Book Review - Beneath the Surface

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Leigh Weston thought she’d left a troubled past behind when she moved back home to Carrington, North Carolina. But when dive team investigator Ryan Parker finds a body in the lake near her home, she fears the past hasn’t stayed where it belongs.

MY REVIEW:

This book was so good! I stayed up reading too late more than once because I wanted to know what would happen next!

Leigh Weston is such a likable character. She is a nurse who has moved back to her home town and into the old family home on the lake. She has had a harrowing experience with a former patient and needs the comfort of home and family to heal.

The mystery starts when, during a routine diving exercise by the local homicide detectives, they find a body in the bottom of the lake that happens to be the one Leigh lives on. It's a strange murder and they have no idea who this victim is or how he ended up in the lake. Through a series of chance situations, Leigh finds herself back in danger from someone unknown and it brings all the horror of her past to the forefront again.

Ryan Parker is one of the detectives and he has known Leigh her whole life. He was friends with Leigh's brother and was warned off of Leigh from a very young age never to try to date her. He did the same with all his friends as he was protective of his sister. So despite his serious feelings for her, he never let her know. Being put together during this investigation and, having to protect Leigh from an unknown assailant, brings the feelings for both of them to the surface.

I really liked the story because I was never sure who the guilty party was until it was revealed. That's the sign of a great mystery, in my opinion. I don't want to figure it out too quickly on my own. I loved the characters, the story, and how it all came together. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series and highly recommend you read this book! I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

*This book was provided to me for my honest review by Revell Books



Blessings - Julie

I'm Tired Of Being Tossed By The Wind

This Scripture has hit me square between the eyes and straight into my soul. God always, always knows exactly what we need.

As I shared in my last personal post, I have been really struggling with all I have been going through over the past six months or so. My faith has been blowing this way and that and, after reading this Scripture, I realized how God reminds us not to doubt.

"But let him ask in faith, with no doubting,

 for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea

 that is driven and tossed by the wind.

-James 1:6

I'll be honest - I've probably read this Scripture before, but sometimes we read things when we aren't struggling with that topic, and it seems interesting, but it doesn't strike a chord with us like it does when we need it. 

It has totally changed how I have been praying for the past few days. I definitely do not want to be tossed about like a wave. Can you imagine how much satan loves when we doubt? Oh, dear friends, this just opened my eyes and heart; it made me realize how I've been just putty in that evil one's hands because I've been doubting that God will work all this out. 

Enough of this doubting and my faith is being pumped up daily by spending serious time in the Word and in prayer. 

I do have an update for you all regarding this new surgeon. I called down to his office on Thursday and she said that the doctor had looked at my medical records and he didn't think it was serious enough (I'm not sure if this is the exact wording she used) for him to do. My heart sunk when I heard this BUT... she then went on to say that he wanted me to see his colleague. Yay! So, two things here to be happy about - that he didn't think my situation was real serious and that I will get to see a new surgeon! 

I was also so relieved when she said he could see me on March 30th. When I saw the first surgeon, it was 3 months before I got in and, had I seen the surgeon that I was referred to, they said it would be at least a month. To be able to go see him so soon and get some answers and talk with him about doing the reversal surgery is such a relief. I'll have to travel out of town again 2 hours away, but I will have my husband and my son with me. That was another thing to be thankful for - my son is off that day and is going to go and see what he thinks of this surgeon.

I'll be honest...I'm still a bit nervous but my faith is in the Lord and I am going to hold tight to the Rock and not allow myself to be tossed about! 

Thank you so much for your prayers and I would be so thankful for your continued prayers!

I wanted to share this beautiful song that just came out. Natalie Grant is the featured vocalist on this song and the words just touched my heart! Such a beautiful reminder of who Jesus is!

Blessings - Julie  

Book Review - The Rock, The Road, and The Rabbi by Kathy Lee Gifford

ABOUT THE BOOK:

As a lifelong student of Scripture, Kathie Lee Gifford has always desired a deeper understanding of God’s Word and a deeper knowledge of God Himself. But it wasn’t until she began studying the biblical texts in their original Hebrew and Greek—along with actually hiking the ancient paths of Israel—that she found the fulfillment of those desires

Now you can walk with Kathie on a journey through the spiritual foundations of her faith:

The Rock (Jesus Christ): Hear directly from Kathie about her life-changing and ever-deepening connection with Jesus, the Lover of her soul. The Road (Israel): Explore dozens of ancient landmarks and historical sites from Israel, the promised land of God’s covenant. The Rabbi (God’s Word): Go beyond a “Sunday school” approach to the Bible by digging into the original languages and deeper meanings of the Holy Scriptures.

As you journey through The Rock, The Road, and The Rabbi, you’ll also find additional content from Messianic Rabbi Jason Sobel throughout the book. Jason’s insight into the Hebrew language, culture, and heritage will open your eyes to the Bible like never before.

Come! Begin your journey toward a deeper faith through The Rock, the Road, and the Rabbi.

MY REVIEW:

This book, without a doubt, has made the biggest impact on my faith and my spiritual journey in knowing Jesus better. It is also one of the best books I've read in a very long time!

Kathy Lee shares how the Lord called her to put Him first. This meant getting up even earlier than she usually did, which was early, since she does an early morning program on television. She was obedient to God's calling and shares the impact this has had in her life.

She also shares about her journey's to Israel and how these visits have impacted her faith in profound ways. She also shares about her husband, Frank, and how going to Israel made such a difference in his faith - from a religion to a relationship with Jesus. This story really touched my heart and I always love hearing stories of when people truly come to know Jesus.

More than these stories, however, are the teachings in this book! I had my highlighter out and my pen and made so many notes and highlights in this book - there's barely any paper showing through! I learned so much about the Word of God and it has given me such a hunger for His Word! It has given me a spark to my faith again and for that I am so thankful. 

In my opinion, this is a must-read book for everyone! I cannot even convey how much this book has meant in my life for directing me into my Bible and into prayer time. I have been studying the Greek and Hebrew meanings of words because through Kathy Lee's book, I have come to understand how important it is to know the true meanings of each and everything. 

This book will stay at hand for reading again and again because there is so much in this book, I just couldn't truly get everything out of it in the first reading. It is packed full of gem after gem of information not only from Kathy Lee but from her co-author, Rabbi Jason Sobel, I love this book and I think you will, too! I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

*This book was provided to me for my honest review by BookLook Bloggers

Blessings - Julie

The Deep, Dark Place

I would love to tell you that I am strong, going forward with determination and joy. However, I can't honestly tell you that. I have been struggling so much with what I'm going through with this ileostomy and the waiting and wondering of what's going to happen. The uncertainty wreaks havoc with my mind and I have days that are dark and dismal. I know all the things the Lord tells us in His Word but some days it's hard to believe it in my heart. The darkness descends and the enemy whispers his fearful thoughts into my ear and I believe each and every negative thought. The one thing the evil one reminds me over and over is that God is punishing me for some horrible thing I’ve done (I’m never sure what this horrible thing is) and that He doesn’t really care about me at all. This, my friends, is a deep, dark place to be. 

I am still waiting to hear from the new surgeon’s office. They have had my records nearly two weeks and it has been torture waiting. I still don’t know if he will even see me, let alone fix this mess I’ve been left with. My heart tells me to have faith and hope but my mind reminds me that I have been down long, horrible roads before and this could be an endless one. 

I try very hard to not talk about my issues too much. Frankly, most people don’t want to hear about it, and if they do, they want the condensed version. I understand this but sometimes the road gets too lonely...the pit too dark. We all need people to come along side us to shine the light into the darkness and remind us we are not alone. Yes, in my soul, I know God is there but how good is it to have real, human contact in these hard places. 

This is where I am right now. Struggling to reach those rays of light and hold dear the promises from the One who holds our lives in His loving hands. I pray that I will feel them on my face and be able to touch the promises of healing through Jesus and the human hand of a skilled surgeon that the Lord will use. My heart longs for the prayers of others to sustain me and to help carry me through. 

Blessings - Julie 

Book Review - Grace Revealed

ABOUT THE BOOK:

You can't escape the inevitable crises that will face you throughout your lifetime. Whether it's health problems, emotional issues, career challenges, gut-wrenching losses, or other failures, these experiences can destroy your morale and lead you into despair. Some crises may be a result of your own choices, while others may be completely out of your control. Whatever the source, there is a lasting solution that comes to you free of charge from above: God's amazing grace.

In Grace Revealed, you will:
-Experience real-life stories of others who discover they are not alone and that relief is within their grasp.
-See how devastating afflictions can be overcome through faith in Jesus and His love, mercy, and grace.
-Learn how God's grace transforms lives and leads you into enduring and rewarding Christian service.
-Be inspired to encourage others who are suffering but cannot seek help on their own.

Read these undeniable, modern-day examples of God's loving grace and its transformative power, and discover that God is always present in your time of need.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Fred Sievert is a speaker, author, and former president of New York Life Insurance Company. Following his early retirement at age fifty-nine, Sievert attended Yale Divinity School and received a master's degree. Sievert remains actively engaged in his greatest passions, which include speaking and writing about his faith, mentoring young executives, and serving as a lay leader of his church and on the boards of several organizations with missions well-aligned with his beliefs and values. Fred and his wife have five grown children, three grandchildren, and reside in East Falmouth, Massachusetts.

Find out more about Fred at https://www.storiesofgodsgrace.com

MY REVIEW:

This book is filled with inspirations stories that will encourage and uplift. The deeply moving stories were so touching and showed the profound comfort that grace gives.

Some of the stories are so hard but we see how Jesus transforms these people and helps them to see how the hard things were working to refine them. More importantly, it shows how a relationship with God can help those under the worst of circumstances.

These stories are about different difficulties that people have gone through. From sexual abuse to drug addiction, we see how grace changes lives. The author then shares his own thoughts about each situation and further shows us how the grace of God can totally transform.

This is an uplifting book and I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

*This book was provided to me for my honest review by LitFuse Publicity Group


Blesings - Julie

Bible Study Review - This I Know by Laura Dingman

ABOUT THIS STUDY:

We live in a culture of unknowns. Every day, the headlines report news of acts of terror, political upheaval, and grievous sins against others. In our personal world, we may receive unwanted news from the doctor, struggle with wayward children or worry how we’re going to pay the next bill when finances are stretched thin. We want to know the future—to know what is coming—so that somehow we can control the outcome, often leading to needless anxiety and fear.

In her second title in Moody Publishers’ Bible study line for women, Dingman, a Bible teacher and creative arts director at a large Indianapolis church, leads women through a 6-week Bible study focused on biblical truths about the trustworthy characteristics of God, helping them see how better knowing God leads to a life free from anxiety and fear and allows them to step confidently into an unknown future.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Laura Dingman spends most of her time creating and leading worship experiences that help connect people with the story of God. She has served in vocational ministry as the Creative Arts Director at The Creek, a large church in Indianapolis, for over a decade.

She loves to show people where their story intersects with God’s story. She enjoys belting Broadway, laughing hysterically, reading great books, and living life with her favorite two people in the whole world, her husband, Matt, and her spunky daughter, Abigail. She is the author of Life Rhythms: Learning to Live in God-Centered Time and I Am Found: Quitting the Game of Hide and Seek with God and Others.

Laura has developed curriculum for This I Know and is planning to teach the material at her church. The teaching sessions will be recorded and available for purchase in June 2018. You can learn more about her journey and connect with her at www.lauradingman.com.

MY REVIEW:

The thing I love about every Moody published Bible study is that I can trust it to be Biblical and beautiful.

This is a six week study and it was such a blessing to me as it addresses those horrible feelings of fear, anxiety and worry - all things I've been dealing with. I loved how she points out who God is, His promises for us and all this helped to alleviate those horrible fearful feelings.

I really liked how she pulled her own personal stories into this Bible story, too, making it feel more personal and also reassuring me that she knew how I was feeling when I get into those fearful areas of my life.

The five days of study were perfect for each week, leaving the weekend free for time with family or for making up a day if I missed one. I also love the beautiful turquoise font throughout and how they did so much to make this study beautiful for the eyes as well as for the soul.

I love this study and highly recommend it! I give it 5 out of 5 stars and hope that you'll make this your next study.

*This Bible study was provided to me for my honest review by Side Door Communications and Moody Publishers


Blessings - Julie

Counting Our Blessings Linkup!

Hello friends:

I'm so sorry I missed last week's linkup. I had such good intentions but I just wasn't up to posting on my blog. I always hate missing this but so happy to be here today! So - let's get started!

30.  As you all know, I love crocheting. I have been doing it since I was four years old and it's my "go-to" craft when I'm not feeling well. It's so relaxing to me and comforting at the same time. I think of my beloved Grandmother every time I crochet and her love and patience in giving me the gift that has brought joy into my life.

She has been gone for over 40 years now but the blessings she poured into my life continue.

31. The reason I bring up the crochet is because I started a new afghan for my youngest son. He really liked the ones I did for myself and my husband and so I told him I would make him one. Here's the start to his blanket.

This will be a twin size blanket when I'm done. I'm using the Caron Cake yarn in the Cake Pop color. I really like this color combination - especially for a man.

32.  I've been painting again as I'm able. I'm working on this Bear/American Indian family. It's a ceramic piece and I just have to paint the family's faces in. This will go into our new library.

The picture is a little hard to see, but I'll share the completed piece when I get it done.

33.  During Christmas, I painted pins to give out as random acts of kindness. Those pins were a design from another artist, but for Easter, I wanted to design my own. Here's a picture of the beginning of my pins/magnets I'll give out.

I have quite a bit left to paint on them but am enjoying doing my painting again. Honestly, I'll be so glad when I have more energy again to do more of the things I love. I did do a little stitching this week, but it's so little, I didn't bother to take a picture. I'm hoping to finish up my Celtic Santa this week!

Please share your own blessings on the linkup below!



Blessings - Julie

The Star is on DVD!!

Golden Globe® Nominated for Best Original Song by Mariah Carey & Marc Shaiman

THE STAR

The Tale of Faith and Friendship Includes Six Sing-Along Videos from Mariah Carey, Fifth Harmony, Kelsea Ballerini,
A Great Big World, and Kirk Franklin

Includes a Dance Along, “How-to” Crafts Video and Much More

Available on Digital February 6 and

On Blu-ray + DVD + Digital on February 20

ABOUT THE MOVIE:

From the studio that brought you 
MIRACLES FROM HEAVEN & CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS comes the timeless tale about faith, friendship, and the importance of believing in yourself. 
AFFIRM Films and Sony Pictures Animation’s THE STAR arrives for the first time on Digital on February 6 and on Blu-ray + DVD + Digital February 20 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The heartwarming animated comedy follows a small but brave donkey named Bo (voiced by Steven Yeun, “The Walking Dead”), who yearns for a life beyond his daily grind at the village mill. One day he finds the courage to break free and finally goes on the adventure of his dreams. On his journey, he teams up with Ruth (voiced by Aidy Bryant, “Saturday Night Live”), a lovable sheep who has lost her flock and Dave (voiced by Keegan-Michael Key, Friends From College), a dove with lofty aspirations, along with three wisecracking camels voiced by 
Tracy Morgan (“30 Rock”), Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey. Bo and his new friends follow the star and become accidental heroes in the greatest story ever told.

Rounding out the all-star voice cast including Gina Rodriguez (“Jane The Virgin”) as Mary, Zachary Levi (“Chuck”) as Joseph, Grammy® Award-Winner Kelly Clarkson as Leah the horse, Anthony Anderson (“Black-ish”) as Zach the goat, Ving Rhames  (Mission Impossible) as Thaddeus the dog, Gabriel Iglesias (Coco, Ferdinand) as Rufus the dog, Patricia Heaton 
(“The Middle”) as Edith the cow, Emmy® and Tony® Award-Winner Kristin Chenoweth as Abby the mouse, and Christopher Plummer (All the Money in the World) as King Herod.

THE STAR is filled with more than an hour of engaging bonus materials including the “Star-aoke: Sing Along with Bo & Friends,” a dance along to “Life Is Good” by A Great Big World, plus a collection of fun lyric videos that will have you singing along to the inspiring music from 
THE STAR.  Families can enjoy crafting and baking with “how-to” videos “Star Mason Jar Votives” and “Sweet and Sparkly Stars,” and they also can go behind-the-scenes to explore the amazing talent who bring these characters to life.  In “Faith All Year Round,” 
renowned pastor and motivational speaker, DeVon Franklin delivers a fun and engaging children’s sermon discussing the themes of the film and keeping the spirit of this inspiring story alive in us every day.

THE STAR is directed by Academy Award® nominated writer/director Timothy Reckart, screenplay by Carlos Kotkin, and story by Simon Moore and Carlos Kotkin. The film is executive produced by DeVon Franklin, Brian Henson and Lisa Henson, and produced by Jennifer Magee-Cook. The Star is presented by AFFIRM films and Sony Pictures Animation in association with Walden Media, Franklin Entertainment and The Jim Henson Company. The uplifting theme song, “The Star” by Mariah Carey and veteran songwriter Marc Shaiman was also nominated for a 2018 Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song. “The Star” song is now available on The Star: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, which assembles new music from a bevy of powerhouse superstars.

MY THOUGHTS:

This is SO exciting to be able to purchase this amazing movie for your own home viewing! What a wonderful message this movie has! Perfect for every family! I don't have small children any longer at home, but it's still such a great message for my husband and I! 

There are so many bonus materials with this DVD, which I love. Here's a list of those:

• Star-aoke: Sing-Along with Bo & Friends: In this all new song, sing along with your favorite characters including Bo, Dave, Ruth and the unforgettable camels 
• "Life Is Good" Dance-Along: Shake your tail feathers and move your hooves in this fun dance along
• Lyric Sing-Along Videos: Enjoy the eclectic and inspiring music of THE STAR with these colorful lyric videos that allow you to sing along with your favorite recording artists
o “The Star” by Mariah Carey
o “Can You See” by Fifth Harmony
o “Children Go Where I Send You” by Kelsea Ballerini
o “We Three Kings” by Kirk Franklin
o “Life Is Good” by A Great Big World
• Sweet and Sparkly Stars: Create star-themed cookies to be enjoyed year round 
• Star Mason Jar Votives: Let the light of THE STAR shine with this simple yet stunning craft
• Faith All Year Round with DeVon Franklin: A children’s sermon discussing the themes of the film and how to keep the spirit of this inspiring story alive in us every day

• An All-Star Cast: Meet the stars of the film and explore the exciting voice cast who bring these amazing characters to life

Don't you love all the extra goodies that are on the DVD's? It makes it even more enjoyable than seeing it in the theater because you get lots of extras plus the behind scenes information you wouldn't see otherwise. It makes the movie that much more meaningful!

There's also a Facebook group for you and your family to be a part of a LIVE GUIDED BIBLE STUDY with Devon Franklin! How fantastic! The link to this group is HERE (or you can click on the graphic above and that will take you to the Facebook group)

There's a lot more information on the website for The Star HERE. Be sure and visit as there is a lot of fun stuff on there! 

You can purchase The Star at Walmart, Best Buy, Target or from Amazon (my associates link is below).

You'll be so blessed by this wonderful, uplifting story!!

Blessings - Julie

Book Review - Last Stop in Brooklyn

ABOUT THE BOOK:

It’s the summer of 1894, and an infidelity case has brought PI Mary Handley to a far corner of Brooklyn: Coney Island. In the midst of her investigation, Mary is contacted by a convicted man’s brother to reopen a murder case. A prostitute was killed by a Jack the Ripper copycat years ago in her New York hotel room, but her true killer was never found. Once again it’s up to Mary to make right the city’s wrongs.
  
New York City’s untouchable head of detectives, Thomas Byrnes, swears he put the right man behond bars, but as Mary digs deeper, she finds corruption at the heart of New York’s justice system, involving not only the police, but the most powerful of stock titans. Disturbing evidence of other murders begins to surface, each one mimicking Jack the Ripper’s style, each one covered up by Thomas Byrnes.   

As Mary pieces together the extent of the damage, she crosses paths with Harper Lloyd, an investigative reporter. Their relationship grows into a partnership, and perhaps more, and together they must catch a killer who’s still out there, and reverse the ruthless workings of New York’s elite. It’ll be Mary’s most dangerous, most personal case yet.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


LAWRENCE H. LEVY is a highly regarded film and TV writer who is a Writers Guild Award winner and a two-time Emmy nominee. He has written for various hit TV shows such as Family Ties, Saved by the Bell, Roseanne, and Seinfeld. Last Stop in Brooklyn is his third novel in the Mary Handley Mystery series.

MY REVIEW:

There's nothing I love better than a good female detective story. This one has a lot of interesting historical information as well as a detective you find yourself rooting for!

Mary is on the type of case she doesn't like doing - following a woman whose husband thinks she's cheating on him. She follows her to Coney Island where she sees the woman meeting someone she knows. This opens a whole new dilemma for Mary until she can get to the bottom of it.

While she's following the woman, someone is following her. When she finally confronts the man, he asks her to help him because his brother has been accused of a crime he hasn't committed and he wants her to find the real culprit. This opens the horrific murder investigations that are eerily like the Jack the Ripper.

Mary is an interesting person, full of indignation at the injustices she sees around her. She has a mother who presses her to get married while her kind father is proud of what she's doing. The story itself, is quite interesting in that it pulls real life historical figures into the story and makes it feel very real.

I liked this book very much and would like to read the first two in the series now. It's a good detective story with a good mystery that keeps you interested. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

*This book was provided to me for my honest review by the Blogging for Books program



Blessings - Julie

Book Review - A Passionate Hope

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Hannah and her husband, Elkanah, share a deep and abiding love, for each other, for their God, and for his tabernacle at Shiloh. Greatly disturbed by the corruption of the priests, they long for restoration and pray for a deliverer. But nothing changes as the years pass. Years that also reveal Hannah to be barren.

Pressured by his family to take another wife, Elkanah marries Peninnah, who quickly begins to bear children. Disgraced and taunted by her husband's new wife, Hannah turns again to prayers that seem doomed to go unanswered. Do her devotion and kindness in the face of Peninnah's cruelty count for nothing? Why does God remain silent and indifferent to her pleas?

Travel back to the dusty streets of Shiloh with an expert guide as Jill Eileen Smith brings to life a beloved story of hope, patience, and deliverance that shows that even the most broken of relationships can be restored.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jill Eileen Smith is the bestselling and award-winning author of The Wives of King David, the Wives of the Patriarchs, The Loves of King Solomon, and The Daughters of the Promised Land series. Her research into the lives of biblical women has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in Old Testament times. Jill lives with her family in southeast Michigan. Learn more at www.jilleileensmith.com

MY REVIEW:

I was so excited to read this book because I read the book, "The Prophetess" about Deborah by the same author and it was a book that really resonated in my heart. I feel the exact same say about this book, A Passionate Hope!

This book focuses on Hannah from 1 Samuel and her story of sadness yet hope in the Lord. In her bareness, she is personally sad but when her husband's family turns against her and encourages her husband to take another wife, it's a horrible thing for her. When the new wife has children, with no problems, it's a personal blow and devastating - especially when the new wife starts to ridicule her.

The author portrays such a real portrait of all the characters in the book. You feel like you truly know each and every one of them. I found myself hurting for Hannah and feeling her pain, just like I did for the other characters in her other book I read. I like how she gives us an understanding of why Hannah's husband and his family treat her that way, as well as his second wife, Penninah. Even though she treats Hannah horribly, you get an understanding of why because the author gives us a fully dimensional person rather than one dimensional.

I highly recommend this book. I read a lot of books and when I remember a story and it's characters in such a deep way, I know it's because of the quality of the writing. You will truly enjoy this book!
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

*This book was provided to me for my honest review by Revell Books



Blessings - Julie

Book Review - Here Am I, Lord...Send Somebody Else

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Being used by God is an adventure you won’t want to miss!

Major Ian Thomas, a British theologian, teacher, and the founder of Torchbearers Bible Schools, spent seven exhausting years trying to live for Christ when he realized that God actually just wanted to live through Him. He offered this extremely simple advice in considering the Christian life: Go where you are sent, stay where you are put, and do what you are asked.

With her trademark warmth and keen sense of humor, esteemed Bible study teacher Jill Briscoe follows Major Thomas’s example to help readers learn how to allow God to live through them, finding their mission field to be right before them—in the space between their own two feet. She uses stories from her own life and of other contemporaries to unpack the story of Moses in helping us better understand our true worth and calling. She asks, “What is your Jerusalem, your Judea, your Samaria? Whether you’re fifty or fifteen, you are called to be God’s light in a troubled world.” This classic work is being updated to include conversation starters and Bible study questions at the end of each chapter.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jill Briscoe was born in Liverpool England in 1935. Educated at Cambridge she taught school for a number of years before marrying Stuart and raising their three children. In addition to sharing with her husband in ministry with Torchbearers and in pastoring a church in the United States for 30 years, Jill has written more than 40 books, travelled on every continent teaching and encouraging, served on the boards of Christianity Today and World Relief, and now acts as Executive Editor of a magazine for women called Just Between Us. Jill can be heard regularly on the worldwide media ministry called Telling the Truth. She is proud to be called “Nana” by 13 grandchildren.

MY REVIEW:

In this updated version of her original book, Jill shares what so many of us feel at times when God calls us to something that we feel like we don't want to do or that we feel ill equipped to do. I could heartily relate to the feelings of feeling like God is calling me to something that I'm not particularly wanting to do. However, Jill shows us that when we are obedient to God, He does things through us that we never thought possible.

She shares what happens when we are obedient through her own life and through the lives of those in the Scriptures. She also gives us the tools to be more discerning in making sure we are hearing the voice of God and not the enemy. Staying in God's Word and knowing His voice is emphasized throughout this book.

I really like that there are discussion questions, devotional and a spiritual workout at the end of each chapter. This allowed me to stop and consider what I learned and how I could apply it to my own life. I also think this would be a great book for small groups or a woman's Bible study.

I really enjoyed this book and gained a lot from it. It wasn't as easy to read as some books but it was still good. I'm so used to hearing Jill Brisco speak and expected her writing to be as engaging. However, saying that, I sill recommend this book and give it 4 out of 5 stars.

*This book was provided to me for my Booklook Bloggers



Blessings - Julie