Angels by Jack Graham - my review

Angels : Who They Are, What They Do, and Why It Matters by Jack Graham is an interesting book on the topic of Angels.  I always loved the TV show - Touched By An Angel starring Roma Downey, which showed guardian angels always helping people. Roma Downey writes a beautiful forward to this book as well.

The author uses scripture as well as true life stories to explain Angels and who they are and what their purpose is in this book. Broken up in four parts,
1. The Wisdom of Angels as You Start the Journey
2. The Protection of Angels as You Sustain Life's Blows
3. The Encouragement of Angels as You Soar on Eagle's Wings
4. The Presence of Angels as You Stay the Course With Christ

No we shouldn't idolize them, but LEARN from them. As they watch over us, protect us, and teach us to worship God! I loved this book and highly recommend it to others who also would like to learn more about Angels.

I received a FREE copy from Bethany House in exchange for my HONEST review, rather it be bad or good.

Today God Wants You to Know. . .You Are Loved by Laura Wegener - my review

Today God Wants You to Know. . .You Are Loved by Laura Wegener is a great little devotional full of God's promises for us. I extremely enjoyed reading these devotions which are great reminders of God's love for us, using different subjects. Each one with scripture to back it up. This could be read in one setting, or as a daily devotional.

One of my favorite quotes from the book is...
"Eliminating stress strengthens our bodies - and God likes it when we take care of ourselves and relax!" 
This is something that I need to remember and work on myself!

I received an ARC (advanced readers copy) from the publisher and NetGallery in exchange for my honest review.

Look for it on the shelves June, 1, 2016

Eternity: Understanding Life After Death by Tony Evans

Eternity: Understanding Life After Death by Tony Evans is a short, although very informative book based on biblical scripture on what we have to look forward to after death. Depending on rather we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior or not. I've found myself drawn to so many of these type books lately, after sitting by Mother's bedside, and watching her suffer, as she was dying from cancer.

One of my favorite quotes from this book is...
"we are in the land of the dying on our way to the living" page 7
I love that and it is so true!

Pastor Tony Evans has used biblical scripture to describe both Heaven and hell. He also explains how to know that you are on your way to Heaven. This is a quick read and easy to understand, for anyone.

This is something we can't afford to get wrong, eternity is a long time! I have both family and friends that believe I am nuts for my believes. But if I am wrong about God, I have only wasted my life, if the non-believers are wrong they have wasted ETERNITY! It is each person's right to choose for themselves their path and where they want to spend eternity.

Another quote from this book that I loved regarding this topic says...
"Forever is too long to miss Christ. Eternity is a long time to suffer torment and the pain of regret. For Christians, this life is the only hell they will ever know. But for non-Christians, this life is the only Heaven they will ever know." page 12
Gives you something to think about doesn't it?

PLEASE I ask all of my family, friends, and even people I don't know, give this some thought on where and how you want to spend eternity.
I highly recommend this book to everyone, for like it or not, we all are going to spend eternity somewhere. It is up to each of us to decide where that will be.
I received a FREE copy from Moody Publishers in exchange for honest review on this book

Surprised by the Healer by Linda Dillow and Dr. Juli Slattery - my review

Surprised by the Healer: Embracing Hope for Your Broken Story by Linda Dillow and Dr. Juli Slattery is FULL of stories told by nine brave women who have found healing from the Healer.

One of my favorite quotes from the book is...
"There is nothing too broken for God to heal" page 13
Isn't that beautiful and so true? If we will turn it over to Him.

The authors use Biblical scripture along with nine courageous women who tell their stories of hurt, pain, heartache, etc. and how He has healed each of them. Women who have been sexually abused, physically abused,  cheated on etc., they all gave it over to God.

Another great quote...
"Scars remind us where we have been, but they do not have to dictate where we are going"  page 89
I love this one, as everyone has scars of some type, some hidden, and some not. But our Lord can heal them all.

I'm thankful for every brave woman that shared her story for this book to written, and to the authors. It is a book I'm glad I chose to read. I recommend it to all women.

I received a FREE copy from Moody Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion.

Who Are You to Judge by Erwin W. Lutzer

Who Are You to Judge?: Learning to Distinguish Between Truths, Half-Truths, and Lies by Erwin W. Lutzer shows how to judge according to God's word, without being judgmental. 

Today's world says so many things are ok that God says plainly in His  word isn't ok. The question is who do you listen to? The world or the word of God? As for me, I want to make Heaven my home, this world is just a stopping place until HE calls me to come home. So I will follow His word, the Holy Bible, to lead me on the path to home. 

With Chapters titled..

 1.  Why Are We Afraid To Judge?

 2.  Judge Not,That You Not Be Judged

 3.  When You Judge Doctrine

 4.  When Judge False Prophets

 5.  When You Judge Miracles

 6.  When You Judge Entertainment

 7.  When You Judge Appearances

 8.  When You Judge Neopaganism

 9.  When You Judge Ghost, Angels, and Shrines

10. When You Judge Conduct

11. When You Judge Character

Pastor Lutzer explains, using Biblical scriptures, what God has to say on each of these subjects compared to what the world has to say on them. 

Some of my favorite quotes from this book are...

"The love with in the church attracts the world; the holiness within the church convicts the world." page 29

"Even Jesus did not change the world through miracles but through HIS suffering." page 97 

"Let's ask ourselves some hard questions: Are we satisfied with the way we spend our time last year? Let's evaluate the return of our investment for the number of hours we sat in front of the television set during the last twelve months. Did the time spent make us a better person?  Did it improve our character? Imagine what we would be like if we had spend all that time, say, reading our Bible" page 134

"We must clean up our own act before we can help others" page 135 

"Yes, as have learned, there are times when we must judge, but let us be sure to judge ourselves first" page 207 

You may not agree with everything the author has to say, but I personally think he brings across some very great points taken from the Bible, that show us how to judge without being judgmental. Showing how we should live according to the word of God. 

I highly recommend this book to all Christians 

I received a FREE copy from Moody Publishers in exchange for my honest review, rather it be good or bad. Thank you for allowing me to read and review this book, it is one I will be returning to again. 

Between Pain and Grace by Gerald W. Peterman, Andrew J. Schmutzer - my review

Between Pain and Grace: A Biblical Theology of Suffering by Gerald W. Peterman, Andrew J. Schmutzer answers questions according to the Bible and what God has to say about this subject. When I first started this book I wasn't sure I was going to like it but what an eye-opener it is!

I was very interested in reading this, as I watched my Mother who was dying with cancer, as she suffered and the pain she endured. And as for myself I have suffered many things throughout my lifetime. I am now living with chronic pain. So yes you might understand why this is a book I would be quite interested in.

The authors take us on a journey through the Bible to show us how God is in pain himself. How it must break the heart of God to see how the people he has created behave so badly toward each other and destroy the earth he made for us to enjoy. Let's not forget how Jesus suffered for ALL of us, so that we can one day make Heaven our home. Who are we to expect any less suffering or pain than our Father in Heaven and our Savior?

With chapters titled...

1.  The Grammar of Suffering : Basics of Affliction In Scripture
2.  The Relational Ecosystem of Sin and Suffering
3.  The Suffering of God
4.  Emotions and the Suffering of Jesus
5.  Longing to Lament : Returning to the Language of Suffering
6.  Suffering and Redemptive Anger
7.  The Lord's Prayer : Suffering, Prayer, and Worldview
8.  Leadership and Tears
9.  Joseph's Tears: Suffering From Family Toxins
10. Sexual Abuse : Suffering a Host of Betrayals
11. Inner Darkness : The Unique Suffering of Mental Illness
12. Suffering and God's People : Community, Renewal, and Ethics
13. The Metanarrative Renewed

The authors use Biblical scripture to explain pain and suffering to us in each chapter, along with thoughts and questions at the end to get us thinking for ourselves.

One of my favorite quotes from this book...
"Focus on your healing, not the politics of being a victim"

I highly recommend this book to both Christians and Non-Christians alike.
I received an ARC (advanced readers copy) from Moody's Publishers and NetGallery in exchange for my honest review, rather it be good or bad.

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.

Keepers of the Covenant by Lynn Austin - my review

Keepers of the Covenant by Lynn Austin is book 2 in the Restoration Chronicles, but is a good stand alone book. Bringing the Old Testament to life, as you read about how Haman got King Xerxes to sign a decree to annihilate all of Jews, and Queen Esther getting him to sign another decree.

The little crippled Edomite girl, Amina, who befriends the older Jewish woman, Hodaya, and finds she is has more in common with her than she first thought.

Then Ezra a quiet scholar and teacher of the law, wanting to take his family home, and leading the Jews back to Jerusalem from Babylon. This story comes to life as you meet his wife Devorah, their children, family, and friends and see how they live.

I loved my journey through these pages of the Old Testament, Lynn Austin has done a terrific job of making me feel as if I was right there taking part with them with her writing of this story. She has added some characters to help tell the story.  This is the first book I have read by this author but will not be the last, I have found a new favorite author!

At the end of the book she tells you where you can read the stories/verses that she has used in this book in your own Bible.

I  highly recommend this book to anyone who like to read Biblical stories.

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

   

Abraham and Sarah by Roberta Kells Dorr - my review

I enjoyed Abraham and Sarah by Roberta Kells Dorr it is fiction based on the biblical story. Reading the old bible story written in novel form really brings this old story to life in ways I haven't read it before. I was able to get a picture of how things might have been.

The work the women would have done. How extremely hard it must have been for Sarah to tell her husband to be with another woman so he could have a son. How heartbreaking it must have been for Hagar to watch this son calling Sarah his mother. I found myself feeling sad for both of these women.

I have to say I wasn't fond of Sarah being rescued from the pagan temple or that Hagar was the daughter of Pharaoh as I have never read that anywhere in the Bible. But do understand that the author used some liberties to write her story.

It is is a remarkable story all the same, which I do recommend just keep in mind if you choose to read that it is fiction based on biblical history.

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.

 

In the Field of Grace - my review

I so enjoyed reading In the Field of Grace by Tessa Afshar. Based on the biblical account of Ruth. The author has based the story on the Bible account of the book of Ruth and adds what she thinks might have happened to really bring one of my favorite bible stories to life.

It starts out with telling us what might have been Boaz' history before Ruth. About Ruth's family and how they treated her. How Naomi and Ruth met, their trip to Bethlehem. The things that they may have had happen to them on this trip.
Goes on to tell us how Ruth and Boaz met and brings to life the night on the threshing floor.

I was so drawn into this book that I didn't want to lay it down at all. As I read I felt that I was there with them thousands of years ago when all of this did take place.

One of my favorite quotes from the book Boaz said to Ruth - "What’s a little dung compared to the riches of a good harvest? If you want blessing, you must accept the manure that accompanies it."

I highly recommend this book to anyone that would like to read a good story based on biblical history.

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

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.