I Am Bible

This is a Bible that looks directly to God's statements through the whole Bible and gives a commentary for each statement.  For example, in Genesis, it highlights where God spoke and then tells who he spoke to and what it meant.  It is a very unique and helpful way to highlight, and study  the main point of what was spoken and why.

This is a wonderful study Bible.  It helps us study out the passages, and understand who God really is and what He means when He is speaking to us.

This Bible comes with some very detailed maps, a concordance, and a dictionary.  It has an attractive, sturdy hardcover, which makes it durable for much use.

I love Bibles, I own a few, and this one I feel would make a great addition to everyone's library; whether you are a student, pastor, or just a person who loves to study God's word.

I received this book free from the publisher.  ( B& H Publishing) 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.

Designed to Lead

Church leadership is dying.  If you are interested in building leaders in your church, this is the book to read.

There are many books out there on leadership.  Most of them are secular and can be used to help aid in leading in a church, but this book aims specifically at making leaders within the church.

e of the key factors in leadership  is discipling our younger members into becoming leaders.  This would be the “conviction” that the author is describing.   Many churches are lacking in discipleship.

The authors give the reader an amazing map or directions on how to make disciples in the church. Three things: Constructs, Culture and Conviction.  If any one of the three is missing, the leadership is lacking.  For example, Constructs without conviction produces apathy.  This means that the church does not have a conviction for producing leaders. 

I feel that every pastor or those in leadership need to read this book  if we are going to build leadership in our churches.
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.

He Knows Your Name

It  all began with an evening news report about an abandoned baby being found in a local dumpster.  Little did Linda know that God would forever change her life.
This book written by Linda Znachko, founder of He Knows Your Name Ministries, will tear at your heart.  This amazing woman wrote a book explaining how her ministry began.
God laid upon her heart to do something that none of us would even think about on a day to day basis.   God laid upon her heart to give an abandoned baby a decent burial and celebrate this little one's  short life.   Needless to say, Linda never knew that this would grow into a big ministry that would not only give burials to those who could not but go beyond to helping those who could not afford simple things like headstones.

Not only did she help these little one's, but she also took God's love to the mother's who were wronged by the press, because they had nowhere to turn, but helped them to celebrate their children's lives.

Get out the tissues, and sit back and read how one "yes" changed a woman's life forever.   This book will really make you think about people who cannot afford one of the major things that celebrate our lives, our being, either for us or for our loved ones.   What will happen when you say "yes" to God?

This book is amazing, it really reminded me of things we may take for granted, and what will happen, what good things will happen when I say "yes" to God.  What things will happen for good when others will say "yes" to God?

I received this book free from the publisher. http://www.kregel.com   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.”

TheySay We are the Infidels

  This book is written by  Mindy Belz, senior editor of World Magazine,  who has 20 years’ experience of reporting from Iraq and Syria. Her book focuses on the reality that the Christians in the Middle East went through the in the past 20 years at the hands of people they lived with for thousands of years.  Mindy Belz gives us first-hand reports from her perspective, not from the outside, but on the inside, she is right there and talks to those who have experienced ISIS.  To be a Christian in Iraq and Syria is to live in real danger. Churches are bombed, pastors murdered, children kidnapped. Families whose ancestors have survived two thousand years in the region where Christ and his disciples walked now risk elimination by Islamic terrorists.

This book gives the reader a whole new outlook on what ISIS is doing over in the middle East.  It isn’t just a news story, something that you can ignore.  It’s real.

This was a hard book to read, not that it wasn’t written well, it’s just the topic; once you start reading and get into the lives of the people affected, it hits home.  She gets to know personally the people that have been affected by ISIS and it gives the reader a lot to think about.

This is a good read for anyone who wants to understand what is really happening in the Middle east and the specific threat that ISIS poses to all Christians.

 I received this book free from the publisher (Tyndale). 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.

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.

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.

Read an Excerpt from the book