A New Beginning…A BIG Change

After this blog being dormant for so long, I have decided it is time for a resurrection!!
There is going to be a new focus and it is totally different.
No more book reviews.
The focus of this blog will be on health, beauty and fitness products that I love.  For now all of the products I review will be ones I use and buy.  They are not paid endorsements, nor are they samples that were sent to me for a review.  If that changes in the future I will let you know.  But, for now, it is just going to be some of my absolute fave things. Things I just cannot live without.  Things and products that are "Wonderful to me".
I hope you will enjoy where this blog is going and I hope that some of these things will help you out.

Unexpected Love

Unexpected Love: God’s Heart Revealed in Jesus’s Conversations with Women (by Julie Coleman) takes you through nine different conversations Jesus had with women and digs deeper into each interaction.  Each conversation is it’s own dedicated chapter. The author then gives you the story along with further insight into the culture or circumstance. The author then takes it further with what it shows women today and gives thought provoking questions and ideas for journaling. 

I loved this book.  I enjoyed reading each encounter and it spoke to me in many ways.  I would recommend this book to any woman.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their Book Sneeze program.  I was not required to write a positive review.

Empty Promises

Empty Promises is the second book by Pastor Pete Wilson.  This book delves into the places we look for fulfillment in life and the promises they make to us. Approval, Money, Relationships...none of these things will fulfill us because we were made to be fulfilled by Jesus alone.  Pete Wilson goes tells many relatable stories and shows how we are looking to all the wrong things.

This is a definite must read.  And, if you haven't read his first book, Plan B, you must check that out.
* I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review.

Relentless by John Bevere

Relentless is a great book for anyone who is walking through a struggle or anyone who just needs to know how to push through.  In this book Bevere gives practical advice on how to know and understand your struggle and how to walk through it with perseverance.  Be warned, it is a slow read.    

*Disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book to review by WaterBrook Multnomah. I was not required to write a positive review

American Patriot's Bible

The American Patriot’s Bible from Thomas Nelson Publishers is the perfect Bible for anyone who loves American history and wants to see how America influenced by the Bible.  It is a King James Version and is filled with colored pages that detail topics such as the Civil War, Presidential monuments and  others.  Each book of the Bible has a brief introduction as to author, timeline, etc.  It is the perfect gift Bible. The beginning has many pages for family and church history . It will definitely be a family heirloom.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their 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  : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Desiring God

Desiring God is a John Piper classic.  In it, Piper discusses why he is a Christian hedonist (a term he coined) and what that means.  He explains how the ultimate thing in life is to glory in God  and enjoy Him.

The book seems to repeat itself often, and can sometimes feel like Piper is talking in circles but if it is broken down into small amounts, it is definitely a good read.  Numerous scriptures back everything Piper discusses up. 

While this book is a classic, it is definitely a slow read as it needs to be digested in small portions.  This is not a book to just read, it is a book to take in. 

*I received this book for free in exchange for a review. I was not required to write a positive review. *

Amazing Courage - A review of Thunder Dog by Michael Hingson

Thunder Dog by Michael Hingson is the true story of his escape from the World Trade Center on September 11^th with the help of his faithful guide dog Roselle.   This story was so inspiring, and so amazing that I must recommend it to everyone!

The  detailed account of their  descent from the 78^th floor of the World Trade Center during the terrorist attacks, while amazing, is not the heart of the story.  The story of how Michael Hingson overcame blindness to do things that a sighted person wouldn’t imagine possible for a blind man is truly what makes this book great.  The obstacles he has overcome and the accessibility that he helped pioneer for the blind community is awe-inspiring. 

This book made me think of blindness in an entirely new way.  The limitations that so many sighted people place on blind people are really our own limitations.  Reading about the work and training of the guide dogs was also very interesting.  I highly recommend this book to everyone.  Learning how to interact with others who have blindness is the best thing I took away from this book. Every person should read this and learn from this story! They will learn what courage really looks like!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their 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  : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Plain Wisdom

Plain Wisdom by Cindy Woodsmall and Miriam Flaud is a series of short, well written chapters that are written by an Old Order Amish woman (Miriam Flaud) and an Englisher (Cindy Woodsmall).  Each short chapter deals with a situation, special event, or every day occurance as seen through the eyes of these two women.
While this is not  a book to just sit down and read through, it is one that is enjoyed a little at a time.  It is interesting to see the perspective of friendship of these two women who live in such different worlds.
I found this book entertaining because I personally know an Old Order Amish family, and their views on life, society and family are so different from mine, yet at the same time, there are so many ways I wish my life was like theirs.
Plain Wisdom is a good read if you are looking for something to pick up here and there and to glean a new perspective.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers. 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  : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.:*

Women of Faith:Rejoice CD Review

Women of Faith Worship:Rejoice is a new recording of praise and worship songs.  I listen to quite a bit of praise and worship and this CD just wasn't my cup of tea.  The women singing sounded like a Christian version of the 90's group Wilson-Philips.  There are some songs on the CD that I knew such as 'Our God' originally sung by Chris Tomlin, and this version of the song did not live up to the original.  While this CD may be what others like, it did not draw me into the presence of God, instead I was focused on the very feminine sound of it. Not my favorite CD, nor could I recommend it.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their 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  : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”*

Perfectly Patriotic!

God’s Promises for the American Patriot is a great gift book for the person in your life who loves history or is interested in the founding of our country.  There are short two page chapters that address a topic related to patriotism.  The book is not limited to the founding fathers, but also highlights others who more recently have been vocal about their love of country and love of God.  I think it is the perfect father’s day gift and would be a great book to have on the coffee table.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their 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  : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Plain Proposal by Beth Wiseman

In the genre of Amish fiction, there comes another book, Plain Proposal.  In this book, the main character Miriam is coming of age to make her own decisions when her English cousin Shelby moves in.  The two girls couldn’t be any different.  Plain Proposal takes you on a journey with Miriam as she moves from girl to woman and discovers her own life. 

I usually enjoy reading Amish fiction.  I have read a book by this author before, and this time, I can’t say I was disappointed, but at the same time, the book did nothing for me.  It was very repetitive and filled with quite a bit of space fillers.  There were many times where the writer rehashed what the characters were thinking or feeling, over and over again.  The book probably could’ve been quite a bit shorter if all of that were taken out. 

If you have read any of my other reviews on Amish fiction, you will know that I personally know Amish families in Lancaster County and have spent time with them.  Some of the aspects of Amish life in these books are true to life, and others are a bit far-fetched and elaborated. 

Overall, this is a wholesome book with a sweet story.  It isn’t a page turner, nor is it entirely entertaining. 

*Disclosure of Materials: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their 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  : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Do You Want to be RADICAL??

All over the world, people are living in “radical” ways, and too many times, Christians see themselves as ordinary. We look at Hollywood, we look at the news, and we look at reality TV and think that those people are doing such “cool and radical” things in the world.  But, a truly radical life is one that is wholly devoted to Christ and His Gospel.

In his book, Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream, David Platt explains how a life surrendered to Christ is nothing less than an extreme and awesome experience.  This book will open your eyes, it will challenge your thoughts about your life, and will motivate you to truly follow the Gospel of Christ. 

Radical is convicting, it is inspiring, it is a must read for anyone claiming Christianity. 

This book has made me think about how I live my day-to-day life.  How am I using my time? How am I making a difference in a way that really matters? 

Do yourself a favor and get this book!! You will not regret it! It will change your life and propel you into a great adventure!

Read the first chapter here!

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book to review by Multnomah.  I was not required to write a positive review.*

Voices of the Faithful

Voices of the Faithful is a daily devotional written by missionaries serving around the world.  It is organized by different topics for each month and each entry is written by a different missionary.

I found this to be a great daily devotional.  The readings are thoughtful and just the right length.  I did notice that some of the writers did not include their names, I'm assuming for fear of the governments where they are serving.

Overall, I would recommend this book to someone who wants to supplement their daily devotional or someone who is short on time.  I think this book is great for someone who is missions-minded.  It will also ignite an interest in missions for those who do not know much about it.
*Disclosure: I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for a review. I was not required to write a positive review of this book.*

Sun Stand Still

Sun Stand Still is a call to live with audacious faith.  Pastor and author Steven Furtick uses Joshua as an example to propel us into a new dimension of faith where we are brave enough to ask God for that which seems impossible. 

I chose this book because I thought it would be a book that helps increase my faith and moves me to a new level.  I did not get that out of this book.  While the message of this book is relevant to todays society, for me, it wasn’t as motivational as I thought it would be.  Don’t get me wrong, this book is an excellent book.

I would highly recommend it to a new believer who has questions about what faith is and how to increase it.  This book is Biblically based and is filled with wonderful examples.  However, if you have been a believer for awhile, and are looking for a deeper challenge, then I would not recommend this book for you.

Sun Stand Still is a great book to help you realize that God is calling His people to ask, seek and knock and to look for His hand in your impossible situations.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book to review by Multnomah.  I was not required to write a positive review.

My NOOK!!

My reading experiences are taking on a whole new adventure.  I received a color Nook for Christmas.  I am so excited about it that I'm not sure I will be able to sleep tonight!!  I can't wait to download my first book and get reading.  BUT, I am going to wait until I buy a case for it.  Does anyone else have a nook? What do you think of it??

Then Sings My Soul

Then Sings My Soul by Robert Morgan is the perfect book for those who have fond memories of hymns and classic church songs.  This book contains the music sheets and lyrics along with a background story about the song.  The hymns are broken down into categories such as Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving.  The songs that are featured are church classics and reading through them brought back so many wonderful memories. It is awesome to read the lyrics of songs that have been sung by generations.  The most interesting thing is to read the background stories about the songs.  This is the perfect book to add to your home library or to give as a gift.             * Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the 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 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”*

In His Image NLT Devotional Bible

I received this Bible to review from Tyndale a few weeks ago.  It took me awhile to post a review because I am not sure how to write a review for a Bible, but I will try. This Bible would be great for a new believer or someone who needs a basic understanding of the names of God, and who enjoys a translation that is easy to read. It is the New Living Translation, which I find is a good resource if you need a verse explained in "current" language.  I still prefer the NIV. 

This Bible has small sections that give definitions of the different names of God used in the Old and New Testaments.  They are on (almost) every other page.  Sometimes it is quite repetitive.  It also has prayerful readings on the sides of the pages, which explains a bit about God's character and gives simple meditations and prayers; I thought that was a nice touch, until I noticed that many of those are repeated also. 

In the beginning of each chapter is an introduction to the book.  It explains what the book is about, how to find God in that book and some key areas of the book.  I thought that was great, especially for someone new to reading the Word, until I saw that in the book of Joshua it calls Joshua a "character".  I understand that to us, the men and women in the Bible are "characters", however, I think that term is misleading and will cause some to view what they read as fiction.  That was my main disappointment.

Overall, I feel that this Bible would be a good resource for a new believer or a teen that is just starting to dig in.

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Tyndale Publishers as part of their 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  : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”*

Heaven is for Real!!

Heaven is for Real is the true story of a 4 year old boy who actually went to heaven during a life or death surgery.  I have heard many stories about people who claim they had an "out of body experience" or that they died and came back, but none are as believable, inspiring and Biblical as this.

Colton was only 4 years old when he became seriously ill and needed emergency surgery. After he was recovered, he began telling his parents things about heaven, and facts about what they did when he was in surgery that there was no way he could have known.  He even told his mother about a child she had miscarried years earlier.  Told by his father, this book is a must read for any one who has lost a loved one, who is curious to know what heaven is like, or who is just interested in the topic.

Personally, I thought this book was amazing.  It's a must read! The things that this child said were Biblical and things that a 4 year old would not know on his own.  It was comforting, inspiring, and a great book overall.  The chapters are short and the story flows so well that you just want to keep reading and reading.  I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their 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  : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”