Heaven and the Afterlife by Erwin W. Lutzer - my review

 
Heaven and the Afterlife: The Truth about Tomorrow and What it Means for Today by Erwin W. Lutzer caught my attention as I  sat at my Mother's bedside while she was fighting her battle with cancer.

There are three books combined into this one book...
1. One Minute After You Die
2. How You Can Be Sure You Will Spend Eternity with God
3. Your Eternal Rewards

The author uses scripture to let us know what Jesus has to say on these subjects. This book is a very LOUD wake-up call for everyone. Full of information on what the BIBLE and JESUS tell us waits on the other side. We can't change our mind after having arrived, we must do that here. The author lets us know, by using scripture, how to KNOW where we will spend eternity.

This can be both an encouraging book for Christians, or scary for non-believers when you get a glimpse of what awaits.
I highly recommend this book to everyone as I want to see everyone in Heaven someday.

I received an ARC (advanced readers copy) from Moody Publishers & NetGallery in exchange for my honest review.

Everyday Grace by Jessica Thompson - my review

Everyday Grace: Infusing All Your Relationships with the Love of Jesus by Jessica Thompson is a great read that reminds you that the Holy Spirit is in control!  She starts by telling us that Everyday Grace is anything but another Christian self-help book. This book doesn't tell us what we should and shouldn't do, but instead reminds us of what Christ has done for us. Everyday Grace is a book of hope that keeps us focused on Jesus.

Karma - you do for me and I will do for you. Living with this type of attitude, as most of us do is exhausting.
"The truth is we don’t want ka me, ka thee or karma, even though we think we do. The gospel refutes this idea completely. It is anti-karma and pro-grace. The gospel says that even though you aren’t good enough now and actually never will be good enough in your own good works, I am going to give to you anyway. The gospel tells us that all we have earned has been given to the Son and all the Son has earned has been given undeservingly to us. If we try to rely on karma to see us through, it will be an endless life of working never to obtain. If we rest our souls in the gospel, our lives will be full of receiving, even though we could never work hard enough to receive the gift we have been given." page 4

Each chapter is awesome, the chapter on our children, reminds us of the love of God for ALL of his children. The chapter on friendships reminds us that Jesus is our friend that we can always turn too, a friend that will never let us down. The chapter about our husbands/marriages reminds us of Christ's love for his Church. The chapter on loving difficult people shares how the Holy Spirit is always with us to help and guide us. I enjoyed the entire book but this particular chapter is my favorite, it is a great reminder in letting the Holy Spirit do what he is sent to do.  

Everyday Grace has been added to my favorites books to be reread. I think it will be a number one Christianity book for 2015. One I highly recommend to everyone, as we all have relationships of some type.


I received an ARC (advanced reader's copy) from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review, rather it be good or bad. Thank you.

Jesus, Jihad, and Peace by Michael Youssef - my review

In Jesus, Jihad, and Peace by Michael Youssef , he explains the difference in beliefs of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Dr. Michael Youssef uses Biblical scripture to show how things that are happening in the world today, line up with the prophecies in the Bible. I personally gleaned a lot from this book.

I received an ARC (advanced readers copy) from NetGallery in exchange for my honest review rather it be good or bad. Thank you.

The King is Coming by Erwin W. Lutzer - my review

The King is Coming: Preparing to Meet Jesus by Erwin W. Lutzer tells about the end days and the return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The author uses biblical scripture to discuss the rapture of the Church, the tribulation, the coming of Jesus, the Antichrist, the end of the world, and Heaven. Erwin Lutzer does a marvelous job of explaining his views on what the Bible tells us will happen in these last days and uses the scripture to back up what he says, so you can read it in the Bible for yourself.

One of my favorite quotes from this book is ...
"If you've been told that you have to donate money to go to heaven, you have not heard the gospel. If you've been told that you must make yourself deserving to go to heaven, that is not the gospel. Nor is it through baptism, your church attendance, or through the sacraments." 

And the last quote he uses in the book is from the Bible...
"You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." Luke 12:40 ESV

If you haven't accepted Jesus Christ as your savior, please do so, because our King is coming soon!!

I  highly recommend this book.

I received a free copy of this book from Moody Publishers in exchange for my honest review rather it be good or bad. Thank you.

Radically Red: Dare To Live The Words Of Christ by Brooke Keith - my review

I received an ARC of Radically Red: Dare To Live The Words of Christ by Brooke Keith. I have read through the book and totally enjoyed it. It is written as a daily devotional, starting with the words of Jesus in red, followed by a heartwarming devotion, with questions and answers at the end of each day, along with a daily dare. You can read the book as I did straight through or as a daily devotional. Would also make an excellent group study.

I love the red theme throughout the book it makes you reflect on Jesus and his love for all.
I will be going back and re-reading this now as a daily devotion.  I am looking forward to it.

I highly recommend this book. I received a free copy of this book from NetGallery in exchange for my honest review rather it be good or bad. Thank you.

How to Start a Riot: Support Your Local Jesus Revolution - My Review

I just finished reading  How to Start a Riot: Support Your Local Jesus Revolution by Jonathan Storment.

First let me say I loved the title and cover, may end up with people reading about Jesus looking for something else. (Great idea)

The author, who is a pastor, uses the book of Acts to try and explain what it means to be a child of God. To explain how Christians and the Church should live today.

The Church is not a building where you go for an hour on Sunday, put a few dollars in the plate and you are good for another week. It is so very much more than that, as is being a Christian as well.

I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to study more about the book of Acts.

I received an advanced copy of this in exchange for my review rather it be good or bad.

My Review of - Between Heaven And Earth: Finding Hope, Courage, and Passion Through a Fresh Vision of Heaven by Steve Berger

I finished reading Between Heaven And Earth: Finding Hope, Courage, and Passion Through a Fresh Vision of Heaven by Steve Berger who is a Pastor at Grace Chapel in Leipers Fork, TN.

Steve & Sarah Berger's 19 year old son was in a fatal car accident August 2009. Some will say at a time like this they have LOST a loved one, they don't. They KNOW where Josiah is, alive and in the arms of God!! What a beautiful way to look at death. I know none of us want to be without our loved ones, but how great is it to know that they are in the arms of God!!!

In the book Between Heaven and Earth the author uses Bible scripture to show a beautiful vision of Heaven. He uses scripture to show what IS in Heaven & what ISN'T in Heaven.

He shows how to accept Jesus as your Lord & Saviour if you haven't already done so.
He uses the apostle Paul to show how we should strive to live our lives in order to make Heaven our home.

I highly recommend this book.

I received an advanced copy of this in exchange for my review rather it be good or bad.

People as I look around at the things that are taking place in the word today, I can see that it won't be long until Jesus calls us home. I pray that you are all ready!


 

Jesus, The Ultimate Therapist

I just finished reading Jesus, The Ultimate Therapist: Healing Without Limits (Living Life 2 the Fullest) by Kerry Kerr McAvoy.   This book looks at the roles Jesus plays in our life, from the being the Ultimate Therapist, our Messiah, Our Kinsman-Redeemer, Our Friend, The Returning King, etc.  It is a six week study with Bible verses that you can read for yourself plus song suggestions as well. There are also prayers for you to say.  This is a book I will be re-reading.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review, rather it be good or bad.