10/2/16 - 365 Pocket Morning Prayers: Strength and Joy to Begin Each Day by David R. Veerman - a book review for Tyndale House Publishers

Each morning when you rise, take a moment to talk with God about the day ahead. Ask Him to prepare your heart so that you can be ready to face any challenge that comes your way. 365 Pocket Morning Prayers can guide this time of life-changing conversation and help you express your needs and concerns to God. Don’t worry about what the day will bring. Instead, release your troubles and concerns into God’s care by reading and meditating on the prayers featured in 365 Pocket Morning Prayers. Begin your day with joyful anticipation, trusting that God is in control of your life and wants only the best for you.

Veerman is the owner of The Livingstone Corp., a company devoted to helping Christians and Christian organizations improve ministry effectiveness. He currently presents Understanding Your Teenager seminars across the country.
 
This leather bound book feels so good in your hands.  It's wonderful to start your morning with a prayer and scripture.  You can use this as your morning devotions or anytime your mind wanders and you need help with prayer.  There is a topical index in the back of the book.  It will also fit in your purse, book bag or briefcase.  The days in the book are numbered and not dated so you can start anytime.  Each day you have a full page prayer with half pages for weekends.  The book cover is beautiful with a palm tree and a few seagulls and it has a ribbon book marker so you won't lose your place.  I'd recommend this pocket, morning prayers to anyone.  It will truly give you strength and joy to begin each day with.

Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review..

10/14/14 - Tyndale House Publishers book review - Abraham by Charles Swindoll

Abraham, one nomad’s amazing journey of faith by Charles Swindoll offers more than just Abraham’s journey, it offers ways to stay in tune to God’s timing.

I found this book to be very interesting even though I was familiar with Abraham’s journey.  Pastor Swindoll adds life to the story.  He includes timelines and tells us the present day area that Abraham and Sarah traveled.  He shows us the bald truth about Abraham’s journey, warts and all.  Abraham, like many of us, gets impatient; at times wanting to run ahead of God.  But one thing for certain, God will do what He says and He will do it when He does.  We can’t rush Him nor can we hide from Him.  Abraham found out that God even hears our subtle untruths, Sarah was kinda Abraham’s sister but utmost, she was his bride.  Pastor Swindoll lays out the ungodliness of Sodom and Gomorrah and their destruction, and why.  We see the looking for a bride for Isaac and the way Ishmael was blessed.  We follow from the time he was Abram to the end of Abraham’s life.

This is a wonderful book that would be interesting for any reader, believer or nonbeliever.

I received this complimentary copy from Tyndale House Publishers.

10/14/14 - Tyndale House Publishers book review - A Robertson Family Christmas By Miss Kay Robertson

A Robertson Family Christmas is a warm, fiction book by Miss Kay.  If you are familiar with the Robertson’s, Duck Dynasty and Duck Commander; you will enjoy this book.

This novella is based on real Robertson family Christmas traditions.  Hunter Clark misses being with his Dad and brother.  He lives with his mother who has entered him into a contest to spend Christmas with the Robertson’s; and he won.  He doesn't even know these people and had to read about them before he leaves Chicago to head to the deep-south of Louisiana.  Korie Robertson opens her home and her heart to this young man that at first doesn't fit in.  Miss Kay teaches him to cook, “The” Duck Commander takes him on a duck hunt and Hunter finds love and the true meaning of Christmas spending time with this crazy bunch.

This is a heart-warming novella that will put you in the Christmas spirit.  Any age will enjoy this story and be blessed.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tyndale House Publishers.

10/13/14 - Bethany House book review - Look and Live: Behold the Soul-Thrilling, Sin-Destroying Glory of Christ by Matt Papa

Look and Live is a very honest, soul-searching book.  Matt Papa has a way of writing that takes you to where he was/is.

Look and Live will bring you back to looking at Jesus and living.  What you spend the most time thinking and worrying about is what you are worshiping.  We've taken our eyes away from God.  Gaze upon the glory of God; He wants to spend time with you.  Look and Live will guide you into the how.  Our lives are so busy, we need to take time out of our busy schedule and Look and Live.

I’d recommend this book to everyone that can read.  We all need to spend more time with God.  Matt Papa is a blessing and he has blessed us with this wonderful book.

I received this book from Bethany House, a part of Baker Publishing Group.

9/16/14 - Book review - A Promise to Protect by Patricia Bradley

A Promise to Protect by Patricia Bradley is a wonderful work of fiction.

Acting Sheriff Ben Logan hasn't been able to get Leigh Somerall out of his head for 10 years.  She contacts him with a strange request, to protect her brother, Tony Jackson.  When Ben catches up with Tony, he as well has an odd request, to protect his sister Leigh.  Leigh has a son, TJ that oddly looks like Ben and even more oddly, at least to Ben, has the same unique blood type.  Leigh has something that someone devious wants; a flash-drive.  They will go to any lengths to get it, putting TJ and Leigh in danger.  Gun-runners, dog-fighters, dreams of Johns Hopkins all things that Ben and Leigh face.  In the end, after God has worked miracles throughout, love wins out.

This is a wonderful book.  I've never read this author before but I will seek out more of her books.

I received this book from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html.

9/2/14 - Tried and True by Mary Connealy WILD AT HEART BOOK ONE

Tried and True is Mary Connealy’s first book in the series Wild at Heart.  This is a whimsical cowboy, romance, comedy truly good book.  The Wilde brothers, um, sisters along with their grumpy Pa are braving the wild Idaho territory as homesteaders. 

Kylie Wilde served in the Civil War and with her service is able to subtract a couple years off her homesteader time.  She’d rather be back east enjoying a more feminine life with bonnets and tea parties.  Her curmudgeon of a father has guilted her and her brothers, uh, sisters into staking a claim on Gage Coulter’s land.  Aaron Masterson, local land agent, finds out Kylie’s secret and changes her stake on the land.  Coulter is not happy about this land claim and wants it back as it has a good source of water for his herd.  Both of the men would like to stake a claim on Kylie’s heart.  Someone wants Kylie off the land for a much different reason. 

This book reads smoothly and the depth of characters is very good.  This is the first book of Mary Connealy’s I’ve read.  I can’t wait until the next episode of the Wilde’s come out.  I’d happily recommend this book to anyone who wants to fall in love with the Wild West.

I received this book from Bethany House Publishers.

8/28/14 - Book review - NIV God's Word for Gardeners Bible Grow Your Faith While Growing Your Garden by Shelley Cramm

This wonderful NIV Bible is for anyone with a green thumb, or those who wish they had a green thumb.

This Bible brings us to the garden with God.  Throughout the scriptures there are references to gardens like the Garden of Eden and also the Garden of Gethsemane.  God planted a heaven on earth garden just for us in the Garden of Eden.  This Bible will take you there with 52 weekly readings or 260 daily readings.  You can have a daily garden inspiration with a devotional and quotes from garden writers.  The 52 weekly readings will take you near the garden with scriptures to read, prayers and devotionals.  It will reveal that it was Father God, not mother earth that brought you too this great garden we live in.  You can also read this Bible and look up scriptures as you would any other Bible. 

Awesome NIV Bible for anyone, especially the gardener in you.

I received this Bible free from the BookLookBloggers.

8/20/14 Book review of: Thou Shall: Freedom to strip away the “nots” and discover what God wants by Jamie Snyder for NetGallery

Thou Shall: Freedom to strip away the “nots” and discover what God wants by Jamie Snyder

This book has caused a paradigm shift in my thinking.  I want to strive to be a sheep and not a goat.  God has called us in The Great Commission to go and do, not sit and watch.

The author, Jamie Snyder, is lead pastor of Lakeside Christian Church in Kentucky.  He holds many more titles; husband, father and most importantly child of God

In this book Pastor Snyder reminds us that our God is not just a Thou Shall Not God but a God of love who loved us so much that he gave his only Son to die for our sins.  We are to see The Ten Commandments as a guardrail and that we shouldn't live in sin avoidance but to live as Jesus would have.  We should, as he says, “put on your fire suit and crash helmet” to be on the move as God wants us.  We should care for people, love our neighbors, that doesn't mean to sit and think about it but actively do something.  We all have someone in our lives that need help in some way, help them.  James calls us to look after orphans and widows in their distress.  Pastor Snyder believes, at this time, that we should include single parents.  One thing I particularly liked, “There is great danger when we begin to feel superior to others because of something as shallow as what we wear or when we look down on others because of what they choose to put on.”

I would recommend this book to everyone!!  This book will change your life, it did mine.

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8/11/14 - A book review of Not Without Laughter by Langston Hughes

This is the first by Langston Hughes that I’ve read.  I haven’t read any of his poetry but this book is full of poetic prose.  The story is about a young black boy, Sandy, that grows up through the pages.  Sandy is raised by his grandmother Aunt Hager until she passes away.  His education in life is then taken over by his Aunt and finally his mother.

If you’ve read Gone with the Wind you will understand the vernacular of how these poor black folk speak.  At first it may be hard to understand but after a while you fo’ shor’ will get it.  I kept thinking throughout the book why it was titled the way it was because there wasn’t much laughter.  Finally I realized that life is what it is; you must keep going, no matter what comes your way.  There is love and hate, Christian and sinner, family and friends and such music and dancing that you feel like you are right on the porch.  The book grew on me as did all the characters.  Don’t expect a climatic ending, there is none.  It’s one of those books that you would like to see more of.  I would like to see where Sandy’s life takes him.  Will he follow in the footsteps of his almost non-existent father or will he remain with this mother and tend to her.

Overall I would recommend this book.  It’s a bit of history of poor black folks in a small Kansas town.  I think I must read some of his poetry.