Questions Jesus Asks (Review)

This review is for the book "Questions Jesus Asks" by Israel Wayne. This book is the first book I have ever read that researched the questions that Jesus asks in the Bible. Questions such as, "What are you seeking?", "Who touched me?", "Are you still sleeping?" and "Why are you afraid?". Each question touches on a specific topic. For example, "Who do people say that I am?" touches on Christology. Wayne goes through the importance of this question and topic by providing data as well as scripture regarding this topic. "What will it profit a man?" touches on the subject of finances.

I think that the author does a fantastic job of going through these questions and providing information to back up his thoughts. He speaks on the level of the average person and makes everything really easy to understand. I sincerely enjoyed reading the book and learned a lot. I would recommend this book to others.

Thank you to Cross Focused Reviews for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

A Well-Ordered Church (Review)

This review is for the book "A Well-Ordered Church" by William Boekestein and Daniel Hyde. I really enjoyed this book. The authors of this book are attempting to talk to evangelical Christians through this book to explain the basic biblical doctrines of the church. The book is centered on why a church needs to have a strong foundation in Jesus Christ. That is the identity (should be, anyway) of the local church. Christ is the authority of the church and so many of our modern churches have lost that. That is why people leave the church over the music, or the color of the carpet, or if there is a steeple or not. These are things that are making us lose our focus. In this book, the authors point out the direction we should be headed as a church (we should be teaching, worshiping, witnessing, repenting, etc.) and how to get there if we have strayed. I think this is a must-read for all Christians and especially church leaders.

Thank you to Cross Focused Reviews for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Your Sacred Yes (Review)

This review is for the book "Your Sacred Yes" by Susie Larson. The subtitle of this book is: Trading Life-Draining Obligation for Freedom, Passion & Joy. I believe so many of us can see where Larson is coming from in this book. Personally, there have been seasons in my life where I said yes to everything. The guilt of saying no was too much. I felt that if I did not say yes, no one else would either. There are many reasons we say yes to too many things, and then we are overwhelmed and drowning. In this book, Larson talks about the sloppy yes (saying yes to too many things and not doing any of them well), the shackled yes (giving in to peer pressure) and then the sacred yes (serving God well).

Included after every chapter is a prayer, personal reflection questions, a short paragraph on wisdom, group discussion starter questions, and a faith declaration.

This is a great book for those of us who feel guilty every time we say no. Take back your service to God by utilizing the advice in this book.

Thank you to Bethany House for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Gaining by Losing (Review)

This review is for the book "Gaining by Losing" by J.D. Greear. I have not heard of Greear before, nor his church, Summit Church, even though it's a fairly large church only about an hour from my house. I am definitely intrigued after reading this book, though.

The entire premise of the book is how to gain disciples. Not how to add numbers to your church or baptize the most people in your community (although those are awesome things) but Greear is big on church-planting and being mission-minded. The mission part can either mean crossing the world or hardly leaving your doorstep. Greear gives great examples in this book on how to create disciples from your church and how to spread the gospel by using (and sometimes losing!) your church members.

This book really made sense to me, because we are all called to be disciples. Greear gives plenty of examples in the book of honest doubts he has had and great decisions his church leaders and community have made together. I really enjoyed the book and I would love to go visit this church and see them in action! I believe this book can help bring forth a lot of development in churches.

Thank you to Cross Focused Reviews for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

It's Good to Be Queen (Review)

This review is for the book "It's Good to Be Queen" by Liz Curtis Higgs. If you are not familiar with other works by Higgs, she excels in researching ladies in the Bible and explaining them in extraordinary (and interesting) detail. This particular book details the story of the Queen of Sheba, as she journeys to meet King Solomon. The story of "Sheba" (as she is widely known) is very short in the Bible. Higgs is such a talented author and researcher, and she was very able to pull so much meat out of such a short Bible passage.

This is a very easy, down-to-earth read. You will enjoy it and learn a lot from it. Also included in the book is a study guide with discussion questions. I highly recommend this book, as well as all of her other works.

Thank you to Waterbrook Multonah for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

God Wants to Bless You (Review)

This review is for the book "God Wants to Bless You!" by Che Ahn. Many Christians feel that they are not receiving the blessings that they should receive. Ahn suggests that sometimes, this is the fault of the Christian. Ahn declares that once you recognize God's blessings and understand their power, you can receive those blessings. The book is filled with decrees that you can pray for yourself and others. These decrees are about things like love, Christlike character, family and prosperity.

This is a great book to read about all the blessings God wants to bestow on you. Yes, you are going to have rough patches in your life, but God will see you through those and continue to bless your life. Praying scripture over your life is something that isn't done much anymore or really even talked about but I believe it can only bring great things to your life.

Thank you to Bethany House for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Through Waters Deep (Review)

This review is for the book "Through Waters Deep" by Sarah Sundin. This book is the first book in the Waves of Freedom series. This novel is set in the year 1941. America could go to war at any moment. Jim Avery is a new naval officer, and in his duties he sees Mary Stirling, who was a friend of his in high school. Mary is working as a secretary for naval officers.

Soon, there is evidence of sabotage on a destroyer. Mary is suspicious and begins her own secret investigation. Soon, Jim is in on the investigation too. Mary takes precise notes without being noticed and is able to get information to the FBI. Jim and Mary grow quite close during this time. In fact, both feel that they are falling in love, but they are scared to tell the other. One day, after Jim ships out, his old crush comes back into town. It creates a love triangle that either Jim or Mary is going to have to break through.

This story is full of intrigue, mystery, and romance. I enjoyed the historical aspect of this novel. The parts where Jim was at sea were exciting to me. I really liked the characters in this book a lot. I would love to read more in this series as they come out.

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Irish Meadows (Review)

This review is for the book "Irish Meadows" by Susan Anne Mason. This is book one in the Courage to Dream series. The story is set in the early 1900s in New York. Brianna and Colleen O'Leary are expected to marry well. The family horse farm is not doing well and if they will marry prosperous husbands they can save the farm. Brianna is secretly in love with Gilbert Whelan, and she has dreams of attending college. Colleen spends her days running after men in order to make up for something that happened in the past. She unexpectedly falls in love with Rylan Montgomery, who is supposed to be in town preparing to be the new priest.

The book involves Brianna and Colleen's father attempting to set them up with prosperous husbands and making both girls feel awful. There is tension between Brianna and Gilbert because Gilbert is also promised to someone else. There is tension between Colleen and Rylan because as a priest, Rylan should not be entertaining the thought of marriage.

I liked the characters and storyline of this book. Mason has a great writing style that will keep you reading. I hope to read the other books in this series.

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Now and Forever (Review)

This review is for the book "Now and Forever" by Mary Connealy. This is the second book in her Wild at Heart series, but I believe you could easily read this book as a standalone novel.

This book starts out on a very adventurous note. Matthew Tucker is chasing someone (who turns out to be Shannon Wilde) when he is attacked by a grizzly bear. Shannon and Matthew end up fleeing the bear by jumping into a raging river, which it turns out, does not turn out survivors. Ever. Soon they are tasked with helping each other survive.

As they come out of their adventure, they are married by a local pastor due to the fact that they have been together, alone, for so many days. So now the couple has to come together in spite of different life goals and ways they were brought up.

The book is full of mystery, romance, and adventure. If you like historical romance novels you will really enjoy these characters and this story.

Thank you to Bethany House for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Self-Deliverance (Review)

This review is for the book "Self-Deliverance" by Rabbi K.A. Schneider. In this book, Rabbi Schneider discusses the reality of demons and how they affect us in our daily lives. He explains how they affect Christians differently from those who are unsaved. He helps point out thoughts and actions which may come from a demon (demons of fear, of greed, of neglect, etc.). He tells of scripture that can help drive out these demons or thoughts. And most importantly he shows readers how to experience the healing that is possible only through God.

I know this is not really a pleasant topic, and most people now do not even believe in demons. The way that Rabbi Schneider discusses demonic activity actually made a lot of sense to me. It is about what you let into your life, and the things that have control of you. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it.

Thank you to Chosen Publishers for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

A Bride At Last (Review)

This review is for the book "A Bride at Last" by Melissa Jagears. In this novel, set in the 1800's, Silas Jonesy has been left by his mail-order bride, Lucy. He comes to town to find her just as she is passing away from a recent illness. Kate Dawson is ready to take care of Lucy's son, but before she can, Silas enters town claiming to be his father. At the same time, another man, Richard, also comes to town with the same claims. Kate doesn't really believe either man is fit to raise Anthony. Meanwhile, Anthony runs away because he agrees with Kate. Kate and Silas spend days at a time searching for Anthony, growing closer during that period.

This novel has drama, romance, and a rollercoaster of emotions for everyone involved in the situation.

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.