Thursday, August 25, 2016

Today's Moment of Truth


From the back of the book:  Why do we believe what we believe?   Leading apologists Lee Strobel and Mark Mittelberg present 180 insightful devotions that will give you daily infusions of spiritual truth while deepening your knowledge of the evidence for Christianity.  
Each devotional is based on scientific, historical, or biblical facts that will bolster your confidence in Christ.  You will be inspired, encouraged, and equipped to "give an answer to everyone who asks you to give their reason for the hope that you have"  (I Peter 3:15).  Practical takeaways will allow you to put this confidence and knowledge into action.

You will emerge with a deeper understanding of why you believe what you believe.  In the process you'll find your love of truth - and your passion to share it - growing each day.
Do you struggle with what you believe?  Has someone asked you a question you can't seem to find an answer for?  This devotional will help you understand why we believe.   It answers questions like "Who designed the designer?"  It covers the trinity, loving those that disagree and much more.
Written in a two-page easy to read format, beginning with a verse and ending with a thought that you can take and think on.  The devotional covers many topics from science to theological questions.  
I like this devotional, it is easy to read, it helps answers some of the hard questions we may have or that other's may ask us.   This would be a wonderful devotional for family time, or someone who is struggling with their faith.  I think the author's did a great job on this devotional.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.







Giant Killers



It seemed a lopsided battle. On one side, a small shepherd with a sling and five stones. On the other, a heavily armored ten-foot giant whose taunts and challenges immobilized an army of seasoned warriors.
The story of David and Goliath has become an almost universal underdog story; but in reality, Goliath never stood a chance.
In Giant Killers, emotional intelligence speaker, consultant, and author Steve Lawson identifies the five vital emotional and social skills David possessed: identity, discipline, graciousness, action, and hope. When combined with the power of God’s grace, these strengths made it possible for David to defeat Goliath, build a mighty army out of social rejects, and establish the greatest kingdom in the history of Israel.
We all face giants in our lives, if not as literally as David did. But like David, we can overcome any challenge, seizing with confidence the opportunities God places in our path. Giant Killers teaches you how to do so, providing a foundation on which you can build success after success. It all begins with you—and your willingness to trust in God’s grace.

My Thoughts:  We all have giants.  There is always some Goliath that we come up against in life, one time or another.  The question is do we run or do we fight like David did?  Sometimes it is hard to pick up that one stone and fire it at our giant, but Steve Lawson does a great job of encouraging us to do just that... pick up that stone and fight your giant.  

I really enjoyed and was encouraged by his "giant killer" examples in the book.  After reading this book you will be motivated to kill your giants, put the bad behind you and start taking those opportunities that God puts in your path.

We all have giants.  There is always some Goliath that we come up against in life, one time or another.  The question is do we run or do we fight like David did?  Sometimes it is hard to pick up that one stone and fire it at our giant, but Steve Lawson does a great job of encouraging us to do just that... pick up that stone and fight your giant.  

I really enjoyed and was encouraged by his "giant killer" examples in the book.


I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.










Monday, August 22, 2016

Hearing God in Conversation



From the back of the book:
     Christianity is a relationship with Bod, how many of us would say we have a strong, meaningful connection with him?  After all, it's widely accepted that the foundation of any good relationship is communication-and conversation with God often seems to be one-sided at best.  We may long to hear his voice, but does God still talk to us today? Should we even expect Him to?

From the Publisher

Christians are comfortable saying that Christianity is about a relationship with God. Yet many might also say that they sense  a lacking meaningful relationship with God in their own lives.  What people (Christians) seem to miss is that in order to have a meaningful relationship, one must communicate with the other person.    After all, the foundation of  a good relationship is communication —but  do we actually listen  to hear God?   


Hearing God in Conversation offers simple, step-by-step lessons on how to hear God. Williamson begins with Scripture meditation. He then expands the practice of listening for that voice everywhere—in the checkout line, on the job, in a movie theater, and even in silence. From there, he demonstrates how to hear God's guidance when making any decision. By the end, readers' eyes and ears will be opened to the limitless methods through which God speaks.

My thoughts:
       
I agree that a relationship with God is very important, and yes we do need to pray, read the Bible in order to hear what God has for us. I believe that most people today are so used to an instant society that they do not take the time to listen and do not recognize that God is speaking to them.  Do I believe that God will speak audibly to me?  Probably not, I believe that God speaks through scripture, through praying and through circumstances.

But for those seeking ways to hear God and form a relationship with Him, this may be a good start.

Kregel Publishers

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.





Saturday, August 20, 2016

The Illustrator's Note taking Bible








The Illustrator’s Notetaking Bible combines two hot trends: Bible journaling and adult coloring. Through unique illustrations included on every page spread, readers, illustrator’s, and notetakers alike learn to engage the biblical text in a new way. The exceptional design offers a unique balance for everyone from seasoned artists to the creatively challenged, allowing for guided creativity and meaningful personalization of the Bible reading experience. From filigree, Scripture quotes, and unique images, these line-drawn illustrations are waiting to be brought to life.

Features include:
Over 600 images, including text designs, images, and filigree
Unique illustrations on every page spread

Open margin space for creating new, personalized images

Light grey illustrations allowing readers to add color to each image
Lined margins for note taking


This is a wonderful Bible for those who love to take notes!  I thought the note taking Bible was good, but with the added graphics, it makes note taking more fun and inspiring.  This is good for those who love to doodle and have a creative mind.


Mine came with a sturdy hardcover, which is good for heavy use.  It also has a good concordance and maps.  This Bible takes the fear of marking up the Bible away.  It has wide margins to write in and plenty of room for those artists to put their personalization in.  It comes in the Holman translation which is very easy to read and to use.  The only drawback is, is that the font is smaller than I would normally choose.

All in all a great Bible for note takers.





I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.