An Amish Christmas Kitchen ~ A Great Gift For The Season

I love to read and I read a lot. I always have a book with me when I go places since I don't know how long I will be waiting at the places I go. This current book was perfect for that.

About the book:
An Amish Christmas Kitchen: Three Novellas Celebrating the Warmth of the Season written by Leslie Gould, Jan Drexler, and Kate Lloyd , is the perfect gift for an avid reader in your home.

As the weather grows cold and the nights grow long, the cheer and warmth of the Christmas season is one thing all readers can find comfort in. This collection from bestselling Amish fiction novelists Leslie Gould, Jan Drexler, and Kate Lloyd finds the beating heart at the center of the holiday and offers three novellas that celebrate family, faith, and especially the sights and smells of a bustling holiday kitchen.

Leslie Gould tells the story of how, in the wake of a heartbreaking loss, a young Amish woman finds unexpected comfort and hope in a yearly baking tradition surrounding the local Lancaster Christmas market. Jan Drexler offers a sweet tale of a shy Amish woman who decides to use her gift for sweets to woo a local Amish boy with her beloved Christmas cookies. And Kate Lloyd offers a heartwarming tale of a woman's unexpected discovery about the truth of her past, and the warm and welcoming Amish family table she finds herself invited to on Christmas.

What I thought about the book:
An Amish Christmas Kitchen is a lovely book with three novellas that you can easily read in an afternoon. I loved how quickly I could identify with the characters and how sweet the stories were. Each story was set in the same time period and you could sense the area of the country where they took place, along with the simple lifestyle of the Amish. The sweet romances that took place were very touching and helped you root for the main characters to find happiness, especially during the Christmas season. This would make a great gift for a friend or loved one for Christmas! Fair warning, reading this will make you want to go bake or visit a bakery.

You can find the book on Amazon and in local book stores!

This reviewer received the product free or at a discounted price in order to bring you an honest review. No other form of compensation was given. All opinions are those of the reviewer.

Have You Ever Wondered About The Logic Of God?

As a reader I love to find books that really make me think . One of my favorite authors who consistently gets me thinking, and thinking a lot is Ravi Zacharias. His latest book is no exception to making me think a lot!

His newest book is The Logic of God. Here's a short description of the book for you:

Jesus Christ alone answers our deepest questions. We all have doubts that challenge our faith. We wonder whether the Bible still matters, or whether God is truly as loving and personal as we hope. In his first ever devotional, The Logic of God, apologist Ravi Zacharias offers 52 readings that explain how and why Christianity, the Bible, and God are still relevant, vital, and life-changing for us today. To all our dilemmas Ravi says, "I am convinced that Jesus Christ alone uniquely answers the deepest questions of our hearts and minds."

With a remarkable grasp of biblical facts and a deep understanding of the questions that trouble our hearts, Ravi tackles the most difficult topics with ease and understanding. But The Logic of God is more than intellectual; it is also personal, offering thoughtful wisdom on: 

• when Jesus draws especially near you. 
•  the deep ray of hope found in God's Word. 
•  how God transforms disappointments. 
•  why prayer matters. 
•  how genuine peace is possible. 
•  making sense of suffering.  ​

Ravi makes profound biblical truth easy to understand. And if your life is busy, this book is designed for you! It addresses 52 topics that you can read over the course of one year or slowly digest at your own pace. Each entry includes a Scripture, questions for reflection, and some practical application steps.

When you're struggling with questions and doubts, confused, curious, or just want a clearer way to express your faith The Logic of God has answers that satisfy the heart and the mind.

I have been slowly reading the book and it has been encouraging me, challenging me, and helping me to be better equipped in teaching others. As a Bible teacher myself, I need help in explaining deep concepts and biblical truths. Ravi puts these things in a way that can be shared with others and related to.

You do need to be warned, this book is not going to be read in a short time or zipped through. It grabs hold of your thoughts and it's supposed to. You will begin thinking about God in ways you had never thought of Him or in ways hat you had not thought about in a long time. I think that's a good thing!

I highly recommend this book to you and encourage you to pick extra copies up or your friends and family as gifts!

You can find a copy of the book HERE!

This reviewer received the product free or at a discounted price in order to bring you an honest review. No other form of compensation was given. All opinions are those of the reviewer.

A New Book Review ~ Born To Wander

My husband and I love to read and we both enjoy getting new books to review. Recently we were sent a book by Michelle Van Loon, "Born to Wander".

Description of the book:
Why are we so restless?

All of us have a little wanderlust—a desire for that next thing, that new place, but this competes with our longings for security, control, and safety. We don't like how it feels to be unsettled and uprooted. Whether we're navigating a season of transition, dealing with the fallout of broken relationships, or wrestling with a deep sense of restlessness, we are all experiencing some form of exile. And most of us do whatever we can to numb the feelings of unbelonging, powerlessness, and unsettledness that come with it. But the truth is that exile has a profound purpose if we can just learn to lean in.

Over and over again Scripture tells us that the people of God are exiles and wanderers. And this is good news because exile is what transforms us into pilgrims. In Christ, we are no longer directionless wanderers, but pilgrim followers who have a clear purpose and a secure identity. In Born to Wander, Michelle Van Loon weaves together personal stories and keen insights on the biblical themes of pilgrimage and exile. She will help you embrace your own pilgrim identity and reorient your heart toward the God who leads you home. Engaging and thoughtful, enhanced with practical suggestions, prayers, and questions, Born to Wander will teach how to trust God even when you don't understand what's happening around you and follow Him even when it hurts.

If you keep chasing security, you'll never find it. Embrace the purpose behind the wandering and discover the freedom and safety of resting in God alone.

“Every one of us carries a restlessness that runs as deep as the marrow of our born-again bones. Our relationships shift like tectonic plates. We change jobs. We switch churches. And our culture tells us the cure for our restlessness is to buy a new mattress, a new car, or a new tube of toothpaste.

About the author:
Michelle is a regular contributor to Christianity Today's women's blog, In Touch magazine, and is the co-founder of ThePerennialGen.com, a website for midlife women and men. She’s married to Bill, and is mother of three and grandmother of two. Learn more about her writing and speaking ministry by visiting her website, MichelleVanLoon.com.

Our take on the book:
Both my husband and I found some things in the book that we liked, but we also found things we questioned and wondered about.

There was a broad survey of “pilgrimages” in scripture, and aspects of life's journeys, both physical and spiritual. Many places she encourages the reader to discover ways to use the desire to wander to grow in Christ and find their true calling/purpose for serving Him. This is something we can agree with. We all need to learn our purpose and to live out our part in the Body of Christ.

The things we questioned were what we thought was stretching Scripture to fit what she was talking about. Every believer is to be a pilgrim in this world, journeying purposefully to closer fellowship with God and better conformity to Christ's example. We are in this world, but not of this world. But instead of using personal stories to illustrate biblical principles for Christian growth, the author seems to use her personal experiences to determine the principles, and find something in scripture involving travelers to back up her conclusions.

Biblical principles, standards of the world, and personal history all seem to have equal weight, and everything is seen through the lens of wandering with little to no balance. 

There is enough to glean from the book to encourage you, but we think some caution is needed in reading it to remember that Scripture should be the beginning and final authority Our faith should start there, not in what we believe and then find Scripture that supports that belief.

You can purchase the book HERE! 

This reviewer received the product free or at a discounted price in order to bring you an honest review. No other form of compensation was given. All opinions are those of the reviewer.

A Southern Family You Will Love

High Cotton by Debby Mayne

If you want to read a book that will completely draw you in and leave you wanting more, this is one for you! This is the first book of the "Bucklin Family Reunion" series, and I can hardly wait for the next one to come out.

High Cotton is filled with a wonderful, southern family who all love God, love each other, and love family reunions, of which they have several a year. I love how Debby approached the first person narrative in a unique way. There are four specific family members the book focuses on; Shay Henke, Puddin’ Henke, Missy Wright Montague, and Sally Wright. Each chapter of the book is from the point of view of one of these four women, and you bounce from one to the next seeing how intertwined their lives are. At times, it's easy to get a little distracted and lose track of who is doing what when and where, but to me, that is very much like real life.

There is comedy, hidden secrets, family drama, hope, chaos, and a group of people we can all relate to in some way. You will laugh, maybe shed a tear or two, laugh some more and cheer them on as you see how each woman grows through changes and turmoil with the support of this amazing, crazy southern family.

You can purchase your own copy HERE!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.

A Book You Won't Want To Put Down

Starting from Scratch
by Kate Lloyd


I was never a big fan of Amish books, but this one is so different from others I have read. I was genuinely surprised at how wonderful this book was. It was hard to put it down.

The book was written in first person, drawing you into the world of Eva Lapp. She is a very believable character, and you are drawn into her life quickly, caring about what happens to her and those she loves. Things happened in her past that others twisted into painful gossip, something most everyone has experienced.

Eva was sure she would spend the rest of her life alone; no husband, no children. It was not what she wanted, but she was determined to make the best of things alone. Little did she know how much her life really was going to change.

The characters in the book are all people you can relate to, albeit some are a little eccentric, and it was enjoyable to see how each brought something special, although not always enjoyable, to Eva's life. Her faith and trust in God is stretched and she grows in ways she never expected.

This is a book I can recommend with no reservations. It is the second in the Lancaster Discoveries series, yet is an excellent stand-alone book.

You can purchase your own copy HERE!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.

Romance Can Last A Lifetime

I love a book that is real, where the author sounds like they really mean what they are sharing and are not just telling you a bunch of how-to and how-not facts with stories that fit the topic. This book is one of those books, where you can tell that the author, Rhonda Stoppe, really cares about helping you achieve a very special relationship with your spouse.

The collection of real-life love stories can touch your heart in a very special way and can encourage you in your own personal romance no matter how long you have been in love. I found it very touching and encouraging, and something to refer back to from time to time. This will be a great book to share with some of the young couples I know! I highly recommend it to you.

About the Book:
Do you believe in true love?

In a world of broken relationships and hurting people, it can seem like all we ever see is heartache—that marriages are doomed from the start and romance isn’t worth the risk.

But heart-fluttering, long-lasting love is all around us…we just have to look for it!

This collection of beautiful, real-life accounts will bring laughter and tears as you enjoy each story of ordinary people who found extraordinary love. Page after page, you will find inspiration to 
—rekindle the romance in your love story
—trust in God’s providence and timing
—faithfully hope for your own happily-ever-after
—celebrate true romance
—believe in life-long love

Don’t let the world define romance for you! See how God is at work in the hearts of His people—knitting together hearts in a love that forever endures.


Learn more and purchase a copy.

About the Author:
Rhonda Stoppe is the No Regrets Woman. With more than 20 years of experience as a pastor’s wife, mom, mentor, author, and speaker, Rhonda uses humor and honest communication to help women build No Regrets Lives. She and her husband live their real-life romance in northern California, and have four grown children and eight grandchildren.

Find out more about Rhonda at http://www.rhondastoppe.com.
Connect with here on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram

This reviewer received the product free or at a discounted price in order to bring you an honest review. No other form of compensation was given. All opinions are those of the reviewer.

A Fragile Hope Is A Must-Read Book

Cynthia Ruchti is one of my favorite authors. Every book I have read by her has been wonderful and this one is no exception.

A Fragile Hope has characters that you want to learn about. They feel so real as you read along. As they go through struggles, you feel like you are going through them as well. Cynthia has a way of pulling you into the story and you don't want to leave.

Josiah is a character that any person could relate to through the struggle he has with his marriage and with his relationship with God. I love how you see him realize the problems he is having and then learning to rely on God and the strength and hope that He alone can bring. You find yourself aching along with him and joy as he finds true hope to cling to.

This is an excellent book and I highly recommend it to you.

About the book:
Hope grows when seeds are planted—even in the muddy middle of life.

Josiah Chamberlain’s life’s work revolves around repairing other people’s marriages. When his own is threatened by his wife’s unexplained distance, and then threatened further when she’s unexpectedly plunged into an unending fog, Josiah finds his expertise, quick wit and clever quips are no match for a relationship that is clearly broken.

Feeling betrayed, confused, and ill-equipped for a crisis this crippling, he reexamines everything he knows about the fragility of hope and the strength of his faith and love. Love seems to have failed him. Will what’s left of his faith fail him, too? Or will it be the one thing that holds him together and sears through the impenetrable wall that separates them?

Learn more and purchase a copy.

About the author:

Cynthia Ruchti tells stories hemmed in hope. She’s the award-winning author of 17 books and a frequent speaker for women’s ministry events. She serves as the Professional Relations Liaison for American Christian Fiction Writers, where she helps retailers, libraries, and book clubs connect with the authors and books they love. She lives with her husband in Central Wisconsin.

Find out more about Cynthia at http://www.cynthiaruchti.com.

This reviewer received the product free or at a discounted price in order to bring you an honest review. No other form of compensation was given. All opinions are those of the reviewer.

Thinking About Who Jesus Really Is

This book was one that I was not too sure about as I read it, but my mind changed as I went along. Much of what Matt talks about I can relate to, we all have some weird and incorrect ideas about who Jesus really is and our walk with Him. It was interesting to see Matt's perspective on things and to really think about what he was saying. This is a book that will make you think, rethink, and question in a good way how you perceive things you think you already know. It would be a great discussion book for groups!

About the book:
Jesus is not a life coach, a movement leader, a cultural visionary, or a blessing dispenser—but you might not know that by listening to many Christians talk about their faith.

Feel-good slogans promote a caricatured Jesus made in our own image who cannot save us and leave us feeling guilty for not saving ourselves. Following the wrong Jesus disappoints us and produces anxiety, pride, and despair.

The first half of Getting Jesus Wrong recounts pastor and author Matt Johnson’s personal encounters with a string of false saviors—false saviors that many, especially young adults, will recognize. Johnson’s humor and transparency in recounting his own painful experiences will appeal to those who have tried a “brand” of Christianity and found it lacking.

The truth is, we all want something from Jesus. Some are just hoping for a little help to get through life—a new direction, a purpose that will get us up in the morning, an exercise plan, a way to get organized. But that approach to Jesus doesn’t result in real faith or love.

Whether we’ve followed a false Jesus or attempted to coopt the real Jesus, Getting Jesus Wrong ultimately offers us hope because it helps us see Jesus as he is. Getting Jesus Wrong shows that the message of the Bible is about Jesus coming to us as we are—which is good news for exhausted and disillusioned disciples. It shows us that getting Jesus right means a whole new way of thinking (the way up is down) and a whole new way of life (daily dependence on the one who knows the beginning from the end). Getting Jesus right gives us more than spiritual vitamins or a blueprint for living; it gives us a full, rich life spent exploring the depths of gospel love together.

Learn more and purchase a copy.

About the author:
Matt Johnson is a husband, father to two little girls, and is an armchair student of theology living in Seattle. He is also a freelance writer and editor. Until recently, Matt spent 7 years as an associate volunteer pastor in counseling and recovery ministry.

Find out more about Matt at https://www.therealmattjohnson.com.
Connect with him on Twitter.

This reviewer received the product free or at a discounted price in order to bring you an honest review. No other form of compensation was given. All opinions are those of the reviewer.

Leaving Religion, Finding Grace

This is a book I could not put down. I lovd every moment of reading it. I really appreciated how open and honest Kendra was about the horrible struggles they went through as a family and what she learned through it.

Kendra opens up about her walk with Christ, her doubts, her fears, all the while drawing you in to understanding how she grew to be more like Christ and that you can as well. She had no idea how little she really was walking with Christ until tragedy happened, and her eyes and those of her husband were opened to how life with Christ was meant to be more than just following rules and behaving in a specific way.

This is a transforming book and I highly recommend it to you!

About the book:
The “right” homeschooling philosophy. The “right” brand of theology. The “right” meal-planning, home-managing, keep-it-all-together parenting.

Kendra Fletcher, homeschooling mom of eight, had it all “right,” until it all fell apart. In the course of eighteen months, Kendra found her baby in a coma, ran over her five-year-old, and nearly lost her eight-year-old to a septic ruptured appendix. Lost and Found is the story of how God used those events to transform her family’s self-righteous religion into freedom in Christ.

Fletcher’s debut book is the gripping true story of how God used suffering to save her family from empty religion. As wave after wave of crisis hit, the Fletchers discovered that getting religion “right” wasn’t a good substitute for a living relationship with a loving God. Through their suffering, they learned about misplaced identities and false hope, and they threw themselves wholly into the arms of Jesus—where they found the grace they needed.

Fletcher, a well-known writer and conference speaker in Christian homeschooling circles, addresses the quiet legalism that so easily infiltrates Christian communities and exposes the dangers of focusing our hopes on the “right” ways of worship, work, and family life. More than a memoir, Lost and Found invites all of us to give up the things that hold us in bondage and find our value, worth, significance, hope, and identity in Christ alone.

Learn more and purchase a copy.

About the author:
Kendra Fletcher writes on faith and education for a variety of publications, including her blog. She is also a frequent speaker at homeschooling conventions, but she spends most of her time with her very large family. The Fletchers reside in California, where they play in the Pacific Ocean as often as possible.

Find out more about Kendra at http://www.kendrafletcher.com.
Connect with here on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

This reviewer received the product free or at a discounted price in order to bring you an honest review. No other form of compensation was given. All opinions are those of the reviewer.

A Book That Will Make You Think, And That's A Good Thing

There are a lot of authors out there that write about how to embrace your faith more seriously and fully. Well, this author did a pretty good job. He is a very down to earth kind of person and transparent, a character trait I really appreciate. Noel offer some interesting perspectives on how we can be free to admit we are not perfect, but a work in progress. I may not agree with him entirely on doctrinal issues, but I think this is a great book to make you think, and that's a good thing.

About the book:
Christians are free in Christ, yet Christianity can feel like a prison. Unchained helps Christians who don’t feel that grace has changed their lives.

Often when people follow Jesus, they feel more guilty instead of more free. A powerful book for the spiritually restless, Unchained shows readers how to have a robust faith that celebrates their freedom in Christ without compromising their holiness as God’s followers.

Unchained turns to the person and work of Jesus Christ as the source of freedom—not just his work 2,000 years ago but also what he is doing today. As readers dig into the meaning of the freedom that Jesus offers, they will understand, perhaps for the first time, what true freedom in Christ means.

About the author:
Noel Jesse Heikkinen is a pastor at Riverview Church, a multi-site church of over 3,000 near Lansing, Michigan. Heikkinen also helps lead the church planting ministry Acts 29 and is the chairman of the board for the mission agency Reliant. He and his wife, Grace, have four children. 

Find out more about Noel Jesse at http://www.noeljesse.com.
Connect with him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

This reviewer received the product free or at a discounted price in order to bring you an honest review. No other form of compensation was given. All opinions are those of the reviewer.

Kids Finding Biblical Answers To Their Questions

This reviewer received the product free or at a discounted price in order to bring you an honest review. No other form of compensation was given. All opinions are those of the reviewer.

How many times a day do your kids ask you questions you aren't sure of how to answer or you are really busy and don't have time to answer it? Or how about you want to encourage them to learn on their own to find the answers to their questions? Being a former home schooling mom, I tend to lean toward the latter of those. I wanted my kids to study and learn for themselves.

One of the best books I ever wanted them to learn from was and still is, the Bible. Boy do I wish I had this other book to go along with the Bible when they were younger!

365 Bible Answers for Curious Kids, by Kathryn Slattery, is a tremendous tool for every Christian home! Through a daily devotional, questions about God, the Bible, and faith are answered in a loving way that points children to God's plan and His love, supported by what is in Scripture.

As a parent and hopefully some day a grandparent, I appreciate the thorough research and accuracy for this wide range of theological, historical, and faith topics.

 

In addition to faith topics, this devotional addresses topics such as Christian traditions, the historic growth of Christianity, how to become a Christian, and what it means to be a Christian in today's world.

There is a fantastic index included in the book that helps kids find something specific when they are reading. The topics in the index are: time, God, God's promises, Jesus, God's Holy Spirit, the Bible the Old Testament, the New Testament, Christianity, prayer, the Church, Christian seasons, holidays, and traditions, being a Christian here and now, and eternity. There are some topics there that I bet you may have a hard time answering in a way kids will really understand and appreciate.

I love how the book is written in a way that kids can do the devotions alone or you can do them as a family. They can also stand on their own. You don't have to read them based on the days of the year. I think it would be fun to do a topical study on specific things like time, promises, etc.

This book is something I will be glad to give as a gift to several of my friends who have kids. It's a great way to get your children excited about the details and the amazing facts in the Bible.

You can purchase 365 Bible Answers for Curious Kids, by Kathryn Slattery at local retailers or online Here or Here

One Christmas Bear For You and Your Little Ones

One of my favorite things I love to do is read to little ones. It always so fun to watch their reactions to the story and the pictures. We started reading to our boys, well pretty much right after they were born. It has been something very important to my husband and me. Reading is a must in our lives and both our boys love to read too.

But for me, it was something more. That special time, cuddled with your little one and sharing a special story. It's a wonderful bonding time and the closeness to each other is a very calming and relaxing thing.

My husband liked to make books very entertaining. He would make voices for the characters in them. His favorite to read to them included a fairly good imitation of Richard M. Nixon.

But just reading any old book is not enough. I think it is vital to make sure you are reading books to your little ones, your not so little ones, and encouraging your older kids to read on their own, books that are going to help them draw closer to God.

One sweet book that is available right now is just precious, One Christmas Bear, written and illustrated by Anne Vittur Kennedy.

Count the joys of Christmas with Christmas Bear and his arctic friends in One Christmas Bear, the new holiday-shaped board book for toddlers and preschoolers by Anne Vittur Kennedy. With beautiful illustrations and simple, rhyming text, One Christmas Bear is perfect to help little ones learn to count, and wonderful for families to enjoy together. Little ones will love to count seasonal elements, such as crunchy candy canes, colorful ornaments, and frosty snowflakes, and parents will appreciate the emphasis on family, friends, and the sweet depiction of the reason for the season—Jesus’ birth!

Anne Vittur Kennedy has been delighting young children with her humorous and playful books for thirty years. Her awards include American Library Association’s Notable Books List, Teacher’s Choice, The Green Earth Book Award, and The Green Prize for Sustainable Literature.

What I really like about this board book is the size. It's big enough to really see the story well and yet still small enough for your little one to help hold too. This is one book I know I will enjoy sharing with the little ones in my life.

You can find One Christmas Bear at many local retailers and online at Amazon and Christian Book Distributors.

This reviewer received the product free or at a discounted price in order to bring you an honest review. No other form of compensation was given. All opinions are those of the reviewer.

An Eye Opening Book For Believers To Read

Having friends who have been missionaries in several Middle Eastern countries, I have learned a lot about the struggles Christians deal with on a day to day basis, sometimes even a moment to moment basis. This book hit home with me because of what I already knew.

Although this book is fiction, what happens in it is based on true life experiences and can help you understand a culture that is very foreign to many of us. God called us to go into all the world, and that includes countries that it might not be easy to go to. The characters in the book experience deep personal spiritual growth as the story progresses and it is wonderful to see. The struggles are so worth it as they share their faith with others.

This book is a really good read and easy read. It is a sequel to Side by Side, but can be read as a stand alone book easily. This would be a great book for teens and young adults to read, as well as adults. Some of the subjects are tough to grasp in respect to the hard times Believers in those countries deal with, but not so much that you should avoid it. It's an impactful book!

About the book:
"It's rough and it's smooth. It's dark and it's light. It's a masterpiece. It's us. Here in Sudan. We are scared of it and drawn to it. There is an open door, and there is much opposition."

In the dusty, Islamic country of Sudan, Mia, who is raising her family in a Muslim country, has learned to boldly share her faith. Rania, the daughter of a wealthy Sudanese Arab, seeks to find the reason for her sister's sudden disappearance. Mia holds some of the answers, but both women quickly discover they must each walk through their own doors to freedom---the freedom that only comes when you trust God's sovereignty more than man-made security.

Part of New Hope® Publishers' line of contemporary missional fiction, Door to Freedom, the sequel to Side by Side, opens the reader's eyes to modern-day persecution and the life of Muslims in Sudan. Based on real-life events, Door to Freedom also reveals some of the struggles that Christians face when living under Islamic law. The reader will be inspired to pray for those who are persecuted for their faith as well as for the salvation of the persecutors.

About the author:

Jana Kelley is a Texan who hardly ever lives in Texas. Raised in Southeast Asia, Jana developed a love for cross-cultural living early in life. Her love for writing came soon after. Jana returned to Texas to attend college. She and her husband married a month after she graduated and by their second anniversary, they were living in a remote African town. Together with her husband and three boys, Jana enjoys travel and overseas living. After thirteen years in Africa and the Middle East, Jana and her family moved to Southeast Asia where they currently live.

This reviewer received the product free or at a discounted price in order to bring you an honest review. No other form of compensation was given. All opinions are those of the reviewer.

Getaway With God Is A Fabulous Book For Every Women

One of my favorite things to do is take off on a weekend with friends and go to a retreat for women and spend time in the Word and in fellowship. I learn so much then. But I have never taken off by myself for a retreat just with God.

This book is something that I wish I had read years ago. I try to spend as much time as I can alone with God, but not in such a dedicated way as Letitia recommends. She gives you the reason why something like a retreat away alone to spend time with God is important, how to do it, suggestions on where to go, and more.

Letitia draws you in, like an old friend, and shows you how these special times can help you grow tremendously and to learn to relax in God's presence! This is a wonderful book and I highly recommend it to you!

About the book:
What if a simple day away could transform your life?

Does spending time with God sound like just one more thing to check off an ever-increasing to-do list? How are you supposed to fit in anything that threatens to be more time-consuming? Too often there's simply no room to experience the intimacy, grace, and peace that God offers us.

Getaway with God does more than invite you to step away from life's pressures to take a personal retreat. It shows you exactly why you must---for your sake and for your family's.

With grace and warmth, Letitia Suk provides step-by-step guidance and the necessary tools to enable any woman on any budget to plan time away, whether it's a quick, half-day break or a weeklong time of restoration. You'll find detailed steps for preparation, including descriptions of different kinds of retreats and how to choose the best one for you, and you'll learn ways to bring the renewal you experience home with you. Practical appendixes identify retreat centers nationwide and provide exercises and prayers to kick-start your getaway with God.

No matter what your season in life, the time for retreat is now!

 Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/2gCczSG

About the author:
Letitia Suk invites women to chase the Intentional life. She writes and speaks of God's renewal and

restoration and offers platters of hope to women in each season of life. Tish is also a personal retreat guide and life coach in the Chicago area and moonlights as a hospital chaplain. You might run into her walking by Lake Michigan, browsing resale shops, or making up a new tradition. She blogs at hopeforthebest.org and is also the author of Rhythms of Renewal.

 Website | Facebook | Twitter

This reviewer received the product free or at a discounted price in order to bring you an honest review. No other form of compensation was given. All opinions are those of the reviewer.

A Fantastic Way To Keep The Real Meaning Of Christmas In Mind

I love devotional books. They make it fun and interesting to see others perspectives on the Word and they help direct your thoughts for the day in the right direction.

Well this devotional book is not like others. It has a lovely twist to it that I really like. Yes, there are interesting perspectives on God's Word and thoughts to encourage me to think in the right direction (especially about Christmas), but it also has so much more!

Each day there is a short devotion helping you to keep you perspective right during the busy Christmas holiday. the devotion is followed by a song. I love this. How often have you really thought about the songs we sing around Christmas and what they really mean. It is then followed by a practical thing to do, make a gift, bake a special recipe, and more. I just love how it helps aim your thoughts and deeds to stay centered around Christ and sharing Him with others!

This is a fantastic book and I highly recommend it to you!

About the book:
Celebrate 31 days of a Christ-filled Christmas season.

For Christians worldwide, the month of December is filled with joy and wonder as we anticipate the celebration of Christ's birth. There is no other time of the year that can compare to the Christmas season for both the young and young at heart.

From December to New Year's Eve, reawaken the wonder, joy, and magic that is Christmas with daily scripture and inspirational readings of stories behind popular Christmas traditions, carols and movies. Enjoy a wealth of fun activities to help make the most of the season, including heartwarming holiday recipes and homemade gift ideas.

With this soon-to-be-cherished holiday devotional, best-selling author Ace Collins will capture your imagination and help to make each day of December more memorable and meaningful to you, and those you love, by shining a light on the real spirit of the season.

Purchase a copy HERE!

About the author:
Ace Collins defines himself as a storyteller. He has authored more than sixty books that have sold more than 2.5 million copies. His catalog includes novels, biographies, children's works as well as books on history, culture and faith. He has also been the featured speaker at the National Archives Distinguished Lecture Series, hosted a network television special and does college basketball play-by-play. Ace lives in Arkansas.

Connect with Ace : Website | Facebook | Twitter

This reviewer received the product free or at a discounted price in order to bring you an honest review. No other form of compensation was given. All opinions are those of the reviewer.

Creativity Is A God-Given Thing We Each Have ~ Embrace It

One thing my husband soon learned about me was that I love to create thing, whether it is through cooking art or even in the garden. it's a big part of me and I truly believe God created all of us to be creative in our own distinct ways. 

This book by Speake and Stuart is such a wonderful book for anyone who loves to create and for

those who aren't sure if they have a creative bone in them. They show you throughout the Word of God how he encourages us to be creative as He was creative. He made each of us uniquely and we each can have our own form of creativity. The cool thing is we can use that creativity as a form of worship. I love that!!

This book is really encouraging and sparks good discussion and ideas. You'll feel like getting busy worshiping God through the creative things you do or discover in your life for and with your family and friends!

About the book:

What was God thinking when He created you creative and then gave you children? 

Creative moms often feel as though they must lay their passions down. But God had something special in mind for the creative woman during this intense season of mothering.

In this Pinterest age of handcrafted children's parties, Instagram photos of beautifully decorated homes, and blogs filled with poetry and prose, it is clear that we are in the midst of a brand new artistic renaissance. Not one born in Italian cathedrals or Harlem jazz clubs, but rather in kitchens, nurseries, and living rooms around the world. Mothers, working in the cracks and crevices of each hectic day, are adorning the world with their gifts, and they're showing all of us the beauty of this Life Creative.

In this book, you'll learn:

-Why the world needs your art

-How this Life Creative begins at home

-When art can turn a profit

-Your part in this modern day Renaissance

Life Creative paints the stories of moms, just like you, who are fitting their inspired lives into the everyday, ordinary places of motherhood. Women like home decorator Melissa Michaels and jewelry designer Lisa Leonard, author Angie Smith, recording artist Ellie Holcomb, and many more. 

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/2bDsqfz

About the authors:

Wendy Speake is a trained actress and heartfelt teacher. She ministers to women's hearts through storytelling and life applications, utilizing drama, comedy, poetry and the study of God's Word. During her career in Hollywood, Speake found herself longing to tell stories that edify and encourage women. She is the author of Triggers: Exchanging Parents' Angry Reactions for Gentle Biblical Responses (BRU Press, 2015). Speake is a wife and homeschooling mother of three boys. 

Kelli Stuart is a writer and a storyteller at heart. She has written for several websites including The Huffington Post, 5 Minutes for Mom, The MOB Society, (in)courage and Compassion International. She is the author of three books, including Like a River from Its Course (Kregel Publications, 2016) and a noted speaker. Stuart her husband live in Florida with their four children.

Website | Instagram

This reviewer received the product free or at a discounted price in order to bring you an honest review. No other form of compensation was given. All opinions are those of the reviewer.

The Minister Takes A Look At Union With Christ

For this book review, my husband volunteered to read. He's a voracious reader. Here's what he thought.

Rankin Wilbourne believes that recent church history shows a lack of emphasis on the concept of union with Christ. He hopes his book, “Union with Christ,” will be part of a current growth in appreciation for this principle, which will yield great benefits for Christendom.

What does he mean by “union with Christ?” That's hard to say. Wilbourne chooses to use plethora of metaphor and imagery to stir the readers' imagination, but asserts that the concept is impossible to define. Regarding biblical “pictures” of the doctrine, he explains, “the number of metaphors tells us how important this is; the variety tells us how far reaching. But the fact that metaphors must be used at all tells us there is no way to describe or explain union with Christ directly.” By this reasoning, the relative lack of metaphors concerning Trinitarianism would suggest that it is not important and rarely affects the rest of theology or our lives. Wilbourne has, I think, allowed his fascination with the concept of union with Christ to cloud his judgment. While all the implications of this doctrine cannot be addressed briefly, the basic idea [as is true for most doctrines] can be succinctly stated; it was, in 1520, by Martin Luther in “The Freedom of a Christian:” using the analogy of marriage [Ephesians 5:31,32], Luther explains that if “there is between [the believer and Christ] a true marriage, everything they have they hold in common, the good as well as the evil.” Luther goes on to discuss how the believer gains mighty gifts from the relationship while Christ is not tainted by the faults and sins He shares in the union.

Wilbourne traces the concept of union with Christ through church history, sadly opining that this doctrine was, until recently, a mainstay of Christian thought. The notion of consistency is hard to maintain when only one proponent of the matter [Bernard of Clairvaux] is cited for the 4^th through 15^th centuries; and citing B. B. Warfield, Karl Barth and C. S. Lewis [plus others] refutes the author's assertion that the doctrine's consideration diminished during the mid-19^th to mid-20^th centuries.

1. The book's strength is its exposition of the way union with Christ affects the Christian perspective on salvation, prayer, spiritual growth, suffering, and a host of other important aspects of life. These thoughts are both informative and encouraging, and are gems worth working through the vagueness and metaphors to grasp. Wilbourne is right: grasping this doctrine can yield results that help redically promote spiritual growth.

The fascination with a doctrine that has made such a strong personal impact leads Wilbourne to obscuring simple things and oversimplifying complicated aspects of his subject; this same fascination gives him the ability to inspire his readers with his passionate explanations of the varied and transforming implications of union with Christ.

The end notes, while not formatted as a “for further study” resource, can be valuable in providing further writing on the book's subject.

This book may be flawed but definitely worth reading.

About the Book:

Union with Christ means that you are in Christ and Christ is in you. This almost unfathomable truth is the central theme of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Yet few Christians ever experience it. 

Union with Christ reveals the transformational power of this ancient doctrine while addressing the greatest questions of the human heart:
 Who am I?
 Why am I here?
 Where am I headed?
 How will I get there?

 Nothing is more practical for enjoying the Christian life than union with Christ. The recovery of this truth offers hope and healing---for our destiny is to not only see Christ as he is one day but to actually become like him today.

About the book:
Rankin Wilbourne is senior pastor of Pacific Crossroads Church in Los Angeles. As a former commercial banker, Rankin understands the "gap" between the gospel preached on Sunday and the world people face Monday-and equips believers with a hands-on 24/7 faith. Rankin and his wife Morgen reside in California with their three children.bout the author:

This reviewer received the product free or at a discounted price in order to bring you an honest review. No other form of compensation was given. All opinions are those of the reviewer.

Growing Closer To God Through His Wonderful Names

I love learning all I can about my God and one way to really learn more about Him is through His names. Sheryl Giesbrecht approaches this with a wonderful book with 31 days on 31 names of God. Each day is a new name with an explanation of that name, what it really means in practical terms for our lives, Scripture that supports that name, and a prayer using that name. You don't have to do a name a day if you don't want to. I am doing one a week, to really spend time on it. What a wonderful way to learn each of these names and to help you develop a special time in prayer. This is not all of God's names, but I think she chose ones that can help us grasp how wonderful He is and how much He loves us. It is an intimate book and communication with Him. I think this is one you would really enjoy.

About the book:
What's in a name?
Names are more than groups of letters that represent a person or identify objects. Names are powerful. A person's character and destiny can be influenced by his or her name. God's attributes and personality support His unique and distinct names. If we comprehend the meanings of His titles, we can know God more intimately. In Experiencing God Through His Names, Sheryl Giesbrecht walks with you on an exciting journey to discover and absorb the truth about God's character. In the next 31 days, God wants you to get to know Him. Are you ready?

Purchase a copy HERE!

About the author:
Sheryl Giesbrecht has written three books, hundreds of articles, blogs, and columns. A nationally syndicated radio host, Sheryl is a sought after inspirational speaker who facilitates leadership training for thousands internationally.

Connect with Sheryl : Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

This reviewer received the product free or at a discounted price in order to bring you an honest review. No other form of compensation was given. All opinions are those of the reviewer.

You Need To Read This Book With A Box Of Tissues Handy

I don't know where to begin to tell you how much I enjoyed this book, but the first thing I will tell you is to read it with a box of tissues! The stories in this book are so sweet and moving, you'll need them!

The whole book is hard to put down once you start reading. Each story is wonderful and you get to see how special service dogs, clear back to the very first recorded service dog, form an amazing bond between themselves and the person they are serving. You get to see how people's lives are permanently changed for good no matter what their limitations are to start with, emotional, physical, or mental. You get to see the people open up and have normal lives thanks to special dogs and the bod they form with them.

This is a wonderful book and I encourage you to read it!

About the book:
Heart-tugging true stories of the courage, faith, and loyalty of remarkable service dogs.

Not all heroic dogs wildly toss themselves into lifesaving situations. Some save lives simply by their incredible commitment to duty and service. Some lead the way to independence for people whose disabilities were supposed to limit their lives.

In Service Tails: More Stories of Man's Best Hero, prolific author Ace Collins introduces us to leaders whose entire lives are wrapped in the banner of service. Their stories are remarkable snapshots of the value of vision and teamwork, as well as devotion to duty and unconditional love and acceptance---stretching the way we see both canine and human potential. Their training was intense, their loyalty unquestioned and each step of the way they constantly adapt to better serve those they lead. These unforgettable dogs are more than heroes; they are models from which we can learn how to love and serve unconditionally.

Purchase a copy HERE!

About the author:
Ace Collins defines himself as a storyteller. He has authored more than sixty books that have sold more than 2.5 million copies. His catalog includes novels, biographies, children's works as well as books on history, culture and faith. He has also been the featured speaker at the National Archives Distinguished Lecture Series, hosted a network television special and does college basketball play-by-play. Ace lives in Arkansas.

Connect with Ace here! Website | Facebook | Twitter

This reviewer received the product free or at a discounted price in order to bring you an honest review. No other form of compensation was given. All opinions are those of the reviewer.

I Needed This Book Years Ago

This is a book that really touches home for me. For many years I was comparing myself to other moms and I had a few relatives who were comparing me to other moms too. It was tough and it took me years to learn that was not what I was supposed to be doing. It was okay that I was different than other moms. I could have used this book to help me through a rough time in my life.

I love Hettie's openness and encouragement throughout the book. She shows us that it is okay that we are not like every other so called "perfect" mom. Each of us is called to mother in a different way since we were all created to be different from the start. I love how she talks about temperaments and how we can use that to help us mother in a better way and to reach out to the temperaments of our kids.

The best thing I though she did though was to draw us back to Scripture all the time and support what she shares with us through and in the Word! This is a great book and I will be sharing it with several young moms I know so they can avoid years of hurt and frustration like I went through!


About the book:
Do you feel like you're the only mom who serves store-bought birthday treats, dreads school plays, and misses the days of going to the bathroom by herself?

Unnatural Mom gives you permission to say that mothering doesn't always come naturally to you. Parenting expert and self-proclaimed unnatural mom Hettie Brittz helps you . . .
-Recognize how unrealistic our culture's standards of mothering are
-Move beyond the myths of "supermom"
-Complete a profile to determine your own parenting style
-Understand and forgive the mothers who hurt you
-Embrace your capabilities as well as your challenges

Come find new hope in discovering that every mother has unique gifts. In Christ, the "unnatural" mom becomes the supernatural mom who is just right for her family!

Purchase a copy HERE!

About the author:
Hettie Brittz is an author, international speaker, and one of South Africa's foremost voices on parenting advice. She is the developer of the Evergreen Parenting Course and Tall Trees Profiles. Hettie and her husband, Gospel singer Louis Brittz, live in South Africa with their three children.

Connect with Hettie here! Website | Facebook | Twitter

This reviewer received the product free or at a discounted price in order to bring you an honest review. No other form of compensation was given. All opinions are those of the reviewer.