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.

The Counselor by A.W. Tozer - my review

The Counselor by A.W. Tozer is a straight-forward book talking about the Holy Spirit.

You will find no sugar-coating here, only straight talk on what the Bible says about the Holy Spirit. The author uses Bible scripture to show you what the Lord has to say about the Holy Spirit. We all need this closeness with the Holy Spirit that God wants us to have.

Some of my favorite quotes from this book...

"I believe that it might be well for us if we just stopped all of our business and got quiet and worshiped God and waited on him." page 72

"All He wants is for us to yield, obey, open our hearts and He rushes in and our lives are transformed and changed!" page 76

"honor Christ and the Holy Spirit will honor you" page 139


I highly recommend this book to everyone. It is one that I will find myself returning to I am sure.
I received a FREE copy from Moody Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

Renovating The Richardsons by Virginia Smith - my review

Renovating The Richardsons by Virginia Smith is a fun enjoyable read. 
I haven't read any other books in this series but still totally enjoyed this fun book. I will be reading the other books in the series now, as I have fell in love with these characters! 

Set in a small town in Kentucky with quirky characters a fun enjoyable book. Millie and Al are renovating their bed and breakfast. Everything that can go wrong does. Lots of fun and humor in this story. 

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