God loves you far too much to let you linger in a life that’s old,
stale, and filled with worldly pleasures that bring nothing but
short-term satisfaction. This book of daily devotions promises to help
you shed that old life and be remade into a completely new creation.
With each day’s reading, you’ll be blessed with a fresh perspective and a
youthful vigor for pursuing the abundant life God intends for you to
live. This “newness” does not require a self-help program or a to-do
list of projects. God promises the gift of an abundant life—a gift from
his heart to yours. Experience Abundant Life in Jesus every day of the year. You’ll be inspired to live in God’s presence and enjoy the pleasures he so abundantly provides
MY REVIEW:
The first thing I noticed about this book is how completely gorgeous it is on the outside and the inside. The cover is just beautiful with a textured feel to it and what looks like carvings in the leather-like feel cover. Then you open it and have more beauty on the pages. Sweet drawings on each page and then the gorgeous devotions that will completely bless your heart.
This book is written in the "Jesus Calling" style. The devotions are written from the point of view of the Lord speaking to us. Each devotion reminds us of the love God has for us. Each devotion starts with a Scripture and at the end of the devotion there is a prayer to guide us as we pray to God regarding what we've just read. There is also a Scripture index at the back on all the Scriptures that are used in the devotion.
I love this devotion! It really speaks to my heart and I love how it's written. It clearly helps us to understand the Scriptures we're reading and reminds us how important it is to put God first in our life. I also love how it made me feel so loved by the Lord through His Word. I highly recommend this devoion and give it 5 out of 5 stars.
*This book was provided to me for my honest review by Tyndale Publishers
It’s easier to face the day when you know God is with you.
God Is With You Every Day is a brand-new 365-day devotional
from Max Lucado, and his first new devotional since the creation of the
Grace for the Moment® line. Max’s signature reassuring and encouraging
voice, paired with the practical, relevant, and personal message that
God is with you every day, makes a great way to start each day of the
year.
This devotional begins each week with a prayer and scripture,
followed by six days of devotions and scripture for reflection. Weaving
messages of comfort, grace, and encouragement, this book is wonderful
for anyone who wants a fresh infusion of faith to start each day, as
well as those walking through difficult seasons of life such as
loneliness, grief, or change.
You can face each day with courage – because God is with you.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
More than 120 million readers have found inspiration and encouragement
in the writings of Max Lucado. He lives with his wife, Denalyn, and
their mischievous mutt, Andy, in San Antonio, Texas, where he serves the
people of Oak Hills Church.
MY REVIEW:
This is such a wonderful little devotional! Each and every one is uplifting and drew me closer to God.
Each day starts with a Scripture to meditate on and then a wonderful devotion or a prayer. These devotions are taken from Mr. Lucado's books and each and every one is inspiring and points to the fact that the Lord is truly with us. They are especially encouraging and would be a great way to start off your day.
I really like the quality of the paper in this book and how nice it's put together. It just makes the book that much more enjoyable. Another nice thing is the topical index in the back where you can look up a subject that you might need encouragement on and find the devotion for that topic. There is also a Scripture index which lists each Scripture used in this book.
I really like this devotion and it would be a great way to start off he new year! I highly recommend his book and give it 5 out of 5 stars.
*This book was provided to me for my honest review by the BookLook Bloggers program
Can you believe it's almost the end of 2015? It's been an interesting year for me and I've learned a lot about myself and I'm also so thankful for a year without ton's of doctor appointments and surgeries! lol I think I've gotten stronger each day, and although I still have lingering health issues, I'm better and I'm so thankful for this!
I'm working on my plans for 2016. One thing I'm going to be doing is being more consistent here on the blog with personal posts. I missed sharing more often on my blog when I was doing school and I'm so thankful that I'll have more time to devote to my blog.
I'm also working on these worksheets.
These are the PowerSheets by Lara Casey and they are amazing for getting right to the heart of your goals! (You can click on the picture and it will take you to her website where you can learn more about these. I'm not getting anything from this - just sharing something I think is really cool!) They really have opened my eyes to who I am and what I want.
I'm also working on my planners and planning out my days as much as possible. I'll share picture of my planners soon. There is a whole society of us planner girls...who knew? Girls like me who love paper, pens and all that wonderful stuff.
My writing is high on my list of what I want to do in 2016. I am so excited to finally be working on getting my story on paper. I have one thing I'm working on that's almost finished and it's so exciting to work on things I enjoy again. Along with my cross stitch and quilting, I have a full list of things I want to do!
My health is high on his list, too. I have put off taking care of my health for so long and now it's time to take care of myself. My sister has given me encouragement and motivation for this and I'm so thankful. It helps so much to have a person who understands and wants to encourage me!
What are your plans for 2016? Do you plan ahead or make resolutions or goals? Do you have a word for 2016? I don't have one yet...I have done that for the past 2 years and I'm having a hard time figuring out what my word should be this year. I'm praying about it and I know God will guide me in this! It's exciting planning for the future, isn't it?
We had such a lovely Christmas! It was a relaxing day and such a fun day with my family. We had a yummy meal of ham, cheesy potatoes, creamed corn, green beans and dinner rolls. I didn't do a dessert as we had cookies to munch on. As an appetizer, I had a veggie tray and shrimp with cocktail sauce. It was easy but it was great!
I got this for Christmas!
It's an instamatic camera that takes tiny little photos! I also got extra film for it. I'm so thrilled because now I can take little pictures for my journals/planners! They also got me an adorable carrying back for he camera. I have been really wanting one of these little cameras for a long time and it will be so fun to take special photos for my journals.
Here's a pictures of my sons. My youngest is wearing his new Broncos hat he got for Christmas and my oldest is showing the set of books he received.
My hubby got lots of pj's and he was thrilled.
My son insisted that we get him the cookie monster pj bottoms. LOL!
I hope your Christmas was wonderful and that it was fun filled!
For sixty years, a weddingchapel sat silent, waiting for love. But times have changed and the hour has come when it just might be too late.
Retired hall-of-fame football coach Jimmy "Coach" Westbrook never imagined anything would come of his labor of love---the weddingchapel he built for Collette Greer, the woman he fell for back in '49. But now an offer has come to turn the chapel into what it was meant to be---a place for love---and Jimmy sees no reason to hang onto his dream any longer.
Photographer Taylor Branson is trying to make a life for herself in New York. Leaving her hometown of Heart's Bend, Tennessee, she put a lot of things behind her, including her family's abysmal marriage rate. But love surprises her when she falls head-over-heels for Jack Forester, a top ad man. Their whirlwind romance results in an elopement, and a mountain of doubt. Jack, while genuine in his love for Taylor, can never seem to overcome his own demons to find the words of his heart.
When Taylor takes an assignment in Heart's Bend, the job does more than send her back to her hometown, but into a world of family secrets buried beneath the sands of time.
When Taylor's journey intersects with Coach's, they rediscover the heartbeat of their dreams and that the love they long to hold is right in front of them. And worth every waiting moment.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Rachel Hauck is an award-winning, best selling author of critically acclaimed novels such as The Wedding Dress, Love Starts with Elle, and Once Upon A Prince. She also penned the Songbird Novels with multi-platinum recording artist, Sara Evans. Booklist named their novel, Softly and Tenderly, one of 2011 Top Ten Inspirationals. She serves on the Executive Board for American Christian Fiction Writers and is a mentor and book therapist at My Book Therapy, and conference speaker. Rachel lives in central Florida with her husband and pets.
This is a very sweet story of love lost, secrets, and what happens when people manipulate others.
The story goes between different time eras and also between different couples. We read about Jimmy and Collette and their love story of the 1940's-50's and then the love story between Taylor and Jack. All these couples are interconnected as Taylor's great aunt is Collette. They are all thrown together when Taylor is hired to photograph Jimmy's wedding chapel he built completely by hand but never has done anything with.
We learn about what childhood hurts can do to people and their adult relationships. There is so much hurt in Collette's life and Jack's and we see what this does to them as they try to navigate relationships in their adult life. Collette's sister, Peg, has her own painful memories that colors everything she does.
I knew right away what the secret was going to be in these people's life. It was rather obvious. However, it didn't ruin the story for me. I enjoyed very much going on the journey of these people's lives and was intrigued by how the secrets so many held affected generations. It's a good reminder of why secrets within a family is never a good thing.
I enjoyed this story and the complexity of the characters. It held my attention and I grew to really like so many of the people of this story. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.
*This book was provided to me for my honest review by LitFuse Publicity Group
May God bless you and your family on this wonderful day! Remember that your Savior was born on this day...such a blessed day! Merry Christmas, dear friends!!
My goodness. It's been a whirl-wind few months! I'm sure you've noticed the personal posts have been far and few between. There has been a reason for that but I didn't want to really share until I knew how it was all going to go.
I've been in university! I have never been to college and it was a desire of mine to go someday. I decided last Spring that if my health would allow it, I would submit my application and go in the Fall. I submitted my application and was accepted into Liberty University! My major is Biblical/Theological studies and wow - what a ride! I learned so much about myself doing this and, although it was probably too soon after my difficult year to do this, I did really well and I'm very happy about my experience. I took 4 classes (or 12 credits) and I have a 4.0 grade average (which still amazes me - lol) and I was able to keep up with everything.
Here's what I learned about myself.
I'm not as dumb as I always think I am.
I know more about the Bible than I realized.
God is truly calling me to write as I was given so much positive feedback in this area from all my professors.
I have more confidence in myself and my goals.
I'm stronger than I thought.
I'm now taking a break. I'm taking this semester off to rest and to pursue my writing and art. I am so excited about working on these things! When I was in school, there was no time for anything but school work. I read hundreds of pages a week and wrote many essays. Lots of research has to be done and it all takes a lot of time. Add to this the books I read and review and I was constantly reading or writing reports of some type. Of course, I love reading and reviewing books so that was a real treat during all this school work! In future to have this time to pursue these other things is such a blessing and I'm really looking forward to it!
Here's my first little project. I like to make an ornament for my hubby and sons and here's the one I made for my youngest son.
I'm going to stitch his name above the deer. It actually had a little bird sitting on it's head, but I wasn't crazy about it. I like the idea of his name better. This pattern is from a British cross stitch magazine called "Enjoy Cross Stitch". This magazine always comes with a little kit of items to cross stitch and this is one of those projects. I love this magazine and have quite a few of them. The other two ornaments will be from this issue, too. Everything to complete the ornament is there so it makes it so easy peasy! I love the little face on this deer and the other ornaments are just as cute as this one. I'll share pics when I get them stitched.
Our Christmas season has been pretty low key. My oldest son brought home a horrible virus from work and he went through two bouts of it and so did I. He was much sicker than I was but, even so, it was horrible. We do have our tree up but that's about it. All my many decorations won't make it out this year, but that's okay. It's about Jesus and family, for me anyway, so I'm blessed in that area! I pray you are, too!
Most of us have felt it at one time or another: that unexplained prompting in
our hearts to stop and pray for a friend, a loved one, or even a stranger.
Sometimes we are even awakened from a deep sleep with an even deeper need to go
to God in prayer. Where do those urges come from? Are they truly from God? Or
are they merely stray thoughts? And if we respond in prayer, are others' lives
affected at all?
In Called to
Pray, Linda Evans Shepherd shares dozens of inspiring true stories of
people who have heeded God's call to pray and the astonishing results of those
impromptu prayers. Through accounts of people being protected from harm and
rescued from danger, of needs being met and hearts being encouraged, you'll see
that God is involved in an active and dynamic relationship with us--and that we
can be part of his plan to bless others.
If you have ever wondered if prayer has any real
effect or doubted that God communicates with us personally, this heart-stirring
book will amaze, inspire, and equip you to respond to those holy promptings.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Linda Evans Shepherd is an
award-winning author, a popular speaker, and a radio personality. The president
of Right to the Heart Ministries, she is the author of several books,
including When You Don't Know What to
Pray, Experiencing God's Presence,
and The Stress Cure. She and her husband
live in Colorado.
MY REVIEW:
This is such an amazing and inspiring book! It will encourage you to pray more often and in all circumstances!
This book is filled with beautiful stories of extraordinary situations where prayer made a huge difference. Each one is so amazing and you'll be enthralled by them. What's really wonderful is that they will inspire you to pray!
Each one starts off with a Scripture that corresponds with the story. You can see how God's Word is full of promises for each of the circumstances we find ourselves. At the end of the story, the author provides prayers for us. They are really well done and will give you the beginning point of praying your own prayers as an extension of them.
I loved this book! It has made such a difference in my prayer life and my belief. I highly recommend this book and know you will enjoy it. I give it 5 out of 5 stars.
*This book was provided to me for my honest review by Revell Books
Have you
ever wanted a stronger faith--the kind that spills out and changes the world
around you? A faith that stands strong under any trial or pressure? This kind
of faith isn't just for superstar Christians--it's for all of us. The secret is
to fully engage our minds,not just our hearts.
Dynamic
faith means knowing why you believe what you do about all matters of faith,
especially the Bible, God, Jesus, and Salvation. In this woman-to-woman book,
Patty uses real-life stories and examples, including her own experience coming
to Christ after a ten-year search for truth. She reveals how beliefs play an
active role in behavior, in relationships, and in families, and she
demonstrates how you can share and defend your faith to those you love in a
compassionate, relational way.
Loving
God with your heart and mind is the next step to the faith
you've always wanted. Let this book show you how to get there.
MY
REVIEW:
This
book is all about apologetics. This is a very good book about this subject, but
i must say, it does rather read like a text book. The author does try to pull
in some personal observations from her own life, but they are few and far
between and make this book rather more difficult to read.
However, having said this, the book is full of really great information and it
does help us to know how to talk about and share our faith with others. It is a
very Biblical book and all the information is excellent. You will definitely
learn a lot and you will have a clearer understanding of what you believe and
why you believe it.
Be prepared to spend some time really reading this book. It's not quick reading
by any means, but it is important reading. I will be keeping this book on my
shelf to return to again because the information contained within is excellent.
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.
*This book was provided to me for my honest review by Bethany House Publishers
For the first time since their children were born, empty nesters Judith and Stan
Winters spent Thanksgiving without the kids, and it's looking like Christmas
will be the same. Judith can't bring herself to even start decorating for the
holiday; her kids always hung the first ornaments on the tree, ornaments they
had made each year since they were toddlers. Sure, the ornaments were
strange-looking--some were downright ugly--but they were tradition.
With
Judith refusing to decorate the bare spruce tree in their living room, Stan's
only hope for saving the holiday is found in a box of handmade ornaments . .
.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Dan Walsh is the bestselling author of several books, including
The Unfinished Gift and The Restoration Series with Gary Smalley. He
has won three Carol Awards, and three of his novels were finalists for the
RT Book Reviews Inspirational Book of the Year. A member of American
Christian Fiction Writers, Dan served as a pastor for twenty-five years. He
lives with his wife in the Daytona Beach area, where he's busy researching and
writing his next novel. Learn more at www.danwalshbooks.com.
MY REVIEW:
I really enjoyed this book so much. The main characters in this book are near my age and going through a lot of the same things as me, so I could relate to them right away.
Judith has had Thanksgiving without her children and now she finds out that they won't be able to come home for Christmas. This is the first time she has never had at least one of her children at her home to celebrate Christmas. No grandchildren to carry on the traditions of their family and putting all the ornaments on the tree. She is quite sad and doesn't see the point in decorating her home or her tree.
Her husband, Stan, doesn't know what to do to help her. He enlists the help of her friend, Betty, to take her shopping and get her interested in things again. He feels very concerned about her but isn't sure what to do.
I don't want to get into more of the story because I don't want to give away the plot, but I will tell you to have a box of tissues at hand, especially for the ending. I found this book very difficult to put down and read it in two days. It is such a beautiful story, with people I could relate to. The story is touching and sweet and has really stayed with me! Such a great story for curling up with during this Christmas season! I highly recommend this book and give it 5 out of 5 stars.
*This book was provided to me for my honest review by Revell Books
Stormie Omartian tells her compelling story of a childhood marred by physical and emotional abuse that eventually led her into the occult, drugs, and tragic relationships.
Finding herself overwhelmed by fear and on the verge of suicide, she shares the turning point that changed her life and reveals the healing process that brought freedom and wholeness beyond what she ever imagined.
In this poignant drama, there is help and hope for anyone who has been scarred by the past or feels imprisoned by deep emotional needs. It is a glorious story of how God can bring life out of death, life out of darkness.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Stormie Omartian is the best-selling author of The Power of a Praying series with over 32 million books sold worldwide. In high demand as an international speaker, Stormie's passion is to help people know God and love Him in a deep way. A survivor of child abuse, Stormie brings a deep understanding of recovery issues to her work.
MY REVIEW:
I read Stormie's first biography in one day because it was so good and I did this one in two. I love her writing, her story of how God has changed her life story from one of sadness and hopelessness into a life full of joy and grace, though Him. The greatest thing about her is that she shares openly and honestly about her life. I can relate to so much of what she has been through and she gives her reader hope about what God can do in all our lives, if we let Him.
She came from a childhood of abuse from her mother to being a young woman afraid of a lot of things. I'm sure, like, me, many of you can relate to this. An abusive background can sometimes give us so many fears about things. To look at her life from the outside, you would think she had it all together, but only she knew how horribly afraid she was.
The title of this book is perfect because Stormie's really was in despair and darkness. She was dabbling in the occult, being stalked, and living with the memories of abuse by her mother. Then she turned to God and He pulled her out of the darkness into the light. This is a book filled with hope and how God can take our lives and turn them into a thing of beauty. Her story is one of the most inspiring I've ever read!
I love this book and highly recommend it! It's especially great for those of us who have been abused and live with fear. There is a way out of this darkness with God! I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.
*This book was provided to me for my honest review by Harvest House Publishers
Christmas is one of the most important holidays celebrated in most countries around the world, yet the true origin of this special day is often missed. Almost everyone equates Santa Claus and the giving of gifts with Christmas, but what event was the catalyst behind this centuries-old tradition?
This delightfully illustrated children's story is sure to become a tradition for you and your family as the holiday rolls around each year. Christmas is a special time and celebration and one in which we must take time to reflect on what is most important.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Author Soraya Diase Coffelt is a native of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. She is a mother of two sons, lawyer and former judge. She loves children.
Active in her church, she served as a parent volunteer and then a lay minister in the Children's Ministry for over 15 years. She has also participated in mission trips providing food, medicine, clothing and other necessary items to people in need in Honduras and the Amazon River Region of Peru. She frequently helps feed homeless and hungry people in the Virgin Islands and whenever she travels. Her late husband, Gordon, supported her wholeheartedly.
MY REVIEW:
This is another adorable book from Soraya Coffelt! In this book, the child writes to Santa Claus to let him know the true meaning of Christmas. It tells the story of the Christ child, Jesus, and I really love the illustrations in this book.
As it tells the story of Jesus and his birth, it also explains a lot of things like what a manger is and why the wisemen brought the gifts to Jesus that they brought. I really like that this was explained because I'm sure a lot of children wouldn't really understand about these things.
There is a lot of humor in this book, too, as the child talks about the shepherds. I got a chuckle out of several things in this story. It would definitely entertain a child while explaining very well about Jesus.
I love this book. It's easily understood so even the youngest of children could enjoy it. The illustrations are very colorful and add a lot to the story. I also like that she always invites the reader to accept Jesus as their Savior if they haven't done so already. I highly recommend this book and it would be a great book to read on Christmas eve! It's not too late to order one for Christmas so don't wait - you'll enjoy it so much! I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.
*This book was provided to me for my honest review by the author
Lydia's job at the library is her world---until a mysterious patron catches her eye . . . and perhaps her heart.
Just months after the closure of the Chicago World's Fair, librarian Lydia Bancroft finds herself fascinated by a mysterious dark-haired and dark-eyed patron. He has never given her his name; he actually never speaks to a single person. All she knows about him is that he loves books as much as she does.
Only when he rescues her in the lobby of the Hartman Hotel does she discover that his name is Sebastian Marks. She also discovers that he lives at the top of the prestigious hotel and that most everyone in Chicago is intrigued by him.
Lydia and Sebastian form a fragile friendship, but when she discovers that Mr. Marks isn't merely a very wealthy gentleman, but also the proprietor of an infamous saloon and gambling club, she is shocked.
Lydia insists on visiting the club one fateful night and suddenly is a suspect to a murder. She must determine who she can trust, who is innocent, and if Sebastian Marks-the man so many people fear-is actually everything her heart believes him to be.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Shelley Gray is the author of The Heart of a Hero series. Her Amish novel (written as Shelley Shepard Gray), The Protector, recently made the New York Times best seller list. A native of Texas, she earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in Colorado and taught school for ten years. She and her husband have two children and live in Southern Ohio.
This is book three in the Chicago World's Fair Mystery Series and the final of the series. You do not need to have read the other two books to understand what is going on and this book is completely understandable. Of course, this book is so enjoyable, you'll definitely want to read the first two books.
This book is a murder mystery, however, you won't be shocked by anything horrid in the descriptions by the author. I was pleasantly surprised that I never could figure out, until the end, who had committed the murder! This, in my opinion, is the true test of a good mystery! I don't want to figure it all out too quickly!
Lydia is you typical sweet young librarian. She works at the lending library to support herself and her mother after her father dies. I love her tender care when it comes to caring for her mother and how she manages their finances so they can live modestly yet comfortably. I related to Lydia as she seems quiet and reserved and loves books!
Sebastian is a man that comes into her library but he is a complex man. He owns a saloon in the rough part of Chicago and has to manage himself to be tough when he must, yet, when at the library, Lydia sees a different side of him that we see more and more as the book goes on.
This book doesn't hide the fact of the more horrible parts of the big city of Chicago that we see in the late 1800's. It's a book full of twists and turns and will hold your attention late into the night! I know!
This book was so good and the mystery was so excellent. I highly recommend this historical mystery and give it 5 out of 5 stars.
*This book was provided to me for my honest review by LitFuse Publicity Group
This is one of the most beautiful coloring books I've ever seen.
The Time Garden has a very short little story in the front about a little girl whose father brings home an antique clock and she is captivated by it. She realizes that the clock is magical and is transferred to this magical world.
The beautiful thing about this book is the extremely intricate drawings within it. As you can see by the cover, the drawings are detailed and gorgeous. There are flowers, birds, city and country scenes throughout and they are amazing. This is definitely an adult coloring book or one for teenagers as you will need patience to color this in.
This coloring book has a dust cover and is just amazing in every detail. The pictures will take you some time to color but would be very relaxing if you enjoy the smaller details as I do. I am just amazed at the gorgeous pictures throughout this book every time I open it. It's definitely one of the nicest coloring books I've ever seen.
I love this coloring book and give it 5 out of 5 stars.
*This book was provided to me for my honest review by Blogging For Books Program
Clear your schedules January 21–22, 2016, because Focus on the Family and The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission will host Evangelicals for Life, a major pro-life conference held in conjunction with the March for Life event.
The event will take place in Washington, D.C., at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill. Evangelicals from across the country will gather to hear from leading speakers, such as David Platt, Russell Moore, Jim Daly, Kelly Rosati, and others—to be equipped and encouraged to become a voice for life! The event will also be simulcast for FREE so individuals, churches, and organizations from coast-to-coast and around the world can take part.
Speakers will encourage evangelicals to engage the culture on issues of abortion and end-of-life decisions, and the event will affirm the evangelical belief in the sanctity of life, that every life matters to God and is created in His image.
Readers of this blog will receive 15% off their registration by using the code FocusLife.
Russell Moore will be speaking at Evangelicals for Life. He is President of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. He is a theologian, ethicist, frequent cultural commentator, and author of several books. In the guest post below, he speaks to the importance of hosting the conference in the midst of the cultural battle for human dignity.
Why We’re Hosting the Evangelicals For Life Conference
By Russell Moore
As many Christians sat at their computer and watched a casual dinner conversation over the price of dismembered children, a lot of us probably thought: “But what can I do about this?” This is a question I hear often from pro-life evangelicals. Many Christians are utterly convinced in their heart of the personhood and dignity of the unborn, yet don’t know how to faithfully effectively advocate for life.
It’s important to understand that the cultural battle for human dignity doesn’t begin on Capitol Hill or on CNN. It begins in your family, in your local church, and in your neighborhood. In fact, many of the people we know most vulnerable to the abortionist’s rhetoric are not actually pro-choice, they’re just scared, scared to scandalize a church with their secret. The false gospel of the abortion clinic, which says, “We can make all your trouble go away for you,” is overwhelmingly seductive.
What these people need more than a lesson in embryonic development is to have the Gospel preached to their conscience. This means much more than simply offering “The Romans Road” or prompting a sinner’s prayer; it means speaking directly with the message of Jesus’ complete sovereignty of the universe, his righteous indignation on the murder of the unborn, and most importantly, his complete absorption of God’s wrath on the cross, and his invitation to mercy and fellowship and the imputed righteousness of the Son of God.
The Gospel disarms the appeal of the abortion clinic because it offers truth with love, judgment with mercy, and righteousness with grace. The consciences around us don’t believe what they’re telling themselves. They’re scared and confused. Shine a light on their conscience, and then present the Gospel of reconciliation.
Moreover, the pro-life movement has set an example worthy of our imitation when it comes to practical, holistic mercy ministry. For over 40 years since Roe v. Wade, those committed to defending unborn life have done much more than preach and teach; they have welcomed the scared, the vulnerable, and the wounded and loved them. This has looked like the establishment of crisis pregnancy centers all around cities. It has looked like adoption advocacy and building a culture of adoption in local churches. It’s true that our pro-life witness has a long way to go, but we do not, thankfully, conform to the caricature that says we believe life “begins at conception and ends at birth.”
Questions like these are why I am excited to be a part of the Evangelicals For Life Conference in January. This conference exists to help evangelicals articulate a truly Christian doctrine on the dignity of all human life. Being pro-life, after all, means much more than being against abortion on demand; it means believing in the dignity of the elderly and infirm, and advocating for compassion and inclusion of the poor, the orphan, and the widow. No doctrine of human dignity that fails to speak to these cases is fully “pro-life.”
Sometimes Christians are encouraged to leave issues like this behind. Sometimes the fight for human dignity is portrayed as “culture war” baggage. For those of us that watched an executive from Planned Parenthood talk about the most valuable anatomy of dead children, we know this to be false. The stakes for human life and human dignity could not be higher, and the plight of those ignored by the world does not go unnoticed by our heavenly Father.
We have a Gospel word to speak to the abortionist and the unborn, to the orphan and those not considering adoption. Will you join me in Washington, on January 21-22, as we seek to speak this word?
The Sparkle Box is a heartfelt Christmas story that celebrates
the beauty and excitement of the Christmas season, while gently bringing
the true meaning of Christmas into focus through a story that features a
powerful Christmas tradition.
Children and adults of all ages will be captivated by The Sparkle Box and forever changed when they discover the Sparkle Box is a gift that honors Jesus on his birthday.
MY REVIEW:
I love this book!! It's such a beautiful story and emphasizes the true meaning of Christmas and being Christians in the world.
The story is about Sam and his family. They are getting ready for the Christmas season and Sam notices a very shiny silver box on their mantle. He asks his mom what it is? She tells him it's a special gift but they will have to fill it.
The story revolves around this box and what it really means is revealed at the end of the story. I really don't want to share anything else in the story otherwise it will give away the whole story. Suffice to say, you'll be shedding happy tears by the end of the story.
I loved the illustrations! They are just gorgeous and really pull you into the story. They are very reminiscent of the story books from when I was young in their soft coloring and edges. Just amazing! They really do add to the beauty of this story.
At the end of the book, you'll find tucked away on the back cover your own sparkle box! This was such a great bonus and your child (and you!) will love having your own box. I know I was very excited to find this and I intend to use it every year!
This really is a must have book. It's a wonderful book emphasizing the what Christmas should be all about for all of us. I absolutely loved this book and you and your child will, too! I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.
*This book was provided to me for my honest review by the First Look Blog Tours
Inspired by the Kendrick Brothers’ new movie, War Room, this exciting
new resource from the #1 best-selling author team behind The Love
Dare and The Resolution for Men is designed to help anyone learn how to
become a powerful person of prayer. The Battle Plan for Prayer begins
with prayer’s core purpose, its biblical design, and its impact
throughout history. Readers will be guided scripturally through the
fundamentals of how effective prayer works, inspired towards a closer,
more intimate relationship with God, and shown how to develop specific
prayer strategies for each area of life. Prayer can accomplish what a
willing God can accomplish. It should be your first plan of attack in
all of life’s battles, not your last resort. If you want to experience
the joy of mightily answered prayer, then it’s time to engage with God
at another level.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Alex Kendrick is an ordained minister and New York Times best selling coauthor of The Love Dare and The Resolution for Men.
He has spoken in numerous countries to students, families, and men’s
groups. He is also an accomplished actor, screenwriter, and film
director, whose credits include Facing the Giants, Fireproof, and Courageous. He and his wife, Christina, have six children.
Stephen Kendrick is an ordained minister who has served
families for 20 years in student ministry and associate pastor
positions. Along with his brother Alex, he is also a screenwriter (Facing the Giants, Fireproof, Courageous), movie producer, and coauthor of two New York Times best-selling books (The Love Dare, The Resolution for Men). Stephen and his wife, Jill, have six children.
MY REVIEW:
This is such a great book on prayer. It is a companion book for the movie 'The War Room" and really helps to focus in on prayer and how we can be better pray-ers.
The book starts off by explaining the bulls eye symbol used throughout. I really liked this because it helped me to remember the effective steps of praying. I always like visual reminders when I'm learning a new way of doing something and this was very helpful to me.
There's also a page where you commit to praying every day and you put this in writing. There's also a list in the beginning for you to fill in to help you get started on praying for others.
My very favorite thing about this book was how really easy it is to read. It is written in a conversational type tone and there aren't a lot of lofty words that you have to look up to understand what the book is saying. Throughout the book, the authors share a lot of things about prayer, your heart condition as you're praying and stories from the Bible written in a way that captured my attention. Most importantly, everything in this book is Biblical. Everything is backed up with Scripture and based on God's Word.
I really love this book. I am going to re-read it again and again because I have seen such a difference in my prayer life already! I highly recommend this book and give it 5 out of 5 stars.
*This book was provided to me for my honest review by B&H Publishing Group
I'm an ordinary woman who wants to be an extraordinary follower of Jesus. I'm a wife and mother who has changed roles over the years. From a homeschool mom to a mom of adult children. There have been tribulations along my way and I have learned to hold tighter to Jesus because of them. My hope is that I will inspire you to do the same as I share my life with you as a writer, artist, and homemaker.
