NIV Essentials Study Bible

I love this bible! Just as the title indicates, it’s a NIV Essentials Study Bible. It’s essential because the publishers have combined portions of several books into one bible. They include the NIV Study Bible, NIV Quest Study Bible, NIV Archaeological Study Bible, NIV Student Bible, The Great Rescue Bible and the Essential Bible Companion.

Each book begins with a book introduction, which includes the key concepts, the purpose, key verses, terms, teachings, maps, and even photos. At the bottom of the pages, there are additional notes to help you understand the meaning of the verses.

The people in focus lens helps you learn a little bit more about certain characters such as Job and tackles the question of why bad things happen to good people. I’m sure we all felt like Job at one time or another.

The Q & A lens tackles difficult questions such as why did God choose such sinful people to be judges or does God allow pain in order to display his power? Or how about what is my purpose in life and how can I be certain of it?

The guided tour sections are notes from the NIV Student Bible. One talks about how Daniel and Ezekiel had leadership abilities and how they were taken prisoner. Have you ever taken a stand as a matter of integrity? It helps you reflect on your own life.

The insight excerpts are similar to a short magazine article such ‘Ecology Plus’ and how nature plays a role and that it is part of God’s work. Then there are short box highlights that help emphasize a particular verse.

Finally, the reflect and respond section will help you to reflect on a certain aspect such as prayer and why we are told to pray. And helps you to not only think about prayer but live it.

The layout is pleasing to the eye. The black and blue font makes it easy to read. This bible provides different reading plans such as reading the bible in a year, a 60-day overview of the bible, 20 not-so-famous stories of the bible, etc. It includes a concordance and colorful maps.

I recommend this bible to anyone who wants to not only read the bible but also delve deeper into the word of God.

Disclaimer: I received this bible free from the publisher (Thomas Nelson) through their booksneeze program and was not required to write a positive review.

In Broken Places by Michele Phoenix

Shelby’s childhood is riddled with abuse. The abuser was her father but her mother, in some ways, was to blame for allowing it to happen. Her brother, Trey, is her savior in many ways. Through the abuse, they became closer not only as kids but as adults. Shelby is content with being alone. Through a twisted set of events, she becomes a single mom.

Shelby moves to Germany but it doesn’t take away her memories. She is a mom to Shayla, a sweet girl who is a typical four-year-old who is wonderful and challenging at the same time. Is she really meant to take on this role? Can she move on with her life? Will she ever find true love?

I love the part of her brother, Trey. He was involved in her life even though he was thousands of miles away. The loved they shared was phenomenal.

This story really made me think of how our past does affect how we view our future. It’s easy to listen to the demons that swirl around in your head. When you live with childhood abuse for such a long period of time, it begins to feel real. The lies become the truth. It’s only after you are away from the dysfunction that you realize how wrong it really is. It doesn’t define you. You have the power to change. You have the power to forgive.

Shelby struggles to make peace with her past and moving forward. This book is about the power of forgiveness.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher (Tyndale). I was not required to write a positive review.

The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey (Classic Edition)

I’ve been a fan of Dave Ramsey for the past several years. There is a difference between being a fan and actually following through what he teaches. The plan is not difficult. It’s a matter of telling your money ‘where to go’ each month. It’s called a zero based budget. Every dollar has a name. It will take a few months to get it down.

If you want to get an updated version, buy this book and maybe gift the first book to a friend, co-worker, family member, or whoever might benefit. If you have even one credit card, then you need to read this book. Don’t be fooled by the gimmicks of free miles, points, and zero percent interest. It’s a trap. Recognize the trap and avoid it at all costs.

Throughout the book, there are stories that will inspire you to get out of debt. Mr. Ramsey debunks many myths including this one:  Myth: Debt consolidation saves interest, and you have one smaller payment. Sounds true, right? The Truth: Debt consolidation is dangerous because you only treat the symptom. As Dave says, “Debt CONsolidation-it’s nothing more than a con because you think you’ve done something about the debt problem. You just moved it!”

In the back of the book, Dave gives you several forms that you can use in helping your family get out of debt including: irregular income planning, monthly cash flow plan, debt snowball, and more!

I highly recommend this book to people who want to live the true American dream and get out of debt so they can “live like no-one else” and be able to “give like no-one else.”

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com® <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Memory's Door by James L. Rubart

This is the second book of the series of ‘A Well Spring Novel.’ I spent most of last Saturday and finished the book close to Monday at midnight. I was determined to finish the story even though I sacrificed sleep!

Like most books in a series, you can read it as a stand-alone; however, you’ll end up wanting to read the first one to see how the story was told. James L. Rubart is an awesome storyteller. The words were so vivid and clear. I was so immersed that I felt like I was a part of the character’s life. I was in a different world.

The story is about the four members of the Warriors Riding and their fight against the enemy. Each one has their own struggle individually as well as a group. The enemy has found each of their weaknesses and attacked them. Satan is sly, evil, and most of all the Father of Lies. This book explores that spiritual fight that we all deal with. He whispers some truth among the lies, which make it difficult to discern what the truth is, and we can fall for the deception. Reece is the leader of the group but he is blind and the enemy is playing it against him.

The members have choices and their ultimate choice will affect them for eternity. Will they choose the right path? Or will they be deceived into the path of destruction?

The most powerful lesson in this book was the power of forgiveness and learning how to forgive oneself for a past regret or mistake. But it wasn’t the only message in the book. We always know what we want God to do for us. But sometimes God has other plans and is on a different timetable than us.  And many times He answers in a way that was totally unsuspected. Or how about our identity? We may be police officers, teachers, or singers but our real identity isn’t in those jobs.

It was amazing to read how James L. Rubart was able to weave all these powerful messages into a story that read seamless like a movie playing. I would highly recommend reading this book for anyone who loves to become part of another world but have the message infiltrate in his or her heart. It’s a book that will leave you still thinking about it the next day.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com® <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials i

Runaway Emotions by Jeff Schreve

Emotions. We all experience them but when the negative emotions hit, it can wreak havoc. They are similar to a fire alarm that continues to blare. We can try and keep them locked inside but unless we are willing to look at the real issue at hand, the situation will not get better.

Each emotion has an offsetting fire alarm. The trick is being able to find the source and address the problem. And not allow your emotions to get out of control. One such emotion is worry. As Jeff points out, “You anticipate the loss of something you value, and worry has you tied up like a mass gnarled fishing line.” Isn’t that the truth? We worry about something that may never happen. The warning is “your God-given sense of security is on fire.” We are told in the Bible, “Do not worry” but we do it anyway.

Throughout the book and for each emotion, Jeff gives sound advice directly from the Bible. He touches on the most common emotions such as embarrassment, frustration, loneliness, worry, anger, guilt, discontentment, and depression. I would venture to guess that you’ve all felt these emotions from time to time; however, there might be one or two emotions that you’ve struggled with the most. You do not need to read this book in the order that it’s written. If you struggle with anger, start with that chapter.

We all have negative emotions from time to time. But there is a way to turn off or turn down the sound of the fire alarm. Pick up this book and find out how.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising

Learning by Karen Kingsbury

Although this is book 2 of the Bailey Flanigan Series, it can be read as stand-alone.

Bailey and Cody are separate but continue in each other’s hearts. They may long to be together, but will it happen? Bailey begins to live her dream in New York as a dancer. New York is wonderful or is it? Bailey’s faith is put to the test when the dancers shun her for being selected because she was in a Hollywood film. Bailey has to work harder than ever to prove that she’s cut for the part. She is seeing Brandon Paul who was the co-star with her in the film Unlocked. He is spontaneous and is falling in love with Bailey. Can Bailey return the love?

In the meantime, Cody is a coach for a high school and he has his work cut out for him. The team hasn’t been successful with the last coach. Can Cody who relies on his faith turn the team around? Cody released Bailey due to circumstances beyond his control. He does it because he truly does love Bailey. But, did he make a mistake? He is now seeing Cheyenne who is tugging at his heart as each day goes on.

There is a glimpse of Landon and his health issues in this story and I wanted to know more. But, this is Bailey’s story not Landon’s. I believe the heart of the story is being able to live out your faith in the real world. It’s easy to do that when you are home or amongst your own friends. What about in the middle of being a star? It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the glamour and forget who brought you to that place.

I recommend this book to all of Karen Kingsbury fans. And don’t forget there is another book – Longing to continue with Bailey Flanigan. What will happen next? Guess we’ll have to read and find out.

I was given this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. To learn more about this book, check out http://zondervan.com/9780310276333 .

Boundaries for Leaders by Dr. Henry Cloud

Do you ever wonder why some leaders can motivate, lead, and retain their employees while others do not?

Boundaries for Leaders is a book for any leader who has employees who report to them. At first glance, I thought it was book to whip their employees in shape. It’s quite the opposite. It’s a leader’s bible on how leaders can take a look in the mirror, see how they can change, and then be able to motivate their employees to succeed in their jobs.

When employees are motivated and feel like they can make a difference, they perform better. I do believe the supervisor/leader does make or break the employee. If a leader is constantly on a short fuse, sends rude e-mails, and never takes time to listen, employees will become less apt to perform at their peak. Since they are berated no matter what they do, why try?

The key points in the book is being able create connections to your employees, motivate your team to perform at its peak, and leading in such a way that not only does the team excel but you remain ‘ridiculously in charge.’

I would recommend this book to any leader or anyone who wants to be a leader. The best leaders are not dictators but ones who take the time to learn how the brain works, build relationships, and create results.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

On The Threshold - Interview with Sherrie Ashcraft and Christina Berry Tarabochia!!

 After fourteen years of hard work, Sherrie Ashcraft and Christina Berry Tarabochia are thrilled to announce the release of their novel, On the Threshold. Interested in how a mother and daughter can write a book together? Want a chance at winning a Kindle and a business card design from a top-notch company? Keep reading!

Why did you ladies begin writing this book?

Both of us had always talked about writing a book, but fourteen years ago Sherrie said if we were ever going to write, maybe we should work on a book together. It would hold us accountable. We lived on different sides of the state of Oregon at the time, so we did a lot of it via e-mail, and once a month Sherrie would make the 250-mile drive to Christina's house and we'd work on it in person. We wanted to share a real look at depression and trying to be good enough to please God--what that might look like in a family's life.

Fourteen years? Really?

That's from the first word penned. The very first contest we entered, we actually talked about how we needed to decide how to fight off all the editors who'd be making offers. Instead, we found out we had a lot to learn! Attending writing conferences and reading craft books brought our writing to a higher level.

Tell us about On the Threshold.

We loved having the chance to tell this story! In fact, we have a few more stories to tell about these characters  if readers love this one. Here's what the book is about.

Suzanne—a mother with a long-held secret. Tony—a police officer with something to prove. Beth—a daughter with a storybook future. When all they love is lost, what's worth living for?

Suzanne Corbin and her daughter, Beth Harris, live a seemingly easy life. Suzanne has distanced herself from her past, replacing pain with fulfillment as a wife and mother, while Beth savors her husband’s love and anticipates the birth of their child. But all that is about to change.

Like a sandcastle buffeted by ocean waves, Suzanne’s façade crumbles when her perfect life is swept away. Tragedy strikes and police officer Tony Barnett intersects with the lives of both women as he tries to discover the truth. Left adrift and drowning in guilt long ignored, Suzanne spirals downward into paralyzing depression. Beth, dealing with her own grief, must face the challenge of forgiveness. Can these two women learn to trust each other again? Will they find the power of God’s grace in their lives?

 And a little about you?

Mother/daughter writing team Sherrie Ashcraft and Christina Berry Tarabochia bring a voice of authenticity to this novel as they have experienced some of the same issues faced by these characters. They like to say they were separated at birth but share one brain, which allows them to write in a seamless stream. Both live in NW Oregon and love spending time together. Many years ago, they were both on a winning Family Feud team!

Sherrie is the Women's Ministry Director at her church, and loves being the grandma of eight and great-grandma of one. Christina is also the author of The Familiar Stranger, a Christy finalist and Carol Award winner, and runs a thriving editing business.

Please sign up for their Infrequent, Humorous Newsletter at Ashberry Lane for a chance to win cool prizes.

What about this contest?

If you help get the word out, you can earn different points for each thing you do, and every point represents an entry in the contest.

Say, for example, you name your next child “Threshold” in honor of our book. You would earn 100 points (entries), which would greatly increase your likelihood of winning.

Fine print to be read as quickly as those medical side effects are glossed over on TV: A certified copy of the birth certificate must be sent to Ashberry Lane proving the child was born between now and when the contest ends on June 30rd at 10 PM, PDT. Some restrictions apply, such as you must also promise not to change the child’s name to anything else for at least the next fifteen years. You are, however, allowed to use “Thresh” as his or her first name, and “Hold” as the middle.

If that seems like we’re asking a little too much, there are other ways for you to enter the contest.

~ Post about On the Threshold on Twitter or LinkedIn, or share the cover on Instagram or Pinterest, and you’ve doubled your points to TWO.

~ Refer someone to sign up for the newsletter. If he or she notes you as referrer, guess what? You just earned THREE points.

~ Blog about it and reap FOUR points. (We’re available for more blog interviews.)

~ And for those who buy the book (e-book or print copy), you will gain FIVE points.

~ Leave a review—positive or negative—on a retailing site after reading the book, and TEN points to you!

All you have to do to enter is drop us an email to Christina [at] ashberrylane [dot] net with a description of what you did. We trust you.

Here is a sample email:

Dear Sherrie and Christina,

Fortunately, my last name is Hold, so when my triplets were born yesterday, all I had to do was name them "On," "The," and "Thresh." (Yes, that makes a double "h," but without it, the name just looks silly and I don't want a kid with a funny name.) I also got the cover of On the Threshold tattooed on my arm, took a picture of it, and posted it on every possible social media site, including Facebook, though I understand I don't get points for anything done on there. Next, I forwarded the Infrequent, Humorous Newsletter to a few of my friends and ALL of my enemies. After reading the book in two hours, I posted an honest review on three different retail sites. Please enter my name 349 times.

Love,

Your #1 Fan

Or something like that. :)

Where else can we find you gals online?

 Buy the book on Amazon or B&N or iTunes or in any other version on Smashwords. The print book will be available shortly--sign up for the newsletter and you'll be among the first to know when it appears on all the big retailing sites OR email us about buying a paperback directly from us. (Christina [at] ashberrylane [dot] net)

www.twitter.com/authorchristina

www.facebook.com/sherrie.ashcraft

www.facebook.com/authorchristina

www.christinaberry.net/

www.authorchristinaberry.blogspot.com

Thanks for hosting us!

It was my pleasure and I'm looking forward to the NEXT book! :)

New Book! On The Threshold by Christina Berry Tarabochia and Sherrie Ashcraft

When I found out that Christina Berry Tarabochia and Sherrie Ashcraft had a new book published, I grabbed it up. In truth, I buy very few books.

Here's a blurb from Amazon:

Suzanne—a mother with a long-held secret. Tony—a police officer with something to prove. Beth—a daughter with a storybook future. When all they love is lost, what's worth living for?

Suzanne Corbin and her daughter, Beth Harris, live a seemingly easy life. Suzanne has distanced herself from her past, replacing pain with fulfillment as a wife and mother, while Beth savors her husband’s love and anticipates the birth of their child. But all that is about to change.

Like a sandcastle buffeted by ocean waves, Suzanne’s façade crumbles when her perfect life is swept away. Tragedy strikes and police officer Tony Barnett intersects with the lives of both women as he tries to discover the truth. Left adrift and drowning in guilt long ignored, Suzanne spirals downward into paralyzing depression. Beth, dealing with her own grief, must face the challenge of forgiveness. Can these two women learn to trust each other again? Will they find the power of God’s grace in their lives?

It doesn't end here: Stay tuned!! I'm thrilled that this fabulous duo will be featured on my blog this week!!

Days Like These - Even in the Darkest Moments, Light Can Shine Through by Kristian & Rachel Anderson

Kristian Anderson is determined to beat his cancer. He has faith that he will be healed. He chronicles his journey of the fight of his life in this book. He is transparent with his cancer. At times, it was difficult to read because I knew that he did not survive. And then he comes to grips that he’s losing the battle.

I am completely in utter amazement that he fought to write these gut-wrenching moments down. And then I came to the realization that sometimes God uses others to make an impact on another person’s life. I think Kristian’s story is a testament of insurmountable faith. Faith is how he made it as far as he did.

Sprinkled throughout the book are pictures and scan codes for links to videos such as his video to his wife, Rachel. If you missed it, grab your tissue and watch it here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43bxyhG-86s

It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the race of life. Slow down. Enjoy the moments because they are few. Fewer than we may realize. Put down your phone, pay attention to your kids. Look at the world through their eyes. Time is short. They are only ‘kids’ for a little while. The video is a reminder of what’s important. And guess what? It’s not money or your stuff. It’s people. People matter. It doesn’t take much to make a difference in another person’s life. A short E-mail, phone call, or even a simple smile can make a difference. This book is a great reminder of this simple concept.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Real Life, Real Miracles: True Stories That Will Help You Believe by James L. Garlow and Keith Wall

The main portion of the book consists of 30 real life stories showing how God showed up in each person’s life. Topics include car wrecks, health issues, safety concerns, etc. Many of the stories can only be explained as a miracle. For example, going up to the front of the church for prayer and being healed of a disease immediately.

While I do believe that miracles do and can happen myself, I found myself not being engaged in the stories. I think it was because I felt like I was being told a story instead of reliving it through the author’s eyes. I believe that if the stories were told in first person, a great connection with the audience would be found. I can see that the book touched several people through the other reviewers. If a story touches another person, then the book is worth a read.

I, myself, had trouble believing a couple of the stories. I was not present so I’d assume that the stories are real. They did seem to be a bit longer. Each story was around eight or nine pages. I think the stories would have had a greater impact if they were condensed and told in the first person point of view.

With all that being said, God is present in our lives and does perform miracles and sometimes they are labeled as coincidences. Keep your eyes open and you will see miracles in your daily life if you keep focused on Him.

I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers and the opinions are completely my own.

When Donkeys Talk by Tyler Blanski

I chose this book for a couple of reasons. I thought it would be interesting and it was available in print. I have a more difficult time reading books in e-format. Even in print format, I did not find this an easy read.

Tyler sets out to rediscover the saints, stars, and beauty of Christianity (back cover). He has discussions with his neighbor, Stephen the Philistine about his crazy-ass theory. His neighbor knows about Christianity but doesn’t believe. He talks about Atomland and Christendom and I’m completely lost. It reminds me of reading a science book. Some of it is interesting but then I have to reread the sentence to see what it means.

The book is broken down into seven sections: A Crazy-Ass Theory, Atomland, The Coherency of Creation, In Thrall to the Heavens, The Sanctification of Time, You Are What You Eat, and Final Participation.

If you like reading about the Middle Ages, you may love the book. I would recommend the book to someone who likes heavy reading and who knows the bible forward and backward. I would suggest reading the other reviews and decide whether or not the book is for you. I think there is a specific audience for this book, but it’s not for a new Christian.

I was given this book free through Thomas Nelson BookSneeze program. 

Firsthand: Ditching Secondhand Religion for a Faith of Your Own by Ryan and Josh Shook

Do you ever feel like you are just mimicking the religion that you grew up with? This book appears to be primarily geared toward the twenty-something group. What I’ve found is the parents can be over-protective and sometimes (hate to say this) but shove religion down their kids throat. Later on, some of these kids rebel. They go to parties and live the life they finally have been waiting for all these years.

This book hits the nail on the head. They (the authors) grew up in a Christian home and were even leaders in a youth group. You’d think they were the perfect Christian brothers. But, they strayed and lived the life. Parties, video games, and even pornography invaded their lives. They gave up on the Christian faith. Or, they felt that their faith wasn’t really theirs but their parents. And that’s the heart of this book – making your faith your own. It’s not just their story. At the end of each chapter, they make it real by making it real by including other voices (people who have shared similar experiences).

Eight main topics are tackled. They include: Why Firsthand Matters, Soul Thirst, Sick of Secrets, Real Faith-Real Change, Trashing the Checklist, Question Everything, Divine Disturbance and Firsthand Community.

I recommend this book to the early twenty-something crowd as well as youth pastors. I was given a copy of this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.

Wishing on Willows by Katie Ganshert

Even though this is the second book in a series, it can be read as a stand-alone. The first book was about Bethany Quinn and this book moves forward with her story. However, this story is about Robin Price.

Robin Price is the owner of Willow Tree Café in Peaks, Iowa. The town loves her! A handsome developer, Ian comes to town determined to buy her café so that condos can be built in its place. He’s strong-minded and he desires to make his father proud of the family business. He didn’t expect Robin to hold on so tightly and refuse to sell.

Ian is handsome and he only has one business owner left to agree to sell and that’s Robin, a widow and single mom. He learns that the Willow Tree Café is not an ordinary coffee shop with baked goods and espresso. It was built on a dream. Will either back down?

Robin’s story is really about moving on. How does one move on when tragic strikes? There is a time to grieve but then over time and as one heals, a new beginning can emerge. It doesn’t mean that you forget the past. You learn to embrace the memories but move on so that new ones can be formed.

Ganshert is a wonderful author. If you want to hear about a story of hope and moving forward in your life, read Robin’s story. You’d be surprised how similar her life (emotions) may reflect your own.

I was given this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.

Raccoon Tales by Joy DeKok (Illustrated by Leslie Helen Colwin)

What a delightful book! I read a kindle edition. The stories and artwork were perfect! Joy gives us some facts about Raccoons but then tells wonderful stories (four in total) incorporating some of the facts. You come to care for the characters Shadow (shy), Meeko (sweet), RC (smart), Lucy (silly), and Chatter (likes to talk!). The story is told in rhyme. I actually read it with my teenager. What I loved the most about the stories is that Joy provides an applicable verse at the end of each story. It feeds God’s word directly into a child’s heart!

Read more about Joy Dekok here:

http://www.joydekok.com/

Everything by Mary DeMuth

What I enjoy the most about Mary’s books is that she is transparent. I feel a kindred spirit to her because she speaks out loud what her innermost feelings might be. I have felt those same raw emotions and have dealt with what life has handed me growing up in an unchristian home and I’ve seen, heard, and felt things no-one should ever bear. Mary has too. When she writes certain passages it resonates me to the core. My core (at times) represents shame, fear, worry, and then guilty for feeling all of those things knowing that I should be more faithful. She has some powerful paragraphs and sentences that stop you in your tracks.

Everything is divided into three parts:

*Head – What We Think

*Heart – Who We Are

*Hands – How We Live

Part of section one includes the topic of worry. This is what Mary says about worry and it shook me to the core. Worry is a weighty monster with poisoned tentacles. It clutches at us, grabs our mind, steals our breath, our will. It lurks. It pounces. It colors how we perceive the world. But God whispers peace in the midst. At the heart of the matter, we know with our heads that worry will leads to no sleep and stress. It doesn’t change what’s going to happen. We need to be able to hand our worries over to God. I like the image of a box. Write all your worries on a piece of paper and place them in the box. Then picture Jesus and him coming up to you and reaching his hand out to you and requesting that you give him the worry box. And then he wraps you in his embrace and tells you it’s all mine now. I already know the future and it’s good. It’s Jeremiah 29:11 – you’ve read it. You’ve memorized it. Now, live it. You have the future at your hands and I’m right beside you.

Mary DeMuth touches on much more such as choosing forgiveness and healing. Sometimes it’s easier to wallow in our woes rather than face our challenge head on. Forgiving the other person (easier said than done – I know!) is actually releasing you not them. It’s releasing you to move on with your life and live it abundantly. And I learned a long time ago that forgiveness doesn’t mean that you forget what happened or that you have to be their friend. It just means letting go. After all, God has forgiven us. Why is it so hard to forgive others?

Finally, Mary gives you 10 disciplines that if you apply them you will find great growth. One such is the discipline of gratitude and she refers to Ann Voskamp’s book called, “One Thousand Gifts.” Focus on what you do have in life. If you live in America, you have much more than you realize that we so easily take for granted such as running water. We rarely go without it. Or electricity. Oh, how we moan if either is out for even a few hours. It’s all over Facebook that our power is out. Poor Me! We happily post it from our IPhones and get the attention that we all so deserve!

I recommend this book for others who want to tackle that weighty monster of our lives such as worry, letting go of the giants, choosing to heal, and tackling the disciplines.

I was given this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.

10 Secrets to Life’s Biggest Challenges by Peter Lord with Kent Crockett

The older we get, the more stress seems to come with it. When you first start out, everything is exciting. Most young people cannot wait to get out of the house. But, then comes reality when bills come pouring in. They get married and have kids. Both life-changing and wonderful events! The trick is being able to balance the act of maintaining jobs, the house, and kids. But, that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Peter Lord touches on the other challenges that come into our lives. The topics include making decisions, temptations, relationships, conflicts, hurts, attitudes, money, trials, authorities, and finally death. When we start our adult life, we do not realize all of the trials that we will face. Peter Lord gives us secrets to each of these challenges and uses biblical examples of how to apply it to our everyday lives. The real secret is being able to deal with each of these trials that we all will face in a healthy manner. We all have challenges and how we deal with them will determine our future.

Money speaks. It says bye-bye (unknown). This is taken from the managing money chapter. In my own personal experience, it seems like the more money I have, the more money I spend. Believe it or not, we do have the power to tell our money what to do. In this chapter, Peter Lord discusses the two purposes of money, how to get out to debt, how to save, and much more! He emphasizes that the more you owe, the more you are owned! I believe this to be true. If you want to be truly free, become debt-free. Do not buy on impulse. If you don’t have the money for that new electronic toy, do not buy it. Easier said that done. But the more you do it, the easier it becomes.

Ever had someone hurt you? If not, you probably haven’t lived on this earth for very long! In his chapter, ‘Healing Your Hurts’ Peter Lord tackles the subject. Some people can let things roll off their back. However, the closer you are to the person who created the hurt, the more deeply the wound they can inflict.

I recommend this to book to everyone including teenagers embarking into adulthood. I wish I had read a book like this many years ago. I’m sure I would have handled many situations differently. But, like many of you, I did the best with the information that I had at the time.

I was given this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.

When to Speak Up & When to Shut Up by Dr. Michael D. Sedler

Have you ever been in a position that you are being accused of something that simply isn’t true? The typical response is defend yourself and resort to saying things that may make the situation even worse. I think we’ve all been there at one time or another. How hard it is to keep one’s mouth shut. But, if we do, the truth will ultimately come out. To be able to hold your tongue and state the fact that you did or did not do something, takes great skill. Or, if you are completely silent that can create problems too. When you know someone is saying untrue statements about you and then you stay silent, there’s a tendency to build up stress/tension. Then one day, you simply cannot take it any longer and a fight ensues.

Dr. Michael D. Sedler is transparent in his book and gives examples in his own life where he should have kept silent but didn’t. Or, how he should of handled a situation just a little bit differently. I respect him that he was honest with his own mishaps. It all comes down to pride. We don’t want to be wrong. We want others to see it our way. In addition, he gives specific biblical examples and how it can be applied to our lives.

In today’s workplace, there seems to be more stress than ever before. I cannot tell you how many people that I know that say that they are unhappy with their jobs in one form or another. The most common reason is never money. It usually has to do with someone that they work with and usually that person is an authoritative figure. The Supervisor may not be professional. He/She may even be a bully. How do you handle that? The bully will keep pestering until finally the employee blows. In fact, that’s what they are waiting for. You would think that they would be professional. After all, the person was placed in a management type position. Unfortunately, many people placed in those positions abuse their authority. They may yell or make demands rather than taking the time to sit down with the employee and discuss the issue at hand.

This is a great book for absolutely everyone. No one is perfect! We all speak our minds when we shouldn’t and vise versa. This applies to all facets of life whether it’s the workplace, church, or even family. This is book to be read over and over until it’s sunk into your brain and into your heart.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to give a positive review.