misunderstood or unwanted.

You’ve got this―because God’s got you. Straight from the heart of popular Thistlewood Farms blogger KariAnne Wood comes this beautiful, pocket-sized, 52-day devotional. Full of warmth and encouragement, each reading holds Scriptural reflections, personal stories, and prayers to remind us that God is always by our side. He loves us when we feel unlovable. He lifts us up and gives us a peace that passes all understanding. And in the midnight of every dark moment, he is there.



This is the perfect gift for anyone who needs a little hope today, You’ve Got This (Because God’s Got You) will give you the inspiration you need to keep going―and to know you’re never alone.

It's an easy to read devotional, short, about 2-3 pages each in this nice hardcover book.

I received this book from Tyndale Press in exchange for an honest review.

A Story about being a Prodigal

Stumbling Toward Wholeness: How the Love of God Changes Us is a raw and unfiltered book which has the potential to change your life forever.  Andrew Bauman has written a book which is based on the story of the Prodigal Son from Luke 15:11-32.  On its own, this is a powerful story, but as Andrew Bauman unpacks it, looking at the older brother, the father and the younger brother, it becomes easy to see ourselves in all of them.

The book helps the reader dig deeper into their own story and learn more about who they are and why they are the way they are.  His hope and expectation is that each reader will see themselves and discover who they are and live a more passionate, God centered, God focused life.

Bauman shares his own story to help the reader better discover and reveal their own longing for wholeness and to experience the power of God’s strength, grace, love and compassion.

I would highly recommend this book.

I received this book from Tyndale Press in exchange for an honest review.

Having an Unshakeable Hope!

I don't have the adult version, this is a Student Edition of Unshakeable Hope: The Promise Book.  It is a paperback devotional / book, which is for youth around grades 8-12, ranging from 12-16 years of age.

The premise of the book is to help youth learn and understand through self exploration about 30 different promises God has made.  In the end, Lucado wants to instill hope to each person through God's promises which will not be broken.  The format for each chapter is the same ~

• There is a cover page which contains a pertinent scripture.
• There are 2 pages of reflections and examples regarding this topic.
• There is 1-2 pages of scripture about this topic.
• There are 4 questions for study and to help the reader dig a little deeper.
• Finally, there is a promise for you to make to God regarding this topic.

Each chapter is 6 pages in length.  The book/devotional is pretty straight forward and easy to read.  Some may say it is not deep enough, but the hope is that it spurs some questions which lead to some discussions in a youth group or at home.

Overall, this is a good book and resource, possibly for a parent to do with a teenager, which may draw them closer to one another and to God.

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

NKJV Spirit Filled Life Bible = Excellent!

Many years ago I purchased the original Spirit Filled Life Bible in the NIV.  This is the 3rd edition and there are many more enhancements which make this a Bible worth purchasing and using on a regular basis.  I would add that this Bible is most likely not for those who are not familiar with the Bible, since this will be more beneficial with word studies.  I also appreciate that this is in the NKJV, the first Spirit Filled Bible I purchased was the NIV.  I prefer the NKJV will over the NIV.

This Bible is a hardcover, but it's not flimsy.  It is sturdy and should last for years.  When you open it it stays open, instead of closing and struggling with it.  It's a great looking and feels good when reading it and using it. 

But more than that, this Bible is so functional, especially for those who are a little more Charasmatic.  Included in this Bible are ~ 

• Over 650 word studies, including more than 100 new ones.
• Kingdom Dynamics which are biblical notes addressed by spirit filled preachers.
• Truth In Action which includes helpful charts for practical application.
• Praying the Word - 192 helps for guided prayers based on Scripture.
• Study notes which helps explain the Scripture.

Overall this is an excellent Bible and a great resource.  I would highly recommend it.

I received this Bible from Booklook bloggers in exchange for an honest review.

Excellent Bible!!

Many years ago I purchased the original Spirit Filled Life Bible in the NIV.  While I liked that one then, this one surpasses it.  Partly, I appreciate the NKJV so much more than the NIV.

This Bible has an amazingly soft feel to the leather.  When you open it it stays open, instead of closing and struggling with it.  The looks and feel are great.

But more than that, this Bible is so functional, especially for those who are a little more Charasmatic.  Included in this Bible are ~ 

Over 650 word studies, including more than 100 new ones.
Kingdom Dynamics which are biblical notes addressed by spirit filled preachers.
Truth In Action which includes helpful charts for practical application.
Praying the Word - 192 helps for guided prayers based on Scripture.
Study notes which helps explain the Scripture.

Overall this is an excellent Bible and a great resource.  I would highly recommend it.

I received this Bible from Booklook bloggers in exchange for an honest review.

Daily Questions!!

I wish I had this book when my boys were younger.  This is a wonderful and powerful way for parents to engage with their children on a daily basis.  In the book, The Daily Question for You and Your Child, there is a daily question to be discussed.  Each page has that question and you write down your child’s answer for the day.  There are spaces for the same question the next year, and then the next year after that.  You have 3 years of answers of what your child thinks and feels about various questions.

The book is for boys or girls.  The questions are generic enough to be asked to either sex.  Some questions are simple and basic. “What was the best part of your day?”  “What is your favorite color?  Or what’s your least favorite chore?”  These are some of the simple questions.  They get deeper as well, “What is inspiring to you?”  “What do you think heaven will be like?”  If you could ask Jesus a question, what would you ask Him?”  “How do you show love to others?”

These would be great questions to ask and talk about.  Not to correct your child, just simply to listen and learn about who your child is.  It’s a great opportunity for bonding as parent and child.  There would be lots of moments where you, the parent could share your story as well. 

This book is more for those who are Christian.  Although there are no scripture verses in the book.  The book is a quality hardcover and should last for years.

I would highly recommend it.  It would be a great gift to your child.

I received this book from Waterbrook Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

God Keeps His Promises!

God Always Keeps His Promises: Unshakeable Hope for Kids was written by Max Lucado, adapted by Tama Fortner, and illustrated by Alessia Trunfio is a wonderful Bible story book for children.  This is really more of a devotional / children's bible story book.  It is designed for children between the ages of 4 - 8.

The devotional Bible story book describes 25 different promises from God to us.  Each chapter is about 8 pages in length, ending with a promise, a prayer and Bible verses.

The book is filled with colorful pages which will engage the children as you read the story to them, or as they read for themselves.

I would highly recommend this book for parents and grandparents.

I received a copy from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for an honest review.

100 Days of Thanks!!

I really appreciated the devotional 100 Days of Thanks. 
This devotional covers 100 different devotions focused on our giving thanks.  Each devotion ranges from 1-2 pages, and ends with a question to consider and a few lines to jot down your thoughts.  There is a scripture to start each devotion.  There's also a Table of Contents, so you can mark the ones which really speak to your heart and soul.  I have really come to appreciate devotionals which do not take so much time, but have meat within them.  This devotion fits that bill perfectly.

It's a hardcover book, with beautiful pictures on every page.  This book would make for a great present for yourself or another person.  It would be a great way to start the day or even to end the day.

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

4 Amish Short Stories

In the book An Amish Family: Four Novellas, author Kathleen Fuller has written four short stories focused on four Amish families.  Each story has it's own plot and are all well written.

They are very nice shorts stories of young Amish men and women who are searching to find happiness and relationships as them move into adulthood. 

The four stories are ~

Building Trust - Grace Miller and Joel King are in love. They’ve dated secretly for the past year and when he proposes marriage, Grace accepts.  But when she tells her parents about the wedding, she’s shocked when her father tells her she can’t marry Joel. 

A Heart Full of Love (also in An Amish Cradle) - Ellie’s mother hasn’t stopped meddling in her personal life since Ellie lost her sight — and she’s taken it up a notch now that Ellie’s pregnant.  When Ellie gives birth to twins, her mother insists on moving in to care for them.  But when her mother’s behavior becomes unbearable, Ellie is forced to take a stand . . . and finally find out why she can’t let go.

Surprised by Love - In a desperate move to evade her match-making mother, Emily Schwartz announces that she’s already seeing someone: Reuben Coblentz. The trouble is, Reuben is barely even a friend.  Seeing how desperate she is, Reuben plays along.  But what happens when the past sneaks up on them?

A Gift for Anne Marie (also in An Amish Second Christmas) - Anne Marie and Nathaniel have been best friends since they were kids. Now things are evolving . . . in ways everyone else predicted long ago.  But when her mother suddenly decides to remarry in another state, Anne Marie’s new chapter with Nathaniel looks doomed to end before it begins.

If you enjoy short stories and Amish stories, then this is a great book to read.

I received this book from Booklookbloggers in exchange for an honest review.

Unwrapping the Bible!!

Too many people do not read the Bible, with basic excuses being the length of the Bible and the fact that they do not understand the Bible.  Well, David Veerman helped with the latter.  In his book, Unwrapping the Bible: Understanding God’s Essential Truths, he is helping the reader to better understand those essential truths (in his opinion) of the Bible.

The book is broken into 7 sections, with 5 chapters in each section.  The 7 sections are

1. Doctrine of God
2. Doctrine of Humanity
3. Doctrine of Revelation
4. Doctrine of Christ
5. Doctrine of Salvation
6. Doctrine of Sanctification
7. Doctrine of the Church

Within each chapter, Veerman has broken it down to work within a study group.  There are 3 sections within each chapter called, Look, Listen and Live.  Listen in the longest section and within those sections there are a number of questions, and at times he does give the answers.

This is a very easy to read, with a larger font as well.  Even though the book is 409 pages long, it should not be intimidating to read.  There are fun facts, and he makes the reading interesting as opposed to sounding like a text book.  The theology is conservative.  This would make for a good introduction to theology for anyone who is wanting to go a little deeper in their understanding of the Christian faith.

I received this book from Tyndale Press in exchange for an honest review.

Powerful Story!

We live in a day and age when being a police officer is not looked upon with esteem.  Every decision is highly scrutinized by those who have no clue about what it takes to accomplish their job.  With that in mind, I was looking forward to reading “13 Days in Ferguson.”  Captain Ronald Johnson tells an amazing story about the 13 days of rioting in Ferguson, MO.  He was the officer assigned with returning this community to a place of peace and hope.

This book is a memoir of the events which happened on a daily basis.  It is a book about the power of Captain Johnson’s faith, courage and strength.  He was continually targeted by everyone regarding every decision he made.  He lost friends, he was viewed as a traitor by other police officers and he was highly criticized. 

He felt he needed to understand what the people were thinking and feeling, so he stepped across the lines to better understand, therefore, to help those who were at the center of the struggle.

This is a very well written, powerful book describing for the first time what was occurring in Ferguson, MO and how one man stood above others, willing to take the heat, in order to restore the peace. 

I highly recommend this book.

I received this book from Tyndale in exchange for an honest review.

Setting Healthy Boundaries

Boundaries For Your Soul: How to Turn Your Overwhelming Thoughts and Feelings into Your Greatest Allies, by Alison Cook and Kimberly Miller is an excellent resource for those who seek to help others and for those who struggle with “negative feelings and thoughts.”

One of our biggest problems is boundary setting and allowing others to invade our hidden boundaries.  This book is written from a Christian perspective on mental and emotional well being and they use what is called an “IFS Model” (Internal Family Systems). 

I found the book to be an excellent resource.  The authors main objective is to help the readers use their emotions / feelings / thoughts in ways which are positive, rather than reject and repress what they are feeling. 

They give stories, quizzes, and move through the 5 Steps to help the reader move forward.  There are many practical suggestions in this book.  There are 3 sections, an introduction, an analysis of the 5 steps, and a more specific way to help those who are struggling with more specific issues, such as, anger, fear and anxiety, sadness, envy and desire, guilt and shame.

Overall, I’m not big on self help books, but I found this to be an excellent resource, easy to read and not overly technical.

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

Devotions for Parents!

Gary Thomas has written a powerful devotion called - - DEVOTIONS FOR SACRED PARENTING.  This is not a how to book.  It is not meant to teach you how to parent, instead, Thomas seeks to help the reader gain a better understanding of God's presence in their lives and how to instill those biblical values into their child's life. 

Yet, in some ways, this is a parenting book, but with wisdom from God.  The book has a bright and colorful cover, which is inviting.  The pages are glossy, and well done.  Each devotion is about 4 pages in length, so they are pretty short and easy to read.  At the end of each chapter, there is a purple box, with questions for reflection.

Overall, this was a very good devotional, which I would highly recommend.

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

Finding Jesus

In her book, Finding the Love of Jesus: From Genesis to Revelation, Elyse Fitzpatrick has written a book in which she looks at the life of Jesus as demonstrated his presence throughout the Bible.  He was present not just in the New Testament.  But she wanted the reader to look into the Old Testament as well to see where Jesus was present.  That is a great idea and thought to accomplish.

This book is only 8 chapters, 152 pages long; and is an easy to read book.  I believe this book was written for women more so than men.  I did not realize that when ordering this book.  I question whether Jesus spoke differently to men as to women?  Is the message of hope and salvation, the same or different?  I suppose it depends on your viewpoint.

That was a little disconcerting, because Jesus has been present throughout the ages, yet there is the wonderment if the message is different for women, due to the era they lived in, versus men, since it was a patriarchal society.

Her hope is that women would experience the power of the love of Jesus and would be able to claim it from the beginning of time.  Yet, I believe there are nuggets throughout the book in which everyone can find value and grow.  There are also questions at the end of each chapter to encourage further growth.

Overall, I would recommend this book!

I received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion.

Devotional - Proverbs!!

10 Minutes in the Word - Proverbs, was a fun and easy to read devotional.  I was not sure what to expect but was thrilled with this little devotional.

The authors were willing to look deep into our lives in just a few short paragrpahs to ask important questions as we read through the book of Proverbs.

The book is designed where you read scripture on your own, then you turn to the book to read a little more about what you've just read.  The devotional expands a little on what you have just read.

Each chapter ends with questions / thoughts and a short prayer.  I would highly recommend this devotional.  It is bright and enticing to read as well.  The pages feel nice to the touch and have a glossy finish to this hardcover devotional.

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

Words and Deeds (Men-must read)

I was excited and not disappointed when I received the book, Words and Deeds: Becoming a Man of Courageous Integrity, by Charles Causey.

Charles Causey speaks with great wisdom and integrity about one of the major issues confronting our society - - becoming men who demonstrate courageous integrity.  This is a crucial book for men to read and I was captivated from the first pages of the book.

Charles Causey was the recipient of the Bronze Star and formerly served at the Pentagon as a Senior Army Chaplain for the chief of chaplains.

His theme is obvious - - men need to become men of integrity, and we show this with our words and deeds.  Our words and deeds must be congruent, otherwise the world will continue to spiral out of control and people will also view men of faith as hypocrites.  The book is clear and to the point.  Yet, easy to follow and understand his excellent points.

This is an excellent book!!  I am also considering using this as a men's bible study.  There is a 6 week Bible Study included which would greatly help.  There is also a 40 question diagnostic assessment in the book to measure your integrity.

I received this book from Tyndale Press through Nav Press in exchange for an honest review.

The Newlywed Kitchen

I was not sure about ordering this book, but thought it would be fun to read and be able to pass on some thoughts to others about being a newlywed, since I was one so long ago.

The author of this book, Our Newlywed Kitchen, Laura Schupp is a mother of three adult children and a grandmother.  She is also a Christian. 

The book was inspired by one of her daughters and she went to work so that other young women would have this as a reference and as a memento of this great occasion.

The book is very Christ centered.  It is based on traditional family values.  So, if this is not where you are at, then most likely you will not find this book appealing or desirable.  For those who prefer tradition, this book is filled with ideas and little treasures.

There are stories, places for prayer, places for recipes and thoughts for a newlywed couple, especially the woman.  The book has a lot of basic information in it.  It assumes the couple is a little clueless when it comes to the kitchen.

She includes menus and recipes and pictures.

The book is a hardcover which should last a long time.  It is tastefully written and would be a nice gift to give a couple.

I received this book from Tyndale Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

Excellent Devotional

Devotionals can be a great aid in our spiritual development, and this devotional from one of my favorite authors is an excellent resource.  Ever Faithful: A 365 Day Devotional is a powerful devotional.  This devotional is comprised of 1 page per day.  Each page shows the date, a scripture passage, the devotional and a thought provoking question for the reader to reflect upon.

The cover is very tasteful and inviting.  This is a hardcover and is very sturdy.  This is not just for men or women, but can be read by anyone.  This would make a great Father's Day gift.  

I would recommend this devotional as it is thought provoking and well done.

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

Loving Others First!

Becky Kopitzke has written an easy to read, yet powerful reminder of how easy it is to get lost in our own world, and forget and lose sight of our call to help others.  In her newest book, Generous Love: Discover the Joy of Living "Others First" she reminds us that in those difficult times God is with us and is calling us to reach out to others and offer them a blessings, since we have been richly blessed by God.

Generous Love is 16 easy to read chapters, averaging about 13 pages, with a section at the end of each chapter called "Let's Dig Deeper" with helps lead the reader to ponder God's call.  Those questions could also be used to help make this book a good resource for a small group setting. 

There are a number of scripture references to help the reader.  Becky's call to each person is to reach their full potential as we seek to live for others before living for ourselves.  This book offers practical examples and stories to help the reader move further in their faith as they draw closer to Christ.






I received this book from Bethany Books in exchange for an honest review.

Becoming a perfect Christian?

Ah, this book is right up my alley.  It’s filled with sarcasm, one of my gifts (LOL)!  This recently released book, How to Be a Perfect Christian: Your Comprehensive Guide to Flawless Spiritual Living, by The Babylon Bee, is filled with fun stories, anecdotes and simply biting sarcasm.

If you are easily offended, don’t read this book.  If you enjoy poking fun at yourself and others, without any malice and want to enjoy an easy to read, funny, yet truthful book, this is for you.  You will recognize many people.  The book is like watching those old celebrity roasts.  There’s silliness, yet truth sprinkled throughout the pages.

The greatest fear is that someone will read this and take it at face value and be totally insulted.  That’s not the purpose.  The purpose is to have a little fun, yet speak truth.

Again, the Babylon Bee seeks to take a humorous look at the quirks of cultural Christianity while subtly challenging the reader to search for more than a cultural faith.

Within the book, the reader should be challenged to see themselves and hopefully be led to change the way they are and become more Christ-like.

I received this book from Multnomah - Watermark in exchange for an honest review.

Excellent Woman's Devotional

Always Enough - Never Too Much: 100 Devotions to Quit Comparing, Stop Hiding, and Start Living Wild and Free, is an excellent devotional.  This devotional has a great design.  It is a FLIP BOOK.  You have to flip the book over to read it.  The front side has the focus "You are Always Enough."  The back side, or flip side has a focus "You are Never Too Much."

It's a great design and a devotional which is like a 2 for 1 devotional.  There are 50 devotionals in each section averaging about 3 pages each.  The devotional was written by Jess Connolly and Hayley Morgan.  Actually, this is a devotional for women.  I never realized it, but it's good enough for anyone who struggles with confidence and wonders if they are good enough.

The book is very encouraging and gives hope when we are struggling with self-confidence and our worthiness.

This would be a great Mother's Day gift or a gift for the woman in your life at any time. 

The cover is great and the pages are in a bright white which makes the words pop off the page.

I would highly recommend this devotional.

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

God's Promises for Grads!

The devotional, God's Promises for Graduates: Class of 2018 - Navy - in imitation leather is a very nice devotional for high school graduates or college graduates.

This book is in a very nice soft leather imitation.  The pages are bright white with blue lettering, and reads very easily.  There are six sections to this devotional ~ 

1. What to do When you Need
2. What to do When you Feel
3. What the Bible has to say About
4. What Jesus Means to you
5. What to do when you are
6. Truth from the Bible About

The book is designed into these sections with chapters below covering a multitude of topics.  There are 198 pages all together.  This would be a great resource for someone who is struggling with life issues or hoping to gain a better understanding of God's role in their lives.

There is also a nice tassel which serves as a book marker.

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

Vines Expository Bible

I was excited to receive The Vines Expository Bible.  This Bible is the NKJV.  It is in a very nice hardcover with a nice dust jacket.  I found the print to appear to be larger than the 10.5 point print.  It was very readable as it is in 2 columns. 

The Vines Expository Bible offers scriptural truth alongside guided explanations of key passages from influential preacher Dr. Jerry Vines. With biblical exposition and practical teaching culled from years of faithful ministry, helpful insights from God’s Word are presented in the warm, pastoral manner Dr. Vines is known for.

Below are some of the excellent features of this Bible ~ 

NKJV paragraph-style text with in-text subject headings

• 200 "Presenting the Message" detailed outlines from Jerry Vines' sermon archive
• 100 "Living the Message" articles with illustrations for living the Christian life
• 200 "Applying the Message" notes that help you see the relevance of Scriptures for your walk with Christ
• 300 "Discerning the Meaning" word studies that illuminate the meaning of key words in Scripture
• 66 Book Introductions
• Topical Index
• Multiple pages of maps
• NKJV Concordance
• 10.5-point print size

• Print Length: 1984 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (March 27, 2018)
• Publication Date: March 27, 2018
• Sold by: HarperCollins Publishing

I would recommend purchasing this Bible if you were not looking for a study Bible.  

I received this Bible from Booklookbloggers in exchange for an honest review.