Book Review:: Redeeming Love

Wow. It's been a long time since I've done a book review! We've had a lot of things going on and it's been hard....

So without further ado, here in a VERY LONG book for you.

The tag line of this book is "A story of love that won't let go - No matter what!" Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers is just that.

Angel was taken by a 'step-father' at a young age and sold into prostration as a young child (Read Chapter 1). Years later she finds herself in California working to live among the men of the gold rush. That is until a man named Michael Hosea steps into her room saying God has told him to marry her and take her away from this. It took multiple attempts, a strong faith in God's will, and an almost deadly beating for Michael to do what he believes God is calling him to do.

He takes Angel away to his farm, nurses her back to health and depends completely on God to grow their love. As her love for Michael grows, Amanda (the name he gave her for her new life) becomes fearful and unworthy. As Gomer does in the the book of Hosea, she runs back to the life she knows only to have Michael retrieve her. Unable to give Michael want she thinks he wants, Amanda runs again. This time, Michael waits for her to return on her own.

Through Biblical truths, promises and faith, this love story becomes a story of the love God has for us as well as the love we can have. A love that forgives, embraces and is never ceasing, never ending.

A modern day Hosea and Gomer.

I'm not much for love stories but this one was good. It wasn't a sappy love story, focusing only on the people. It was all about the love of God and His all-consuming heart for His people. 400+ pages of redemption, faith and the power of God. Francine Rivers wrote a wonderful story.

Disclaimer: I received this book from WaterBrook Multnomah for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Book Review: "Unglued Devotional"

I have wanted this book since I saw it previewed on a mom's group facebook page I follow. So when it came up for review I couldn't wait!!!! The book, Unglued: Making Wise Choises in the Midst of Raw Emotions by Lysa TerKeurst, didn't interest me, but the devotional I wanted. I was going to order when I finished the devotional/prayer book I started before it was released but I was very happy to see it come up.

I'm very glad I got it. And I want to read it again when I have the time to do one each day. We have a deadline to do these reviews so I didn't get a chance to do it for the 60 days. I did it more in two days. I definitely want to spend the time reflecting on each day.

"For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you,

 Do not fear, I will help you."

Isaiah 41:13

In the midst of chaos, out of control emotions, and prayers being cried out for relief, God is there, ready to help. TerKeurst reminds us that it doesn't matter what's going on in your life, what you're feeling, what you're struggling with, God is always bigger. With His unending grace, He can reign in your life, everything, and glue it back together. 

For 60 days TerKeurst addresses areas of "imperfect progress". Imperfect progress meaning that you will slip again, you will fall back, but with God, you can keep progressing, keep going forward. 

The author provides a scripture verse to claim each day and a simple idea how to put it into practice in your life. A quick prayer and love poured out from being in the same situation. Sometimes, when you're completely unglued, that's all you need. Someone to show you that God's love is all you need.

Disclaimer:  I received this book from booksneeze.com for this review. All opinions expressed are my own. 

Book Review:: At the Feet of Jesus

"Jesus simply didn't want Martha to be so caught up in the Kitchen Service for Him that she missed out on the joy of Living Room Intimacy with Him" 

How often do we find ourselves working on "something" for God? Get so wrapped up in the calling that you miss the Caller? In At the Feet of Jesus Joanna Weaver takes a whole year to get your heart back to being with Jesus. In this devotional, Weaver takes excerpts from a few of her best selling books (Having A Mary's Heart in a Martha World for example)  and turns them into a devotional to challenge the heart and mind, bring us back into a relationship with God that we all deep down desire. 

We don't have to do anything to get there: "The only requirement for a deeper relationship with God is showing up with an open heart and ready to receive." Weaver also includes a few Going Deeper areas as well as questions at the end of each day to really hone in on getting our hearts back into the God we are serving. 

"The cross did more than pay for my sins; it set me free from the bondage of the 'shoulds' and 'if onlys' and 'what might have beens.' And Jesus's words to Martha are the words He wants to speak to your heart and mine: 'you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed (Luke 10:41-42)

The 'one thing' is not found in doing more.

It's found by sitting at His feet." (pg 4)

I didn't get to take the time to do this as intended and maybe if I did it would have been more for me. This wasn't at all what I was expecting. It's just a reworking of her other books into a devotional. She pulled apart some good books to make a years worth of separate daily readings. I feel, in doing that, she took away from the the power of her other books, especially Having a Mary's Heart in a Martha World. It seemed choppy and the flow was lacking. Don't get me wrong, her message is an important lesson we all need to learn. But you can get it with more passion and power in her other books.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah for this review. All opinions expressed are my own. 

Book Review:: Dirty God

"The Bible teaches us that God 'demonstrates his own love for us' (Romans 5:8) in how he came to us in Jesus. He didn't expect us to climb up to him. He climbed down to us. He got his hands dirty so we could have our hearts cleaned."

In Dirty God, Johnnie Moore gives us a human, humble Jesus who came to give us grace that really can be experienced, felt, and freely given. Jesus wasn't and isn't a well showered, clean shaven, spotless man with nothing to offer but  God who took on man to reach us, to live and eat with the dirtiest of dirty, to love and care for the sickest of the sick, to touch a hardest of hearts, to save the worst of us: "Jesus inaugurated a kind of faith the spirit of which is encapsulated in the words of the great missionary C.T. Studd: 'Some wish to live within the sound/ Of church or chapel bell,/ I want to run a rescue shop/ Within a yard of hell.'"

In part one, Moore gives us a Jesus who we can actually see and touch. A Jesus who we can relate to, accept and know that he was really on earth instead of a god who was aloof, absent and uncaring. He was real. Like you and me. He dressed like us, ate like us, lived like us. He became us for us: "We think of God as far away- like a famous person we admire but don't really know. We kind of keep track of what's happening in his story, but surely he doesn't know much about ours, and if he does, he doesn't care enough to know." He came to bring us grace.

And it can be received, it can be 'gotten'. Moore closes part one with grace. The given grace of God. Grace for us to really grasp and understand. A grace in which God "knows us fully , and he loves us just the same." If we can really, fully comprehend this kind of grace, then we need to share it, spread it, and get our hands dirty.

In part two, Moore extends the grace past you and me. He challenges us to give it.

"God expects us to get our own hands dirty, just as he dirtied his own. He wants to meet us- not in the sanctuary but in the slums. Where hopelessness resides is where the rivers of grace are meant to flow more freely...God's not waiting for us at the alter. He is waiting for us to take the alter to the streets."

If our Dirty God roams the trenches, we need to be willing to live out the love God has shown us. 

"He didn't want his followers to stand out as walking billboards, their t-shirts painted with cliches and bible verses...He imagined our difference as having more substance, a more subversive quality, and greater effectiveness...we should seem different because we are living out what we believe in a way that causes others to wonder what curious belief undergirds our lifestyles."

Are your hands dirty?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This book is a life changer, or a life challenger I should say. It'll challenge your ideas of Jesus, grace and paying grace forward. It'll challenge your actions and thoughts. Moore writes in a way that really brings Jesus and grace from the pedestal to your level, no matter how far down the ladder you think you are. His humor and style are perfect for the committed Christian and one who is seeking this grace and love. 

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from booksneeze.com for this review. All opinions expressed are my own. 

Book Review:: Everything Christmas

Last year I received  Everything Romance just in time for Valentines Day. This year Everything Christmas by David Borden and Tom Winters arrived a few days after Christmas. I enjoyed the fun little facts in the first book and with a growing family eager to celebrate Christmas I was excited to begin this book. Once again the authors provided such fun details about the history of Christmas traditions from around the world.

Do you know the real history of Christmas?

It can be traced back centuries before Christ was born.

WHAT!?

"The twelve days of Christmas, the bright fires, the yule logs, gift giving, carnivals, carolers going from house to house, holiday feasts, even church processions can all be traced back to the early Mesopotamians. These traditions were passed down throughout the known world and were popular in Rome long before the birth of Christ." (pg. 7)

Didn't see that one coming, did you?

I sure didn't!

Throughout the book, Borden and Winter offer recipes for traditional Christmas meals from countries such as England, Portugal, Denmark and Poland as well as some of their activities and plans. You can learn about the history of the Christmas stocking, your favorite Christmas carol, and decorations including the story of the candy cane. Ideas for thoughtful presents for each person in your family, fun activities to do with your children, and suggestions of planning your day so it centers around the true meaning of Christmas (did you know in Poland there is no cooking done on Christmas Day?). 

This is all done in a format of an Advent calendar. Each day you learn a history of Christmas and ideas on how to celebrate that day as the big day draws near.

This year my daughter wasn't old enough to really get into the Advent calendar. It didn't mean that we couldn't as a family but I really want her to know what Christmas is all about. We talk about it like it's nothing, "the true meaning of Christmas" is even recited many times over in the Charlie Brown Christmas special. But do we really know what it means? This little book gave me some ideas on how to make Christmas special and memorable without going overboard. It gave ideas for traditions we can start doing while giving a basis for ones we already do. It also ended on Christmas Eve with the story of the birth of Christ. 

Next year, I plan to prepare our hearts and lives for Christmas so when the day comes, we can celebrate the birthday of our Savor.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah for this review. All opinion expressed are my own. 

Book Review:: Come to the Table

I could not wait to receive this book! Ever since I finished Stand By Me by Neta Jackson I couldn't wait to find out what happened. I knew there had to be more. She just couldn't leave us that way.

Ok, so she could have but I was hoping she wouldn't. I needed to know how things turned out for Rochelle and her parents, how the rest of the summer unfolded for the four friends and, especially, how Kat got involved with the church and her grand ideas about food (not really, but it sounds better than I wanted to know how Kat got involved, also, with Nick. In fact, by the end of this book they are one in the same, so there! :-P)

Jackson didn't disappoint.

Come to the Table chronicles the rest of the summer in Chicago. At the end of the first book Olivia moves out and heads back home while Rochelle and Conny move in. Tension grows are Conny takes a liking to Nick, a very strong liking. One that makes Rochelle view Nick as a possible father for Conny. Meanwhile Conny's dad lashes out at Nick because of the relationship he has with Conny and the uncomfortable view from the outside of apartment living situation (Nick living with three women and a child). Nick begins his internship at SouledOut and must address the issues rising between him and Rochelle and Conny as well as his growing feelings for Kat.

And then there's Kat. She comes to church members with an idea to help the homeless eat more healthy food. Boy does she learn a lot about eating, just plan eating. While developing her ideas, Kat becomes involved with a food pantry and her heart bursts. She sees what the problem really is. Her heart for food becomes a mission at the church. She finds her calling, her purpose. She finds Jesus in the midst. She learns what it means to actually feed and take care of the hurting.

I can't tell you all the goes on in this book, there's just too much. God has promised "that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). This can't be more true for this characters in this book. They find His will for their lives and they flourish.

It's a 'feel good' Romans 8:28 book.

A book that claims the promises of God.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from BookSneeze.com for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Book Review:: The Girl in the Glass

"She took me to the looking glass in my room and stood me in front of it. 'You see that girl in the glass?' she said to me. 'You are the one who will say who she is..'"

Meg has been waiting for her father to take her on a trip to Florence since she was a little girl. Her parents divorced when she was young and left that trip hanging in the balance. Her love and faith in her father keeps her heart yearning for this trip. Promises broken leave her empty banking her heart on other people. Through various events orchestrated by her father land her feet on Florence soil. Friends and coworkers scoop her up when he, once again, fails to show. Meg comes to learn more about herself in the week she spends with people she's only seen on the computer screen while divulging in Florence beauty. Meg learns to hear what the past has to say. She learns who she is, with or without her father. She learns to let go of broken promises from the man she loves immensely regardless of what he does or does not do. 

This was one book I could not wait to finish! I hated putting it down. I just had to know if she ever makes it to Florence, what she does there, how the quiet love story plays out, how she discovers the truth about everything. And, of course, I now want more than ever to visit Italy and see what she saw. Sofia tells Meg that you can't ever take or leave Florence, she just goes with you. Yes, yes it does, even through the pages of a well written book. 

The only part of this book I didn't understand fully was the intertwining of Nora's story between the chapters of Meg's. Nora lived in Florence in the 1700's and Sofia is writing a book about Nora speaking to her through paintings and statues in modern day Florence. I understand that Susan Meissner probably intended for us to know more about Nora but it just didn't go anywhere with the rest of the book. But it didn't really take away from the book. Just something I didn't follow to tie into the story. 

Check out more about The Girl in the Glass.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Waterbrook Multnomah for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Book Review:: Grieving God's Way

This book had been an option for me for a while to review and I had just scanned over it to get to the other books. But due to recent events in our lives I thought now was a good time to finally pick the book that had been staring me in the face.

I'm glad I did.

Margaret Brownley had suffered her own loss three years before penning Grieving God's Way. This is not only a helpful book for people deep in loss but it is also a personal journey for her.

Brownley takes you through 90 days of grief. 90 days to allow God to bring you out of the darkness into His light. 90 days to see the promises of healing and hope from God through the tears of searing loss.

Right from day one she acknowledges the pain and the grief as physical. Not many people will do that. Then she addressed the soul, heart and spirit. She takes the whole person and works toward healing with God.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"

Phil 4:13

I can't say how helpful this book will be for you. If you're hurting from a present loss or one from years ago, it would be a good book to get ahold of. Just try it, you may be surprised how much it could help. I really like how Brownley addressees the entire person not just the emotional side of loss and I think that's what helps the most. She recognizes this. 

This could be a healing journey for you.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from booksneeze.com for this review. All opinions expressed are my own. 

Book Review:: A Wreath of Snow

This was my first Liz Curtis Higgins historical fiction read. I recently read The Girl's Still Got It and really enjoyed it. I honestly didn't put the author and books together until I got all my resources together for this book review. Oops.

Not that it's a bad thing though.

I just had no idea she did historical fiction (I love historical fiction). I only know her from her Bible/Devotional works (Bad Girls of the Bible ring a bell?).

She did a fantastic job with this book as well.

I am not normally into romance/love stories. I find them predictable and all the same. And I still said she did a fantastic job. Even though I saw it coming I couldn't figure out how it was going to work out! This never happens for me with this sort of thing.

It is a well written, quick read. Quite an enjoyable way to start off the holiday season that is just around the corner.

A Wreath of Snow  tells the love story of a young Scottish teacher, Meg Campbell, and a newspaper writer, Gordon Shaw, in the late 1800's. Yes, a love story. A Christian based loved story. Within this story is a tragedy that left the Campbell family in ruins and Gordon Shaw shamed. A freak Christmas Eve storm slams Meg and Gordon together. Meg bares her soul to Gordon as they walk back to the train station in the dark, cold night. Gordon, in turn, lies to her then comes clean. Some how, against Meg's pleading, Gordon ends up back the Campbell house under false pretenses to wait out the storm so he can return home by train in the morning. During his stay God opens up the door for him to be truthful. A whirlwind of events happen. Healing happens. And, yep, love happens.

Read the first chapter here.
Or view a video here.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Book Review:: Grace

Do you know the definition of grace?

Do you know what it means to give or receive grace?

Do you know grace?

We all think we do. It's just something we talk about and use regularly. We say grace before meals. We use it as a name. We sing it in just about every song in church. But do we really know grace?

In his book, Grace, Max Lucado talks grace in a way you've never experienced. The grace you thought you knew will be defined in a life changing way. 

"My child, I want you in My new kingdom. I have swore away your offenses like the morning clogs, your sins like the morning mist. I have redeemed you. The transaction is sealed: the matter is settled. I, God, have made My choice. I choose you to be part of My forever family."

How wonderful it is to know that God chose you? He wanted you. And His grace to you in never ending. It doesn't matter what you've done, where you come from or what's going on in your life right now. God has grace enough for you. Lucado wants you to understand grace as never before. Fully knowing grace will change your life in ways you've never imagined. There is no fear with God because of His grace: so rest. There is no judgement with God's grace, it covers all: so let go of regrets and hurt. God's all consuming grace can fill your life with joy.

I can't even begin to write a good description of this book.

It. Is. Amazing.

Life. Changing.

Exactly what I needed at this point in my life.

It's written in a way that someone who has never experienced God or grace can be wrapped with both within the first pages. And if you have seen both, it can seep further into your life and heart with simple wording that comes alive.

If you can get your hands on a copy of this book, please do. You won't regret it.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from booksneeze.com for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

A Season For Tending

Cindy Woodsmall is a well known Amish fiction author. She has written numerous series on this subject and is a New York Times Best Seller.

She starts a whole new series with this book: A Season for Tending.

Rhoda is a young Amish woman fighting against her past. She is trying to come to terms with her sister's death, her perceived roll in events and the duty she feels compels her to push against Amish beliefs. Rhoda is a gardener by trade. She grows and cans fruits and vegetables along with various herbs. These herbs and her knowledge of them cause a conflict with members of the Amish order. She is forbidden to use them medicinally after her sister's death. She agrees as long as she can keep them. But she can't fight her instincts to help people, with herbs or otherwise. She has a keene sense of what is going on around her that she just can't help coming to the aid of anyone, Amish or English. This gets her in trouble many times over yet brings forth a beautiful story of following your heart and dreams as well as God's Will even if you must go against those you love the most.

Although this book didn't move as fast as I had hoped it would, I did enjoy the easy read. A bit predictable but a good read none the less. I have read a lot of Beverly Lewis' Amish fiction so I was comparing it all the way through. I feel it is all the same but some variations in plots make it interesting.  It was fun since we live near some of the areas mentioned in this story as well. There's really not much I can say about this book other than if you like Amish fiction pick it up, it's a good, easy read.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from waterbrookmultnomah.com for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Book Review:: The Girl's Still Got It

Oh the joys of summer vacation...relaxing in the sun, reading a book, feet up...yeah right....not with an almost 1 year old. So please forgive the gap in the blog...

Now onto the latest book I finally finished. I've had it for a while.

Ruth has always been a favorite Bible story of mine. Who doesn't enjoy a nice love story full of redemption and 'fate'? Liz Curtis Higgins tells this beautiful story as if you, the reader, are standing with Ruth and Naomi, taking the road back home, coming upon the man she is to marry waiting for her (I mean, really, how much more sweet can the be?) and beginning her life with her new God. The Girl's Still Got It takes you step by step through their journey. Right from the very start Curtis makes the characters come to life, makes you feel present in history, and, above all, makes God come alive on the pages of a book written thousands of years later.  Even after all these years, Ruth and her story still have it. Ruth is still worth something.

If you haven't met Ruth yet I'll give you a little background: She comes from a very pagan nation, marries into Naomi's God-fearing family. Her husband dies, as well as her father in law and brother in law, leaving Naomi and two daughters in law. History will tell you this isn't a good situation. Due to a famine lifting in the Promised Land, Naomi heads home bringing with her Ruth (her other daughter in law did most of us would do and high tailed it home). I can't tell you much more because the hand of God works wonders in Ruth's life. Just know she was not only redeemed in love and family but with God as well.

Even though I wasn't real fond of Curtis' writing style, I still loved the book! As I said previously, Ruth is a favorite (Should I have favorites? Eh, why not!). I did enjoy her taking the characters and making them more real, more touchable, more like me. I felt more involved in the story than just being told again. Curtis took the characters and made them more available, made their feelings and thoughts more real.

But that's not the important part of the book.

Curtis made God silent hand in the story more real. God never speaks in the book of Ruth, in fact He's hardly mentioned. But you know He's there. Because of the way her characters came to life, God comes to life also. You can see Him, now, behind the scenes.

"Our desire as believes isn't to be more like Ruth; it's to be more like Jesus. With each admirable thing Ruth does, we will see the Lord's handiwork...when we read the final page, I hope instead of saying 'wow, what a woman' we'll be saying, 'wow, what a Redeemer!'"

 

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Book Review:: Running for My LIfe

With the Olympics in full swing, it was the perfect time to receive this book. I knew nothing of this runner even though I faithfully watched the 2008 summer Olympics, especially the opening ceremonies, when Lopez Lomong carried the American Flag with pride. I don't remember his story, which I'm sure they talked about at some point during the games. I wish I did. It is a story worth reading. A story of hope and dreams, determination and survival.

In Running For My Life, Lopez Lomong (born Lopepe Lomong in war stricken South Sundan) tells an inspiring story of a six year old boy, ripped from his mothers arms by rebel solders, who grow up in a refugee camp in Kenya and, years later and a dream come true, became an American Olympian. He tells of escaping a rebel camp that turned children into soldiers with three 'angels', being taken to a refugee camp to live off UN scraps on Tuesday and a chicken on holidays. While at the camp, Lomong fell in love with soccer. In order to play he had to run 18 miles everyday. Yes, you read that right: 18 miles. Through God's blessing and mighty hand, Lomong was chosen to come to America through a program for the Lost Boys. He was placed with a family in Syracuse, New York (close to where I grew up!)

"Ten years after the rebel soldiers ripped me out of my mother's arms, I finally had a place to call home." 

He struggled with understanding that someone would actually want him. Who would want a boy with no country, a boy with really no past.

"They were so nice but apparently so clueless. Why would they ever think a lot boy like me belonged in their home."

Though he wanted to play soccer, the cross country coach bribed him with a jacket (yes, a jacket with his name on the back). Many years later, after stating to everyone who would listen since the time he saw Michael Johnson run in the Olympics on a black and white TV in Kenya, he did make it to the Olympics.

We live in American not knowing how blessed we really are, how children long to come here because it is the land of dreams and opportunity. This story proves America is still where dreams can come true. A heart wrenching, inspiring, eye opening read. Definitely one you need to get your hands on, especially during these exciting summer Olympics. And cheer on Lomong as he runs for the USA!

Lomong didn't write this book to show how good he became at running because he, in all seriousness, ran for his life many times but he is also running for the lives of other Lost Boys in Sudan. He travels and back forth, using his athletic standing and status as a platform to share the terror still going on. Visit his website to find out more of what he is doing for the Lost Boys and the Sudan.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from BookSneeze.com for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Book Review:: Monday's with My Old Pastor

This is what you'd call a highlighter book (I struggled against it because I love to pass these books along and I'd rather have the next reader decide what they feel is 'highlighter' worthy). The quotes from this Pastor could cover a wall. If you write them all down, you'd be violating copyright laws! I wish I could give you more quotes but I can't decide which ones to write. The wisdom in this book is beyond comprehension. It's one you'll need to take your time reading, mediating and praying for it to seep into your own life and soul.

Monday's with My Old Pastor chronicles the journey of Jose Luis Navajo through the struggles we all face at some point in our lives. Navajo is a pastor who suffered from the medically diagnosed disease of 'burn out'. He was at a point in his ministry and life where he felt he just couldn't finish, just couldn't go on. He was ready to give up, ready to say this was not what God had called him to do even after many fruitful years. Through the urging of his wife, Navajo schedules a meeting with his aging Pastor. The man who first led him to the ministry. Every Monday, for about 12-13 weeks, the men met. Through stories of personal growth, age old stories fables, and, most of all, a life the bleeds the cross, Navajo comes away with a renewed love for God and His calling. Even in the face of death, the "old Pastor" held the cross in front of him:

"I was born in the shade of the cross. I want to live anchored to it, and may it be the ladder that lifts me up to His presence when my time comes."

I cannot say enough about this book. There is no way I could put into words the wisdom this man held and passed to future generations. There is convictions, hope, tears and pure honesty. I cannot write the thoughts and feels I had while reading this book. They swirl about daily in my mind. They convict. Even if you're not at the point of giving up your faith, you feel like you've lost it already, this book is for you. It doesn't matter how much you know. It doesn't matter if you have the Bible memorized front to back. It doesn't matter how long you've been a Christian, how long you've preached the Word. This book will scream that you can never know enough. 

Soak up this wisdom. True, pure wisdom is hard to find these days. 

How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver.

Proverbs 16:16

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from booksneeze.com for this review. Opinions expressed are my own.

Book Review:: Fearless

FEARLESS

oblivious of dangers or perils or calmly resolute in facing them

bold

unafraid

brave

COURAGEOUS



I cannot remember that last book that made me literally laugh out loud then cry a few pages later. I cannot remember a book that has tested my faith quite like this one. The faith and strength of every person in this book amazes me. How God can weave the lives of the broken into a beautiful love story shouldn't surprise me but it's just wonderful. How God can take a man who hit rock bottom and make him an example of perfect love shouldn't baffle me but it's truly amazing. This is a book you don't want to miss. A story of a man who gave everything. Fearless by Eric Blehm.

It's the legacy of one of our most elite military personnel. It's the faith his family carried through hell and back many times over. It's the peace and healing God brings in the darkest times in our lives. It's a story worth reading.

Adam Brown had a can do attitude since he was little. He never backed down, cared deeply, defended the helpless, and loved like no other. From standing up for a boy with Downs Syndrome to providing shoes to Afghan children, Adam Brown was a hero when he was just doing what he felt in his heart was right. Fearless traces his rise to stardom in high school to his darkest days with drug addiction to redemption through his ultimate sacrifice. Adam became one of the greatest SEALs our nation has ever seen or had the honor of calling one of our own. All through this story his drive is evident. His determination to break free of his addiction. His push to enter the Navy despite his record. He blew through training to reach the top of his class. He would give up himself to protect his teammates during raids. And eventually gave his life for his friends, who he called family, during one of the most difficult and important terrorist raids. And he understood his sacrifice, his ultimate calling.Through all of this his friends and family who are telling his story define him with one word: FEARLESS.

"I'm not afraid of anything that might happen to me on this earth because I know no matter what, nothing can take my spirit away from me..."

Adam Brown wrote these words in a letter to his children that was to be read only if the worst happened. These are the words of faith from a truly fearless man.

Book Review:: 1000 Days

1000 Days by Jonathan Falwell is fantastic. I had seen various reviews on it so I was a little hesitant about ordering it to read. But something kept pointing to me to this book. I had skipped over it the last few times I've chosen books, this time I just couldn't. And I'm so glad! It made me look at the life of Christ is a different way, it pointed out things that I had heard thousands of times but never really picked up on or knew how it would ever apply to me. His 1000 days were just that: 1000 days of ministry to lead us to the cross, to find redemption in His death and eternal life in His resurrection, to show Who He was. But those few days were something bigger, way bigger for us. They are a way for us to become more like Him.

Falwell takes you through the ministry of Christ during his roughly 1000 days of teaching, preaching, healing and loving. It sounds overwhelming but really it's not. (If I could have read it all in one day I would have. Time constraints made me spread it out over a few weeks.) He takes the ministry to a whole new level. Not to level of being too hard to understand or too easy, but one that perfect, one that can explain the happening in our modern terms and lifestyle.

 Falwell explains major events in Christ's life in a way we can apply to our lives not just as something amazing Christ did or said. For example, we all know the story of when Christ entered the temple and read scripture at the very beginning of His ministry. But did you know that the scripture that was read that day was planned years before? As in the leaders of the temple plan out their sermons years before. How amazing it is that Jesus read Isaiah 61?

"A hush probably fell over the room as He rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant beside the table in the center of the room, and sat down...how would He interpret what He just read? He said 'Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing' (Luke 4:21)...Jesus chose that small group in His hometown to announce 'I am the Messiah. I am the One who will do all these things Isaiah wrote about..." (pg 19.)

Falwell also takes you through the storms, the hypocrisy, His radical love, all the way through the cross and resurrection. He shows you ways to mold your life into a way that you could be living Christ's 1000 days, seeking Him, being like Him. 

Disclaimer: I received this book through booksneeze.com for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

"Fearless" Book Trailer by Eric Blehm // Story of SEAL Team SIX Operator...

I cannot wait to get my hands on a copy of this book!

Having a few members of my family in the military, including a brother in law and a cousin who just returned from Afghanistan, this video was hard. Knowing that he didn't come home to the family in the pictures could have been a reality for me.

But please. Take the time to watch this. And grab a copy of the book when it comes out.

The Resolution in Our Home

Res-o-lu-tion

Noun

A firm decision to do or not do something

I debated blogging about this book because it was such a personal journey. Hubby and I did it together and were truly blessed by it. We're now just waiting on our plaques to sign and hang up in our dining room. I have decided to share this with you because we were so incredibly blessed and I highly encourage you (married or single) to do this with your family. Don't take it light hearted though. This is serious stuff. Life altering stuff. Not just to be dabbled in but truly coming before God and allowing Him transform you. 

If you've seen the movie Courageous  you know what I'm talking about when I say Resolution. The men in this movie decide to make a covenant with each other and God to be the best fathers they can, to provide their families with love, and lead their families as God has ordained. They sign it in front of each other, their families and their Pastor. The movie is a call to all men to step up and be men of God. To turning around the failings of society. To become a godly beacon of Light for others to see. It truly is a powerful movie. If you haven't seen, please do. Married or not it will bless you.

Along with the movie there are resources for men and women. The Resolution is just one of them and is the exact one they use in the movie. The devotional takes you through the things that challenge a family the most; being content in whatever circumstances, truly loving your spouse and children, leaving a legacy to point future generations to God are just a few. There is so much to meditate on, talk to God about and allow God to work with. I can't even begin to explain what goes on in your heart while you do this. 

It takes time but worth it. Hubby and I started our journey at the end of February and we're just getting to the end and ready to sign our resolutions. 

Book Review:"I Love You to God and Back"

If you have a little girl (or, I guess, children. Doesn't have to be a little girl) you'll be able to relate to author Amanda Lamb's journey through prayers with her daughter. The lessons learned from a little girl (or child, really) can be so profound. If you don't look and listen, you'll miss it.

Lamb transcribes a years worth of her daughter's prayers. Chloe is incredibly thankful and will thank God for the most minute detail of her day. She thanks God for some of the funniest things but she is so sincere and truly thankful. Lamb does a beautiful job taking the prayers and applying them to her life and yours, the reader, as well. For example, one of the first prayers she recorded was about thanking God for an extra nugget in her meal. Lamb comments on this tidbit by questioning the reader about how busy we/they are that the daily bread is being missed. Simple things, like an extra nugget or washing a car, are being missed, taken for granted.
Lamb also includes some funny comments by Chloe herself. It's amazing how smart this little girl is! The comments are quite humorous but also thought provoking and incredibly true.

Even though this wasn't what I was expecting, I still laughed throughout most of this book. I mean laughed out loud. But also reflected on how I'm missing God's small blessings. Of course I thank Him for the big stuff, the blessings that are hard to miss even when the day flies by with a million things to do. But after reading this book I try very hard to see the smaller blessings, the details God puts in my life for me to see Him more, to trust Him with everything (even the nuggets in my meal!). I guess this whole book is a summation of faith like a child! If only we, adults, could regrasp what this means. Maybe a book like this can get us back to faith that fully rests on God Himself and His daily, little blessings.

You can get this book here.


Disclaimer: I received this book for free through Booksneeze.com for this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Book Review: "Stand By Me"

I have never heard of the Yada Yada prayer group series but after reading this book I'd be really interested in reading the others in this series. This is a great book!

It's a story of two women divided by age, race, lifestyle...just about everything expect their love for Jesus and attending the same church in suburban Chicago; SouledOut. Kathryn Davies, Kat, is a graduation student at a local Christian college and Avis Douglass is a 50 some year old elementary principal who leads worship at SouledOut. Kat and her friends happen upon this church during a cultural expeience class and feel at home (I use 'happen upon' loosely, we all know nothing is 'happened upon'). They decide to stay in the city for the summer, work and attend SouledOut on a weekly basis. Here they meet Avis and her husband Peter. Avis finds herself in the middle of a hard decision. One that requires giving up everything she's used to and depends upon. The two women start off on the wrong foot. Avis thinks Kat is too outspoken yet Kat thinks Avis is a woman of faith who hardly falters. These two personalities weave a story, and intwine their lives in ways they could never imagine.

I don't even know where to start with this book. It's just a cute book. It shows you a woman of faith and her strength through devastation. It shows you how, beneath the surface, everyone is hurting. There is so much going on in this book that I had to reread certain pages to make sure I got everything. The weaving of God in this story is unbelievable. It's proof that nothing happens haphazardly. It shows you how God can test your faith and how, if you are faithful, everything works together for good! It shows the power of prayer. It was just a wonderful book!! Quick, great read.

You can get this book here.
Or here.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free through Booksneese.com for this review. The opinions expressed are my own.