Book Review: You're Going To Be Okay

If your life isn't perfect . . . 
If you've ever been disappointed . . .
If you feel stressed or tired . . . 
This is for you. 

You really are going to be okay. And it truly is possible to live with joy, resilience, and strength no matter what life brings. Yes, there will be hurt and hard times. But God wants to help you find ways to survive, grow stronger, and even thrive--no matter what happens. 

With her trademark positive encouragement and probing questions for self-reflection, bestselling author Holley Gerth encourages you to spend less of your life stressing or regretting and more of your life truly living.


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Oh friends, this book. THIS BOOK. Thought provoking. Encouraging. Uplifting. Filled with precious truth that we all need so desperately to hear and to allow to just soak right in to our hearts.  This life is hard. It really is. I can't think of a single person who has an "easy" life. We are all struggling in our own ways and it's easy to think that we are just going to walk around in despair until we fall apart.  To be honest, I was pretty full of despair when this book arrived on my doorstep a few weeks ago.  Just reading the introduction caused a wave of tears and I had to set the book aside for another day. But when I picked it up again I couldn't put it down. It felt as though Holley was sitting right there with me, whispering the reassurance I so desperately needed to hear.  Holley's writing style is so familiar, so friendly and warm. She has been in the dirt, she has been heartbroken, she doesn't talk into your pain like she knows how you're feeling - because only you know how you are feeling - but she can relate to what it feels like to be hurting so deeply.  She shares her personal journey in this book, and lots of funny asides that allow the reader to really get a feel for her personality. I kind of want to find her and make her my new best friend.   My copy is a mess! I have little folds in some corners for pages that spoke to me, and really big folds for the parts that I know I will be reading again and again for those moments I need extra truth and encouragement that I really will be ok. And then there's the page with all the tears: I want to whisper, "I know this isn't easy." You've made it this far, and that tells me so much about you - that you are a brave, beautiful, faithful woman. You are trying to trust even when you're not sure what's ahead. You're persevering when I know it would be easier to give up. I don't know what you future holds, but I know who holds you. I pray he shows you more of who he is and more of who you are in ways you never expected...and beyond what you've even dared to hope. The news ticker of your life still reads, "Good things coming."
See? The book is filled with love like that excerpt above.  And if that isn't enough, at the end of the book there is a going deeper guide that would be perfect to work through on your own or in a bible study with other women just like you. I cannot recommend this book enough. I've been talking about it to all of my girlfriends and urged them to buy a copy because everyone needs to read this. I enjoy a lot of books, but I don't LOVE a lot of them. This one? LOVE. ~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~
"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group". 

Book Review: Finding God In The Dark

God has not forgotten about you.

That's hard to remember in the face of disillusionment or heartache. Ted Kluck's world was turned upside down after experiencing a failed adoption, where he found himself propelled into a year of doubt and disillusionment. Ronnie Martin struggled with the kind of identity and idolatry issues that come with being a well-known recording artist, before the unexpected death of his father allowed those sins to be brought to the surface of his heart. it is in the midst of these and other everyday stories that we learn how God reveals His boundless grace to every one of us.

Whether you've lost someone you loved, suffered career failure, or simply been let down by a fellow Christian, it's natural to wonder whether God has forgotten about you. You're not alone. Kluck and Martin's raw revelations about their mistakes and disappointments will help you on your own journey to finding God when you're standing in the dark.

 

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I'd bet my last dollar that you have been in circumstances so dark that you wonder where God is, and how He could allow you to be where you are.

I'll admit it, I've spent much of the last two and half years in the dark, wondering if God has forgotten about us. Life is quiet, our hearts have been dry, the burden of our circumstances have been heavy. While I knew in my head that He will never leave us, my heart felt otherwise.

So, considering how long this season of darkness has gone on, I was curious to read this book, as the title intrigued me.

I wasn't overwhelmed by this book. At only 139 pages, it's a very quick and easy read, almost blog-like in the writing.  Each author has his own writing style, yet the book didn't mesh together. It's two authors in the same book, not relating to the other.

While I appreciated the authentic sharing of the author's hearts, I didn't feel inspired or as though I learned anything new about navigating the darkness of this season we are in. It was a good reminder that we all struggle with disappointments and tragedy. I just felt as though the book didn't go deep enough for me to connect with it. I'm not disappointed in it, it just came across as very light, blog reading.

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"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Book Review: Taylor's Gift

 

It was the last run of their first day on the slopes, the beginning of another great family vacation for Todd and Tara Storch and their three children. But when thirteen-year-old Taylor's life was tragically cut short in a skiing accident, the Storches were overcome by the devastating loss of their daughter. Still in shock, they were asked a question no parents ever think they will hear: "Would you be willing to donate Taylor's organs?"

 

Their answer would change their family's lives forever and provide comfort during their darkest moments. It would also save the lives of five desperate people anxiously waiting for a heart, a liver, a cornea, a pancreas, and a kidney.

 

This is a story of finding strength in God and creating good even in the darkest times.

 

It's a story of hope.

 

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Beautifully written, Taylor's Gift is the story of the tightly knit Storch family, and their struggle for survival after the death of their first child, their daughter Taylor.

This book takes the reader through the first excruciating painful year without her, and their calling to create Taylor's Gift Foundation to teach others of the importance of organ donation.

Not only is this book written from Todd and Tara's perspective, but by the organ recipients as well. Tara longed to meet the woman who received Taylor's heart so she could hear it beating one last time, knowing that her daughter lived on. It was powerful and moving to read how both women were impacted by Taylor, and to know that these recipients would have a second chance at life because of her.

What I really appreciated most about this book was how it was written in such a way that I felt as though I got to know who Taylor was, and who the Storch family is. Their grief led them to the Lord, and He led them to start Taylor's Gift Foundation. He took the ashes of her daughter's death, and gave them beauty in the form of helping others.
 

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Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Book Review: Your Beautiful Purpose

  Let God Breathe a Fresh Purpose Into Your Soul We so want each day to matter--to serve God in big and small ways. But how, especially when everyday responsibilities, work, fears, and other obstacles get in the way? Like a trusted friend, Susie Larson shares practical, scriptural ways to overcome whatever keeps us from living fully in God's will. Susie will help you learn to: • Discern the best use of your time and gifts • Confidently pursue God's unique desires for you • Stretch your faith and deepen your impact Respond today to that nudge in your spirit--that desire to use your gifts and passions more fully in God's work. Lay down lesser commitments and lay hold of God's beautiful purpose for your life.
~*~ ~*~ ~*   Let God Breathe a Fresh Purpose Into Your Soul   We so want each day to matter--to serve God in big and small ways. But how, especially when everyday responsibilities, work, fears, and other obstacles get in the way? Like a trusted friend, Susie Larson shares practical, scriptural ways to overcome whatever keeps us from living fully in God's will. Susie will help you learn to: • Discern the best use of your time and gifts   • Confidently pursue God's unique desires for you • Stretch your faith and deepen your impact Respond today to that nudge in your spirit--that desire to use your gifts and passions more fully in God's work. Lay down lesser commitments and lay hold of God's beautiful purpose for your life.   ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~   The tag-line for this book is discovering and enjoying what God can do through you. That is what drew me to this book. Well, that and the pretty cover.

This was a very full book. Lots of personal stories mixed in with bible verses, and questions for further consideration at the end of each chapter. This book would make a fabulous bible study.

I liked the author's easy writing style and sensed true authenticity from her. I really liked how she used every day situations that made some things clearer for me.

Several things from this book continue to swirl around in my mind. Like the image of the forces that stand behind us in this spiritual battle that we are in, that Satan can see but we cannot. And that scares him and he tries to throw us off. He knows we are close to victory, and he knows we can't see it, so he steps up his game.

I appreciated how open the author was with her personal life. She shares her struggles - past and current - in an open way, and I found myself encouraged by that. I found something in almost every chapter that resonated in a fresh way. I love when a book can do that.

This is the first book of Susie Larson's that I have read, but I enjoyed it enough to seek the other books she has written.

Your Beautiful Purpose makes it to my bookshelf.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~   "Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Book Review: Grace ~ More Than We Deserve, Greater Than We Imagine

 



Grace.

We talk as though we understand the term. The bank gives us a grace period. The seedy politician falls from grace. Musicians speak of a grace note. We describe an actress as gracious, a dancer as graceful. We use the word for hospitals, baby girls, kings, and premeal prayers. We talk as though we know what grace means.

But do we really understand it? Have we settled for wimpy grace? It politely occupies a phrase in a hymn, fits nicely on a church sign. Never causes trouble or demands a response. When asked, “Do you believe in grace?” who could say no?

Max Lucado asks a deeper question: Have you been changed by grace? Shaped by grace? Strengthened by grace? Emboldened by grace? Softened by grace? Snatched by the nape of your neck and shaken to your senses by grace?

God’s grace has a drenching about it. A wildness about it. A white-water, riptide, turn-you-upside-downness about it.

Grace comes after you. It rewires you. From insecure to God secure. From regret riddled to better-because-of-it. From afraid to die to ready to fly.

Grace is the voice that calls us to change and then gives us the power to pull it off.

Let’s make certain grace gets you.

 

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All of my life I have struggled to understand the concept of God's grace. People would speak of it, and I would nod and smile as if I understood the depths of it. But I didn't. Not really.

I was really looking forward to reading this because I've read several of Max Lucado's books, and he has such an easy, genuine style of writing. That sitting across the table over a cup of tea style that I love so much. It reaches me, and I understand.

Nothing drove home the idea of grace harder than the image of Jesus washing his disciples feet. Even Judas' feet. Max talks about the grossness of feet, and how Jesus stooped to wash the dirt and grime off the feet of everyone who would eventually end up abandoning him. The line that really hit me was this: "If He washes the feet of His Judas, you will have to wash the feet of yours."

Whoa.

Max talks about how grace has happened to each of us. How our feet are soaked with His grace. He has washed the filth from our lives.

Beautiful.

At the end of the book there is a reader's guide with questions for each chapter, a grace reading, scripture review and prayer, making this an excellent Bible study choice.

I would definitely, definitely recommend this book to anyone who was curious about, or struggling to understand the depths of God's grace.

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Book has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Thomas Nelson.

Book Review: Jesus Pure & Simple

Do you ever feel like you're being pulled in a million directions? Like you' re overwhelmed with various programs and ministries, or with studying the steps to good parenting or the best ways to share Jesus with your neighbors? These are all good things, but even good things can sometimes take us away from our number one responsibility--knowing Jesus better.

Wayne Cordeiro shares how to focus on the One who matters most and take part in the joy and fulfillment that He brings. But he also teaches how this leads to selflessness, a true love for others, and effective ministry. It will, in fact, change how you see the world around you.

When you focus on Christ, everything else falls into place. Your relationships. Your job. Your church. Your mission. It's all placed in the hands of Jesus, pure and simple.

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I have always admired how some people can take an any day event and draw a parallel to something from the bible. Author Wayne Cordeiro does just this.

It took me a couple of chapters before I felt myself enjoying this book. It has some great teachings in the early chapters, but it just didn't really capture me until the fourth chapter when things started to flow more smoothly. At this point he encourages us to really think about Jesus and who He was. To think of Him at specific times of His life. I stopped to ponder those things and it made Him more real to me.

One of the things the author talks about that struck me was the difference between isolation and solitude. I always thought they were the same thing. They're not. Isolation being when we need to just be alone, away from everyone because we're so tapped out. But solitude is a time set aside to be alone with the Lord, to be open to hearing what He is saying to us.

So many simple truths to get back to plain and simple truth about our Lord. It isn't about what we can or try to do for Him. It's about just being with Him in His presence. Encountering Him.

My favourite part of the entire book is when he talks about the Bedouin sheepherders that will break the leg of a lamb who continually strays. He will bandage it, and nurture the lamb until his healing is complete. By this point the relationship has changed; the lamb is now closer to the shepherd than ever. This has been on my mind since I first read it - how in my own life, I feel as though my Shepherd has broken a part of me so I will not stray again, and He is holding me close while I heal. And when it is all over, there will be a new intimacy. It will all be worth it.

I enjoyed this book so much that I will likely seek out other books written by this author.

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Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group

Book Review: Nowhere But Up

"When you hit rock bottom, you have nowhere to go but up."

In Nowhere but Up, Pattie Mallette shares for the first time in detail about the pain and abandonment she experienced as a child, the sexual abuse she suffered for years, the severe depression she wrestled with as a teen, the deep struggles she faced as a single mom, and the faith she's learned to cling to through dark times.

With raw honesty, she spills the truth about a lifetime of moments that were punctuated by pain yet permeated with grace--and the journey that's brought her to where she is today.

*** It's not just teen moms who struggle or need to find hope. Whether you're a single mom, an addict, or a victim of abuse . . . whether you're on the verge of bankruptcy or the brink of divorce . . . whether you're in a dysfunctional family or the product of a broken home . . . whether you battle depression or struggle with anxiety . . . whether you live in fear or hide in shame . . . whether you've been abandoned, rejected, or ignored--there is hope. It doesn't matter where you find yourself today--broken, hurting, wounded, or shamed. If God can help me find my way up, I promise, He can do the same for you.

 

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I had a hard time deciding if I wanted to review this book or not. I am not in any way a Justin Bieber fan, however I am a fan of stories of God's healing and redemption in the lives of His children. So, I decided to go for it.

I'll start by saying that I can certainly appreciate the difficulty she experienced as a young, single mother, and my heart sincerely hurt for her that she had experienced so much sexual abuse as a child. She didn't give up on herself, or her child, and she did whatever she had to do to ensure she could provide for him. For that, she gets my respect.

The book is basically two parts: the young Patti Mallette - struggling with the pain of sexual abuse, drug addiction and promiscuity, and then as teenage mother. Then it becomes her life as Justin Bieber's mother, and his rise to fame and less about her.

I don't know what I was expecting with this book, but I will say that I was disappointed by it. I kept waiting for "that moment" when she would talk about how God rescued her, or changed her life. I felt at times as though it was building to this big revelation, but it didn't happen. She spoke of it at times, but it was really watered down or glossed over. I didn't feel inspired or encouraged by her story. I felt sad for her for what she endured as a child, but I didn't feel sadness for her choice to do drugs or be promiscuous, thus resulting in a pregnancy.

I found this book to be an extremely quick read, and at times rather slow. Compared to other biographies I have read, this one had very simplistic writing and I felt it lacked something. Emotion, perhaps. It was a basic re-telling of her childhood and teen years, but it lacked sincere emotion.

I think her story could have been told better and come across as more inspirational if there was a stronger co-author behind it. Someone who could have told her story in a more inspiring way, to draw the reader in and truly feel for what she had experienced. Unfortunately it reads like a story about Justin Bieber's mom and how he got famous, when instead it could have been more about overcoming adversity and experiencing life-changing redemption. As a reader, I want to hear the voice of the "character" I'm reading. I didn't hear Pattie's voice in this book.

I won't be recommending this book to anyone, and I likely won't keep my copy. The truth is, Pattie's story is the same story as thousands of people - only she got a book deal out of it because of her son. Had she left out the majority of Justin's rise to fame and kept the book more about her it would have been a better read.

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"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group". 

   

 

   

Book Review: What a Difference a Mom Makes

Boys will be boys--always.

And no one has a more powerful impact on them than you, Mom.

Surprise! Your boy wants to please you, and he cares deeply about what you think. Those driving needs will stay with him throughout his lifetime. That gives you, Mom, a lot of influence over your son. You can set him up for success in life.

In What a Difference a Mom Makes, the New York Times bestselling author Dr. Kevin Leman reveals how you can make a positive imprint on your son--from the moment you first hold him in your arms until the moment he leaves for college. And the best news? It's never too late to start, no matter what age your son is now.

Through Dr. Leman's expert advice, you'll understand who your son is on the inside, the truth behind sibling squabbles (and how to handle them), a secret for discipline that works every time, and how to navigate the critical teen years. You'll also discover how your parenting style impacts your relationship with your son and how you can respond in a healthy way to his growing interest in sex and relationships.

Want to capture your boy's heart? Want a man you'll be proud to call your son? You can make a difference, because you are the one who matters most in your boy's world.

Even if he won't admit it.

 

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If you've  been reading my blog for any length of time, then you know I'm very blessed to have four children, two of which are boys. So I definitely couldn't pass up the opportunity to review this book. I was pretty excited for it to arrive.

I enjoy a very good relationship with my 13 year old son, Sam. We communicate well with each other and we share the same sense of humour. While he knows I'm a softie, he is careful not to take advantage of that, and he is very respectful of me. I cannot tell you how thankful I am that he is the way he is. I want to ensure that I do everything I can as his mother to raise him up through the difficult teen years into a good man. It is my hope that Matt and I will share the same close relationship as he grows older.

One of the many things I liked about this book is that it isn't geared towards a particular age group of boys. The author touches on each stage of life, from birth right through to college. He shares what is important to boys, how they think, and what they long for. The best thing they long for? To make their mom happy!

Many times I'd read something that would get me thinking, and I'll ask Sam if that was true, or something he felt or wondered about. It opened up a few really great conversations.

The author talks about how to raise your son to be respectful to you, and to his siblings. When to stop doing things for them so they learn to do them for themselves, when and how to talk about drinking, drugs and sex. How to treat a girl, and definitely how not to treat a girl. He covers temper tantrums, positive reinforcement, how to let go and how birth order plays a role.

I was pleased to discover that many of the things a mother should be doing are things I'm already doing, but I still learned so much. I want to still have strong relationships with Sam and Matt even after they are married and have families of their own.

I've always been so thankful to be married to a wonderful man like my Ian. He is respectful of me, affectionate and encouraging. He helps around the house and willingly changes diapers and goes grocery shopping. He is devoted to God and lives that out every day. Our sons have a great example to follow. It's easy to feel as though I don't have as big an impact on them being their mother. After reading this book I realized that my role as their mother is equally as important. And in some areas, even more so.

I will definitely keep this book on my bookshelf and recommend it to anyone who is blessed to have boys.

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"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Book Review: My Journey to Heaven

An unforgettable trip to the gates of heaven and back

As Marv Besteman lay in a hospital bed, visions of celestial beauty were the last thing on his mind. He had just had surgery to remove a rare pancreatic tumor. Alone after visiting hours ended, Marv tossed and turned, wanting more than anything else to simply sleep and escape the excruciating pain and misery for a while.

He was about to have an experience he never could have imagined--and could never forget.

In My Journey to Heaven, Marv Besteman shares the true story of his experience of heaven with astounding detail. You'll meet the angels who accompanied him to the gate, overhear his conversation with St. Peter, and feel the joy as he recognizes friends and family members who touched his life.

If you are grieving the loss of a loved one, or even if you just wonder about what happens after we die, you'll find peace, comfort, and encouragement in Marv's story.

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Do you ever wonder what Heaven will be like? I'm pretty sure everyone has at some point or another, especially those who have lost a loved one.

 

Occasionally my mind will wander and I'll wonder about it. I'll try to imagine what it would feel like to see Jesus face to face. To hear Him speak my name. To feel Him hold my hand. To see my father again, and my grandmother. My old school friend. My baby.

 

My Journey to Heaven was written by a man who claimed to have been taken to Heaven for about a half an hour, before it was discovered that he was there by mistake. Right from the get go he lost me as a reader. Still, I continued to read with as open a mind as I could manage.

 

The author didn't die and go to Heaven for this experience. Rather he was laying in a hospital bed in excruciating pain, dozing on and off, when two angels appeared in his room and took him to Heaven. He talks about what he saw through a glass wall, talking to (and arguing with!) Peter to be let in, and then his subsequent return to earth.

 

His account of Heaven wasn't anything I had ever read or heard about before. He talks of seeing babies of all ages and stages of formation, just floating around. A long line of people ahead of him waiting to be allowed inside. The colours he saw, the way the angels looked. And then, the revelation that he was there by mistake.

 

As if God would make that mistake!

 

Who am I to say that he never saw Heaven? Maybe God did show him a preview. The author is very quick to say that you can believe him or not, he knows his truth.

 

I found the entire story hard to swallow and took it as an easy read of fiction. I was distracted by the continual digression from the point of the book, cliches and repetition. I didn't enjoy this book at all. The back of the book says the reader will find peace, comfort and encouragement after reading the author's story. I don't feel any of these things. Rather I feel disturbed. It didn't sound like anything I've ever read in the Bible.

 

I never like to give a negative review, but I have to be honest and say that I will not be recommending this book to anyone.

 

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"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Book Review: I Am Second

Countless stories. One incredible ending.

A major league baseball player. a Tennessee pastor. A reality TV star. a single mom. A multi-platinum rocker.

What do these people have in common?

They’ve all hit bottom.

And none of them stayed there.

Famous or unfamiliar, these are the stories of real people who reached the end of their strength, the end of their control, and found the most surprising truths.

It taught them not to rely on self or substance but to lean on the only completely reliable source of love, hope, and freedom: the God who created them. Shocking in their honesty, inspiring in their courage, these testimonies are critical reminders that no one is too far from God to find him.

Join these and thousands more who have discovered the lifechanging power in putting God first and proclaiming, “I am Second.”

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~   I was very touched by the stories of redeemed lives in this book.

People in the deepest, darkest pits, who realized that their true path to freedom was to realize that God is first, and they are second.

While this book was a very quick and easy read, you'll find that several of the stories will stay with you long after you've finished.

I love hearing what God is doing in people's lives. How He can change a person's circumstance so completely that there is no doubt that it was Him. I love hearing how someone who was completely broken, turned their eyes towards Jesus and were completely transformed. This book is full of stories of like that.

I would recommend this book to anyone who feels they are too far gone to be rescued, or anyone who doubts what God can do, and the love He has for each of us. No matter where we are, or what we've done.

Book has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Thomas Nelson.

Book Review: Empty Promises

We all long for more of something in our lives. In our endless pursuit to feel worth and acceptance we find ourselves sacrificing everything for the promise to be a little more beautiful, a little richer, a little more powerful and successful, a little more loved.


How do we break free from these empty pursuits and start chasing the only Promise that will ever satisfy? How do we uncover the hidden idols that are driving us and turn our devotion toward the one true God?


Join Pastor and best-selling author Pete Wilson in discovering the joy and freedom that comes with seeking after God with your whole life. Learn how to replace, and not just relinquish, life's empty promises by turning your focus and worship toward Him. It is the only thing that will set you absolutely free from the endless pursuit of everything else.

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I've read my fair share of books that talk about how to live a God-centered life and I've never truly gotten it.

Not until now, that is.

I read this book and saw myself in almost every single chapter.

Pastor Pete Wilson is brutally honest about his own challenges,shortcomings and personal struggles. I appreciated his openness and authenticity in sharing from his heart. When I read a book like this, I don't want to have all hearts and rainbows from someone who has it all together. Pete Wilson doesn't, and he is very straightforward in sharing that. I found myself tearing up at times... if a Pastor wrestles with his faith then it must be normal and ok for me to struggle as well.

He talks about all the empty promises we give in to. If we had more money, we'd be financially set. If she was prettier, she'd catch a man and then she'd feel secure. If only I had better clothes, more friends, a better car, a bigger house... then I'd be happy. And they're all lies.

I saw myself in this, and I realized how many empty promises I have fallen for. When Ian goes back to work and we're back on our feet, I'll be happy. When we sell the house, I'll be happy. When we go on vacation, then I'll be happy. But what if I'm not? I need to learn to be happy here and now, because of who I am in Christ. To be content in all circumstances because the Lord is all I need. And I realized that I have the power to choose to be happy right where I am. And in the midst of an extremely difficult season, this is what I have chosen. Joy. Sometimes several times a day, but I'm doing it.

Pete covers great topics like being addicted to power, money or approval. How we worship idols instead of filling those spaces with God. How to pray as ourselves, not how we think we should pray.


I appreciated how he ended this book with ways to draw closer to God and life a more Christ-centred life. I wasn't left hanging with all these truths and nowhere to go with them. He points the reader in the right direction.

I have written all over the pages in this book. So many great thoughts to take away with me. At one point he reminds the reader that God watches over us while we sleep, that He never sleeps. And if that is true for the night, it is also true of the day. We can let go of our anxieties, worries and fear, because He is watching over us always.

I can think of two people right away who could greatly benefit from this book. If you find that you struggle with the lies and empty promises of this world, I urge you to pick up this book and really let yourself get into it. It will be time truly well spent.

Book has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Thomas Nelson.

Book Review: Anything

Safe. Comfortable. Happy.



Words we all love. Feelings we want. Even crave. We may love God, but being that he's invisible, words like comfortable seem to feel better faster.


We are all chasing something. Our hearts were made to run hard and fast after things that move us. But as a generation we are all beginning to stir and wake up, identifying that these words don't satisfy for long, especially when compared to God. If God is real, and we are going to live with Him forever, shouldn't He be everything?

Caught in this familiar haze of worldly happiness and empty pursuits, Jennie Allen and her husband Zac prayed a courageous prayer of abandonment that took them on an adventure God had written for them.


"God, we will do anything. Anything,"


Anything is a prayer of surrender that will spark something. A prayer that will move us to stop chasing things that just make us feel happy and start living a life that matters. A life that is...


Surrendered. Reckless. Courageous.

If we truly know a God worth giving anything for, everything changes.

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I've watched author Jennie Allen's bible study dvd "Stuck" and I knew I would love her book as well. She has such a passionate love for God and a raw honesty to her so I knew I wouldn't be disappointed.

Jennie was just like most people I know. Like me. Longing for something, but didn't quite know what. Then she learned about Katie Davis, a 21 year old woman who gave up everything the world told her was inportant and followed after the life that God had intended for her. She now lives and serves in Uganda, the mother of 13 adopted children.

Changed by her, Jennie prayed.... anything, Lord.

I am slowly learning how to pray this prayer, but I'm scared. If I tell God I'll do anything, what will He ask of me? Where will he take me? What will he take from me? But day by day, as we get to know each other more, I am leaning closer to praying it. Anything, Lord. For you, I'll do anything.

Jennie reminds us that we are here on this earth for such a short period of time and our time is running out. What are we doing while we're here? How are we spending it? When I meet God face to face, will I be able to stand firm and say I used my time well? Or will my head hang in shame because I held on to the cheap, shiny things of this world, protecting my comfort above all else?

Raw, honest and inspiring, this book shows us how living fully surrended is truly living fully.

Book has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Thomas Nelson.

Book Review: You're Already Amazing

Psst . . . pull up a chair and I'll tell you a secret. You'd better lean in close for this one.

Ready?

You don't have to do more, be more, have more.

I'm sure there are security alarms going off somewhere. You should probably hide this book when your in-laws come over.

But it's true.

It's the kind of true that will change your life, set you free, and make you wake up smiling for the first time in a long time. I know because that's what it did for me. . . .

So watch out, sister. If you keep reading you just might be next.

With this heart-to-heart message, Holley Gerth invites you to embrace one very important truth--that you truly are already amazing. Like a trusted friend, Holley gently shows you how to forget the lies and expectations the world feeds you and instead believe that God loves you and has bigger plans for your life than you've even imagined.

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Ever wonder if you're good enough? Funny enough? Smart enough?

I do... all the time. I am constantly comparing myself to others and I'm always falling short. It's exhausting, really.

Author Holley Gerth's simple truth in her book is that we are already amazing, simply because God made us that way. All our traits and characteristics? They've been given to us for a purpose, and from them we develop our strengths and gifts.

I really enjoyed the way this book is written: not preachy or like Holley is talking at at me as the reader. She is open, authentic and vulnerable, and I appreciated that. It's as though it was just Holley and me, sitting across a table at a coffee shop, while she encouraged me with God's truths.

As women we need to spend less time tearing one another down, and more time building each other up. We are daughters of the King and we need to treat each other as such!

I like that she encourages the reader to create a Life Statement. I've been struggling to write my "mission statement" for years now, and I'm encouraged to finish it, and to live it out authentically and honestly.

One of the many lines that struck me with it's simple truth: it's not about being perfect, but about being perfectly loved.

I am enough. And you know what? So are YOU!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Book Review: The Resolution For Women

With everything you have to do, have you taken the time to decide who you want to be?

From best-selling author Priscilla Shirer, in partnership with the creators of The Love Dare, comes a resolution that challenges you to realign your daily decisions in a way that glorifies God and fulfills who He created you to be. Layered with biblical truth and seasoned with encouragement, The Resolution for Women will inspire the woman you see in the mirror to trust God's perfect plan for her lie, resolving to become "purposefully feminine, surprisingly satisfied and faithfully His."

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I am so excited to tell you all about this book that I don't even know where to start. I want to do it justice so that you will be inspired to read it for yourself.

The Resolution For Women is made up of fourteen resolutions to better your life, broken down into three parts: This Is Who I Am, This Is What I Have, This Is What Matters To Me. The author begins each chapter with a story and weaves it in with that chapter's resolution, making it personal so it will relate to the reader. Each section ends with questions to ponder or actions to be taken, as well as a spot to sign your name, solidifying your commitment to that particular resolution.

Funny, challenging and oftentimes in-your-face convicting, this book will inspire you to want to be a better wife, mother and friend. The author is respectful, yet she is not afraid to speak out on the stuff that is hard to talk about. She acknowledges topics that stretch our understanding and may cause us to feel uncomfortable. She has a way of presenting a new idea or thought pattern to help us re-frame our way of thinking.

There is so much I loved about this book and it is full of highlighted paragraphs and folded down pages. So much truth and knowledge packed into each page. I loved the list of affirming Bible verses in Part Two, re-written in the first person so that when they are spoken out loud they are affirming. It's a great go-to place to be reminded of who I am and what I am expected to do to strength my faith.

This book has inspired me to be a more loving mother who is intentional in her parenting, as well as to be more encouraging and supportive of my husband.

In the chapter entitled "How Do You Heal An Unbroken Heart?" the reader is challenged to rethink the prayers that ask for our be hearts protected from things we see or experience. But if our hearts are healthy and whole, they don't need healing. The author challenges us to pray for our hearts to be broken so that we can be healed by the ultimate Healer. It's a crazy thought to get our heads around, isn't it? It's our nature to protect ourselves and here we are presented with the idea of asking for our hearts to be broken. But it makes so much sense. I want His healing touch, don't you?

The author tells us how to live with integrity and how to forgive those who have hurt us. These resolutions have inspired me to be a better wife, one that honours, loves, encourages, prays for and submits to her husband as the spiritual leader of our home. To be a mother who is intentional in her parenting, loving deeply and offering affection and affirmation, showing them what it looks like to be a woman secure in her femininity who chases Jesus with her whole heart and models Him to others. A better friend, who shares her time and gifts with others, encouraging and esteeming them as I am best able.

One of the topics I found difficult was that of submitting to my husband. This is always a tough topic and I have balked at it countless times in my marriage. The author explains submission in it's biblical sense and stresses that by submitting to our husbands we are not lessening ourselves, not at all! She goes on to say that the feminist movement has taught us not to submit to a man, to be in control of ourselves, to view ourselves as equal - as if not better - than our spouses. Oftentimes this produces a hard and controlling woman, taking the role of spiritual leader from our husbands as God designed.

Tough stuff to get your head around, isn't it? I know! But to be honest with you, I do submit to my husband as the spiritual head of our home. I do not feel lessened by it or controlled by it. It feels right and he handles this role well, and I admire the way he leads our family using his God given gifts and talents. He respects me and I am a factor in every equation. Instead of it being a master/servant type of scenario some people view submitting as, I actually feel more empowered knowing our roles in our home.

The section on integrity challenged me as well. It calls us to look at what types of entertainment we seek out that may encourage us to sin. The type of sinful behaviours we watch, listen to or read, that we would never participate in or tolerate in our real lives, simply for the entertainment. What other type of sin do we entertain under the guise of "fun"? So thought provoking and painful to think about, but so necessary in order to become a woman of integrity.

The Resolution For Women, put plainly and simply, is a must read. It will inspire and challenge you to live a more authentic and intentional life that will enable you to leave a godly legacy.

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"Book has been provided courtesy of David C Cook and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from B&H Publishing Group".

Book Review: The Resolution For Men

While most men will die with deep regrets, others will resolve to live for what matters most.

From the New York Times best-selling authors of The Love Dare comes a strong resolution of faith, family, and fatherhood that sets men on a course toward long-term success - the kind that breaks the chains of your past, earns the loving trust of your wife, wins the hearts of your children, and prepares a legacy beyond what your father could leave for you. With a clear resolution, you'll be able to see exactly where you're going. Straight ahead into a life marked by renewed faithfulness.

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One of the issues closest to my heart is that of fatherless children. If you've read my blog for any length of time, then you'll know of the rare times I've shared the hurt I've felt from not having the chance to have a relationship with my father, and the painful wounds that has left me with.

I believe that our generation underestimates the importance of fathers and the powerful effect they have in - and on - our children's lives, as well as the void that is left by their absence. Children are resilient, yes. But they are also deeply susceptible to being wounded.

This generation is in desperate need of strong, courageous men to raise up our children to become godly men. Somewhere, somehow, we need to break the cycle of immature and self-serving men and replace them with men of courage, prepared and able to lead their families.

The Resolution For Men is broken down into three main sections: A Call To Men, Committing To The Resolution (12 in total) and 8 Appendices. Each chapter begins with the resolution to be studied as well as an accompanying bible verse.

This book is encouraging, inspiring and convicting. Written respectfully, the authors speak to the reader and encourage them to rise up to take responsibility and leadership in their homes. To love your children through your marriage by loving and honouring their mother, as well as affirming them through words, time and affection. To model a Christ centered life by being a living example.

One section I particularly appreciated was the one on how father's can lose their children's hearts through their absence, anger or harsh criticism, as well as several questions to ask your child in order to begin to repair any damage done.

Another section I appreciated was about capturing your child's heart through attention, affirmation and affection. I missed all of this due to my own father's absence in my life and as a result I grew up with a low sense of self worth and felt unworthy of being loved. Never underestimate the powerful impact that you have on your child as a parent. We get one shot at this blessing of parenting and it's important that we are armed with as many tools as possible to raise them up to be men of courage and leadership.

Our world is in a deep and desperate need of courageous men.

Can I get an amen on that?

As important as each resolution is, the Appendices also pack a punch covering topics like How To Pray For Your Wife and How To Pray For Your Children, as well as a list of scriptures to memorize with your child. But the best of all, was a section to list your Revolution Army, the men that will hold you accountable to your resolutions, and who you can also hold accountable in theirs, so that you don't have to undertake this journey on your own, unsupported.

To further enrich this book, there are discussion questions at the end, a section for notes and the powerful closing speech from the COURAGEOUS movie. So powerful.

I'd like to leave you with an excerpt of that speech.

"I want the favour of God and His blessing on my home. Any good man does. So where are you, men of courage? Where are you, fathers that fear the Lord? it's time to rise up and answer the call God has given you, and to say I will, I will, I will!"

"As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." --Joshua 24:15

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"Book has been provided courtesy of David C Cook and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from B&H Publishing Group".

Book Review: Couragous Living

"Be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord." Psalm 31:24

Catch a fresh wind of bravery through the bold biblical accounts of Abraham, Joshua, Ruth, and many others in Courageous Living by Michael Catt, pastor and executive producer of the unforgettable film COURAGEOUS.

In the movie, four police officers are focused and confident with it comes to facing danger on the job. But leading their families at home in God-honouring way? That takes courage.

Because we are all called to take a faithful, fearless, stand in all that matters, Catt sheds new light on the stories of people in the Bible who displayed great courage when it would have been easier to play it safe. They challenge and inspire us now to keep moving forward, to examine our priorities, and to deal with anything that brings fear to our heart.

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Powerful. Insightful. Inspiring. These are the three words I would use to describe this book. While primarily aimed towards men, I found it very encouraging to me as a wife and mother.

The author writes about his favourite bible characters while weaving in stories of people from modern day, powerfully encouraging the reader to step out of their comfort zone and to lead courageously by example. To not just sit idly by, enjoying the comforts of this world and being led into a passive life.

We live in world of cell phones, ipods, computers, video games, time spent selfishly. More is more, right? Only the best for our generation. When we take a step back and look at what our world is coming to, what is has already become, we see that courageous, godly men are in short supply. We need to pull away from that, step out of the places that make us feel safe, and start investing and training our young men to become great men of faith.

With the books I read, I tend to fold down the corner of pages where a line or two had an impact on me. My copy of Courageous Living has a lot of folded corners! Here is one of the takeaways that really got me:

Some of us are too big for God to use. We are proud of our strengths, gifts, talents, personality, education, and training. But God is looking for desperation, brokenness, humility, faith, and obedience, and He shares His glory with no one. (page 56)

Encouraging, don't you think? I love hearing about how God uses the weak to show His glory. It gives me hope that He might use me for something!

I am so blessed to be able to honestly say that I am married to a courageous, godly man. He leads our family well and I am so inspired by him. He invests in his children and encourages them to be bold in their faith.

I encourage you to suggest this book to any of the men in your life. It is definitely worth the read.

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"Book has been provided courtesy of David C Cook and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from B&H Publishing Group".

Book Review: My Favourite Bible

Bring the Bible alive!

The most treasured stories of the Bible come alive in My Favorite Bible.

Start your little ones on a life-long love of God's word!

This colorful and dynamic gospel-centered Bible storybook guides children through the foundational truths of Scripture. Each story is fully and vividly illustrated and includes a simple narrative with things children ages 4—8 love: repetition, rhythm, and energy, along with a key biblical theme, a key Bible verse, an activity page, and discussion questions.

Adults and children will cherish time together as they grow closer to God.

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I've been looking for a good devotional Bible for some time now, so when the opportunity to review this one came along I jumped at the chance and couldn't wait for it to arrive.

Sam and Jules have a good solid grasp of our faith and I am so thankful for that. As Jordan rapidly approaches her 4th birthday and is soaking up learning like a sponge, I was anxious to find age appropriate devotional materials for her to learn from.

I loved the colourful and cute pictures that filled each page. The stories were told in little-people speak, with different sized fonts and curly words. It is an eye catching book for children and Jordan loved it.

Aside from all of that, you know what I think I loved most? It's small and light enough to fit in a child's lap comfortably. Sounds like a minor thing to get excited about, right?

I gave it to Jordan to hold and look through, and just sat back to watch her expressions and reactions to it. I loved her face as she turned the pages, oohing and ahhing over the pictures, and then hugged it to her little chest.

"Is this book for me?" she asked.

I nodded and smiled. "That book is filled with stories about God's goodness and love for us, Jordan!" I whispered to her. Her little face beamed and she nodded, telling me how she wanted to learn all about God too.

After each story there is a Family Talk section, highlighting the key verse for that story. It includes a few paragraphs relating each story to modern day, in a way that this age group will understand. It ends with some questions for your child to think about.

There is also a Family Fun page after each story as well. It suggests a couple of options of how your child could put her faith in action.

I really, truly would recommend this type of devotional material for the 4-8 year age group. I look forward to using My Favourite Bible as an added tool to help Jordan grow her faith.

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"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Book Review: Max On Life

We have questions. Real, important, and challenging questions. Questions about sex, finances, and forgiveness. Unsettling questions regarding illness, suicide and eternity. Don't we crave answers to these queries that tug on the deepest parts of our hearts?

Do angels really walk among us?

How should I discipline my kids?

Any advice for my struggling marriage?

Why do I worry so much?

How do I know what God's will for me really is?

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If you're anything like me, you have a lot of questions about things, but don't always know where to go in the Bible for answers to find out what God has to say about you question.

This book is fantastic. Broken down into seven chapters entitled Hope, Hurt, Help, Him/Her, Home, Haves/Have-Nots and Hereafter, Max covers just about every question you could ask, complete with applicable Bible verses.

I enjoy his writing style very much, and he didn't disappoint with this book. He answers each question with love and grace, and uses applicable instances from the Bible to help explain each question. It's full of Max's insight and wisdom.

172 questions and answers. Amazing. This book even has a topical index on each subject so you can quickly find the page for your question, as well as a Scriptual index if you wanted to look up a particular verse.

This book will have a permanent place on my bookshelf. I know I'll be referring to it over and over again, and will encourage my children to look through it as well.

If you have questions about your life's circumstances and you want to make Godly choices, I strongly recommend you pick up this book.

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Book has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Thomas Nelson.

Book Review: Live Loved ~ Experience God's Presence In Everyday Life

God is crazy about you.

His thoughts of you outnumber the grains of sand. His dreams for you outstretch the days of this life. The Maker of the stars would rather die for you than live without you.

Could you use a daily reminder of His love?

These devotions by bestselling author Max Lucado will calm your soul and nourish you heart. You can live the way God intended.

You can Live Loved.

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This devotional is beautiful.

Broken down into five sections entitled Loved With A Steadfast Love, Loved With A Perfect Love, Loved With A Wise Love, Loved With A Merciful Love and Loved To Love Others, this devotional is absolutely beautiful.

Each daily devotion begins with a Bible verse, followed by an applicable story from the Bible, and closes with a prayer. There are even a couple of extra verses after that.

Several of the prayers are so applicable to me and what we are going through, that I want to copy them and carry them with me, praying them regularly.

This book is beautifully bound and perfect to give as a gift to someone who might need some encouragement daily.

If you're looking for a well written and diverse devotional, then I strongly recommend this one.

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Book has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Thomas Nelson.

Book Review: The Search

When worlds collide, can the truth set two young women free?

As a child caught up in a crisis, Lainey O'Toole made a split-second decision with far-reaching effects. Fifteen years later, when her car breaks down in Stoney Ridge--the very town in which that decision was made--she is forced to face the past and discover how her decision has impacted so many.

Bess Reihl is less than thrilled to be spending the summer at Rose Hill Farm helping her intimidating grandmother Bertha recover from surgery. It doesn't take long for Bess to realize that her grandmother coaxed her to Stoney Ridge for an entirely different reason. But once Bess meets hired hand Billy Lapp, the summer starts to hold some promise.

Lainey's and Bess's worlds are about to collide and the secrets that come to light will shock them both.

Beautifully written, The Search is a skillfully woven story that takes you through unexpected twists and turns on the long country road toward truth. Immerse yourself in this heartwarming--and surprising--tale of young love, forgiveness, and healing.

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Beth is an impressionable fifteen year old girl who is being sent to stay with her grandmother for the summer. Bertha, a force to be reckoned with, is a grandmother who had ulterior motives for sending for her granddaughter. Jonah is Beth's father, still grieving the loss of his wife Rebecca 15 years prior, and trying his best to raise Beth on his own. Lainey is the piece that pulls everyone together. Over the course of the summer, these lives will grow closer than any of them could ever have expected.

I loved the gentle and easy way I was drawn into this story. The characters were realistic and likeable, and I found myself lost in the simplicity of the Amish life.

I've been enjoying this series of books by author Suzanne Woods Fisher, however this one was a little different that her usual style. This story had drama and secrets and unexpected turns of events. I wish there had been a bit more build up to the more dramatic parts, but enjoyed them nonetheless.

I really liked the subtle references to characters from other books, as well. I liked having an answer to some of my "where are they now" questions.

The relationship between Jonah and Lainey was sweet and genuine, and I loved watching their love unfold. Beth's crush on Billy was cute, and I like how things turned out for them.

I loved everything about this book, to be honest. I find the Amish life to be refreshing and sweet and good.

If you are looking for a great weekend read and you enjoy reading about Amish life, then I highly recommend this book. You'll want to read the others in the series as well!

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Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.