Max On Life

Max on Life

By Max Lucado

About the book:

We have questions. Child-like inquiries. And deep, heavy ones.

In more than twenty-five years of writing and ministry, Max Lucado has been the receiving line for thousands of such questions. The questions come in letters, e-mails, even on Dunkin Donuts napkins. In Max on Life he offers thoughtful answers to more than 150 of the most pressing questions on topics ranging from hope to hurt, from home to the hereafter.

Max writes about the role of prayer, the purpose of pain, and the reason for our ultimate hope. He responds to the day-to-day questions—parenting quandaries, financial challenges, difficult relationships—as well as to the profound: Is God really listening?

A special addendum includes Max’s advice on writing and publishing.
Including topical and scriptural indexes and filled with classic Lucado encouragement and insight, Max on Life will quickly become a favorite resource for pastors and ministry leaders as well as new and mature believers.

My Thoughts:



Max on Life - what a great idea for a book. This book is filled with questions Max has been consistently asked over the years and his associated answers. The questions cover many topics and Max has very definitive answers for each. Max Lucado is very intelligent, extremely knowledgeable about the Bible, and a master at applying biblical concepts to life. Max answers these questions with a concise, common sense filled approach.



My favorite thing about this book is its ability to serve multiple purposes. I can see the book used as Bible study or devotional companion, a reference book, a coffee table book as well as a tool of witness for Christ. Max addresses many theological questions answering in an easy to understand manner.



Favorite Quote:

“You are always on God’s itinerary. Come and go as you wish, but he’s always there.”

 
 
 
Rating: a whole gem parcel

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Flying Solo

Flying Solo
By Denise Hildreth Jones

About the book:
For one year following her painful divorce, Denise Hildreth chronicled every emotion, every new discovery and every moment of God’s unyielding presence. Flying Solo, the diary of that roller-coaster year, begins on the day Denise sat in court to hear a judge end her 13-year marriage and follows her through 12 months of soul-searching, heartbreak and healing.


With vivid stories, raw emotion and unwavering honesty, Denise opens a window for divorced or divorcing readers to breathe in the fresh air of God’s Spirit. For, among many surprises in store for Denise during her first year of flying solo, one of the most startling was this: God desires to be with us through our pain. She writes, “Flying solo isn’t about being alone. It is about living a life that may hurt at times, wound at times, betray at times; but there is still an incredible unobstructed view of heaven, and an opportunity to discover God in the middle of it.” Readers struggling to stay afloat in the wake of a marriage’s end will hear from a fellow traveler that they don’t have to settle for treading water . . . they can learn to fly.

My Thoughts:

“Flying Solo” has so much to offer! It is Denise’s journal through the first year after her divorce as she rediscovers what makes her feel alive, learns about who God is, and seeks His will for her new life. There are moments of deep sorrow as well as moments of great joy and laughter. There is also a lot of talk from her counseling sessions and each chapter concludes with questions and exercises relating to the content of the chapter for readers to work through on their own journeys, whatever they may be.



Denise Hildreth-Jones is honest and transparent throughout the entire book making it easy to see God working in her life and healing her heart. All and all I thought this was a great book and one I didn’t want to put down yet at the same time one to really spend time with thinking through the questions and lessons.



Come back Friday for an interview with Denise Hildreth-Jones.



Favorite Line:

“But you can’t move on from your memories until you have new ones in place.”


 
 
Rating: a whole gem parcel!

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From Head to Foot

From Head to Foot
By Annie Downs

About the book:
From Head to Foot is a candid, easy-to-read guide that uses real-life examples and faith-based instruction to equip Christian girls with the confidence, faith and moxie they’ll need to face their teen and college years.

My review:
From Head to Foot is a devotional style, introspective little book that’ll leave you pondering how you can serve God better.




Annie’s transparent honesty is refreshing, incredible, and takes so much courage you know she has learned the lessons she is teaching. In the beginning of the book Annie mentions that she wants to be your friend and it only takes a few pages before you feel like she is exactly that.



So many places you hear about the need to love yourself for who God has made you yet not many give tangible steps. Annie lists the steps she took to learn to love herself as God made her and serve Him to the best of her ability. From Head to Foot is a little guidebook to loving yourself and exploring ways to serve the Lord with what He has given you.




Favorite line:

“If you’ve protected your heart and allowed God to fill it with His plans and love, then you can trust your desires.”



Rating: a whole gem parcel!!

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God Called a Girl

God Called a Girl


By Shannon Primicerio



God Called a Girl draws on the life of Mary, a simple, insignificant teenager who God called to change the world. As we learn about Mary we begin to see how God chooses the unlikely to fulfill His plan and we are asked “are you willing to answer the call?”



This book was awesome. I learned so much about Mary and really started to think about her and look at her in a different light but the book isn’t as much about Mary as it is about God and what He can do with someone willing to submit their life to Him no matter what the circumstances. As easy as it would be to say that the story of Mary and Jesus’ birth is ancient an irrelevant to today’s culture Shannon adds stories from her life and those around her to show how we can learn from the courage of this teenage girl who risked it all to follow God. Ultimately this book is challenge to say “yes” to God and how following Him can change your world.



I’ve read this book a few times and am amazed every time. There is so much to think about and learn from.



Favorite Quote:

“It’s been said that who we are in our current surroundings is who we will be in our desired surrounding.”




Rating: a whole gem parcel!!

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A Place of Healing

A Place of Healing
By Joni Eareckson Tada

As many of Joni’s books have dealt with suffering so does this one. Written with the same eloquence and compassion we’ve come to know Joni for she poses the question, “If God can heal, why doesn’t He?”




Joni invites us to walk with her as she asks this question trying to understand her new battle of chronic pain. After nearly forty years of quadriplegia she is asking once again how God can use her while is so much pain. She is open, encouraging, and gives the honest answer to the question of God’s healing. It is His choice of who and when to heal according to His will.



She then goes on to explain the process and verses she has used in her journey to accept her new situation. Her advice may not be the easiest to swallow but I believe that with hard work, determination, and the right mindset this book can aid in making sense of suffering.



Favorite Line:

“Authentic strength walks hand in hand with weakness”




Rating: a whole gem parcel

Hurricanes In Paradise

Hurricanes in Paradise
By Denise Hildreth

About the Book:
When Riley Sinclair stepped into her new job as director of guest relations at a posh resort on Paradise Island, she felt the final pieces of her once-broken life coming together. But the waters become choppy when Riley discovers that some who come to the Atlantis Hotel are accompanied by paralyzing secrets and overwhelming fears. Riley and three guests are in desperate but unknowing need of each other, eventually forging unlikely yet powerful friendships. With a hurricane headed straight for the island, together they embark on a journey of laughter, heartache, and healing.

My Review:
Wow! I really liked this book. This is Denise Hildreth’s first book in two years and it was well worth the wait. I’ve read her books before but Hurricanes In Paradise is the best yet with a little bit of everything. It’s a beautiful story of fashion, friendship, overcoming pain, discovering who you were meant to be, and of course the beach! The four main characters are easy to fall in love with, flaws and all.




Tamyra, Winnie, Laine, and Riley were all strangers at the beginning of the book only to be transformed into lifelong friends as they vacationed at The Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas. The book alternates between the four women weaving their stories together. Denise has mastered the art of foreshadowing. With every scene she drew me in and right as I was holding my breath to see what happened, she switched to a different character whom I was equally as enthralled in. Even I wanted to skip pages ahead to see what happened and I am not a page skipper!



There is an urban legend which says the waters at the Atlantis heal and some come searching for it. These women are quick to find the water may not be what heals but are directed to the One who truly does heal. Denise talks about faith in God without being preachy and even through a fictional story can help you see that trusting in the Lord can heal our deepest hurts.



Favorite Quote:

“She was learning that control was an illusion, and she had a feeling that knowing would help her get through the week.”

I received this book free for review from Tyndale House Publishers
Rating: a whole gem parcel!!

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The Faith Dare

The Faith Dare
By Debbie Alsdorf

About the Book:
Debbie Alsdorf wants women to experience the radically transforming difference that 30 days can make in their lives. It’s what she calls the Faith Dare, in which she challenges women to develop the habit of focusing on God and living out their faith in every situation for 30 days.




Alsdorf, a popular author, speaker and ministry leader, equips women to undertake this 30-day challenge in her new book, The Faith Dare. To cultivate a lifestyle of daily, passionate faith, she helps readers learn, day by day, to develop habits that will help them connect intimately to God.



Every day, readers will be challenged to go deeper. Examples of the daily dares include:



o Dare to live in the miracle of who you are.

o Dare to believe in God’s power in all circumstances.

o Dare to surrender to the process of change.

o Dare to speak praise, sing praise, and live with confidence in God.



Readers will also learn practical ways of applying God’s Word to their own lives, whether it’s in their personal relationship with God, learning to surrender to self, or living out God’s love to others.

With a personalized study guide, including daily readings, affirmations and challenges, Alsdorf’s 30-day challenge helps readers learn to live out their faith like never before and discover the incredible difference 30 days can make.

My Review:

In the first chapter of The Faith Dare Debbie writes, “The goal of this book is to look at life the way the Bible shows us.” Part one of the book explains what faith is, the common places we put our faith and questions to identify where our faith is. She then talks how God uses trials to test and strengthen our faith explaining placing our faith in the right person, God; we can learn to have peace through trials.



Part Two is the Thirty Day Faith Dare Challenge. Each day has a new challenge beginning with a short devotional writing and prayer/praise passage. Debbie then writes a Biblical truth pertaining to faith and goes on to explain what the Bible passage means. After that Debbie list a few dares to try throughout the day ranging from questions to ask yourself to activities like taking a walk specially paying attention to the scenery and wildlife around you. Wrapping up the day is a section to journal three things how the day’s truth spoke to you, what God is asking you to do, and what your challenge is to do. Debbie then closes with a prayer and a new belief to apply throughout the day.



Just reading the introductory chapters I was hooked and really anticipating the 30-day dare. Debbie writes what faith is, how our faith is tried, and common struggles we all have with faith. Yet she doesn’t just tell you, she gives you specific examples to explore where your faith is at. Debbie also breaks down what Bible verses mean and makes them easy to understand and apply. Often times she’ll quote the same verse then list different translations of the verse. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that in a book before.



Taking the time to do the dare and truly absorb what Debbie talks about has the ability to really teach and strengthen your faith. The only downfall I really see is that there is a lot of content focused on each day. When you have a busy life you may be tempted to speed through it. I think it would be best broken down maybe into weeks or smaller parts over a longer period. Debbie does state in the opening chapter that if feel you need to take more time on one challenge than spend as much time as you need on it. Grab a copy if you dare!



Favorite Line:

“You and I cannot generate faith for very long through human determination. Determination does not equal faith. Determination is a by-product of faith; it doesn’t cause faith. God gave us His words and promises to use as gifts. Take them and let them make a difference in your life.”



Rating: gem parcel


Learn about Debbie's Ministry HERE
Buy the book HERE
Rating: a whole gem parcel!

The Divine Dance

About the Book:

e want to be liked—that's why we put so much energy into pleasing others. Life has become a dance that we perform for others, auditioning for a place in the hearts of everyone we meet. We put our energy into performances to please our parents, friends, teachers, boys—even people we don't know. It's simple: We all desire to be loved and accepted. But in this busy, complicated world, we should be dancing as we were designed to—for the One who really cares. When the audiences are gone and we take off our masks, that's the part the Director likes best. Away from the alluring lights and demanding crowds, we can know ourselves and God in a powerful, meaningful way. When we realize that the One who matters already loves us, we will flourish in this life that is the Divine Dance.

About The Author:

rom the moment she learned to talk, author and speaker Shannon (Kubiak) Primicerio has been engaging audiences with her wit and wisdom. A writer from the second she could hold a pencil, Shannon brings a deep passion for God and a keen awareness of the issues teen girls face to both the page and the stage. Whether you are reading one of her books or sitting in a room listening to her speak, you will feel like you know Shannon—and like she knows you. Using Scripture, personal illustrations and questions that provoke reader interaction, Shannon is able to bring the Bible to life so that teen girls can apply it to the daily drama of their own circumstances. Some of her favorite biblical illustrations are teen girls themselves—Leah, Hagar, Miriam and Mary. Shannon has a B.A. in journalism and a minor in Biblical studies from Biola University, and was the recipient of the North County Times Excellence in Writing award in 2000, and the San Diego Christian Writers' Guild Nancy Bayless Award for Excellence in Writing in 2003. Her first book, The Divine Dance, was published while she was still in college. She has been interviewed on radio and television programs across the nation and featured in such media outlets as PBS' Religion and Ethics Newsweekly, The Harvest Show and TIME magazine. Her ministry spans the globe, as her books are available in several languages. Shannon also served as a mentor to young authors through the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild for three years before creating her own writing curriculum for tweens and teens. Her articles have appeared in Marriage Partnership and BRIO magazines. In 2006 Shannon and her husband, Michael, traveled to Lima, Peru as part of the annual BRIO missions trip. Although Shannon and Michael live in Southern California they are avid fans of the New York Yankees. They also partner with Compassion International to help eradicate global poverty. Shannon enjoys interacting with her readers and can constantly be found updating them on her whereabouts from her Blackberry via Twitter and Facebook.

My Review:

“If the world is your stage, who are you performing for?” It’s a simple question but a tough answer. As Shannon Primicerio explores in this book written towards women, people get caught up in performing for the approval of others whether friends, family, guys, teachers, or anyone we come across.

At the beginning of the book Shannon writes, “The Divine Dance is my life message. Writing this book brought me freedom. Continuing to live out its purpose is what keeps me free. It is a lesson for women of any age.”

As soon as the music began in chapter one I was captivated by the dance and how we can easily miss the dancing steps for the One who gave us the ability to dance in the first place. Shannon explains dancing for God is a form of worship while dancing for the world is a form of idolatry which is the reason we feel unsatisfied.

The chapters gracefully move through situations we have all faced and how we perform in them, whether for the world or for God. The book is written with practical information and help to enlighten how we lose sight of who we are dancing for. Ending each chapter is four or five questions to invoke further thought. The purpose of these questions is to help the reader think through the actions and “dancing steps” we can put into practice as we learn the divine dance.

Shannon writes with sensitivity, passion, and a streaming beautiful metaphor woven through the pages of a small girl in a pink dress standing on stage hoping to please everyone. Grab your dancing shoes, your ballet tights and begin to ask the question, “If the world is my stage, who am I performing for?”

Favorite Line:
“You may look around and feel completely alone in whatever you do. You may be embarrassed to get up on the worlds stage and dance because your dance is choreographed a little differently than everyone else’s. But if you don’t dance the way that you were made to dance, God will be robbed of some of His glory. Better to dance to a different beat than to dance to one that just isn’t you.”

Rating: Gem Parcel

Catch up with Shannon http://http//beingagirlbooks.com/

Piece de Resistance

Piece de Resistance By Sandra Byrd

About the Author:
After earning her first rejection at the age of 13, bestselling author Sandra Byrd went on to publish three dozen books including her widely-acclaimed adult fiction debut, Let Them Eat Cake, and her recent four-book young adult fiction series, Friends for a Season. A former textbook acquisitions editor, Sandra is also an accomplished non-fiction writer and author. Her articles have appeared in numerous publications such as Radiant, Focus on the Family's Clubhouse Magazine, Christian Parenting Today, Pockets, Decision, and Guideposts. During the past seven years, Sandra has mentored hundreds of students through the Christian Writer's Guild.

About the Book:
Having earned her chef’s hat, Lexi Stuart bids ‘au revoir’ to her glamorous and deliciously satisfying pastry mentorship outside of Paris and returns home to Seattle, Washington.
In Seattle Lexi finds life unexpectedly complicated when she is put in charge of the high-end catering bakery, Bijoux. The bakery should be her dream job but there’s a catch: Lexi has to make this lavish bakery into a successful business in a few short months which will require more than an ability to make amazing wedding cakes. Stir into the mix a complicated relationship with her French beau Philippe and his daughter, Celine, add a dash of romance with a down-to-earth lawyer and life suddenly contains more ooh la la than Lexi can handle.

Review:
‘Piece de Resistance’ is the last and best part of a meal. Sandra Byrd’s novel of the same name doesn’t disappoint. As the heroine Lexi Stuart excitedly returns to her hometown, fulfilling her dream of running a high-end catering bakery, she is quickly splattered with cake batter from an out of control mixer. Lexi soon is led to examine where she has placed her faith and is left wondering if her dreams are as exquisitely ooh la la as she hoped.

Piece de Resistance is a rare novel which leaves you sad it has come to an end. You finish craving more, more of the French sweets, sights and sounds intermingled throughout the pages. The book is filled with enticing scenes and yummy recipes to delight the senses.

Piece de Resistance isn’t just five carats of sparkle; it’s a whole gem parcel.

Favorite Line:
“The thought occurred to me that if I always lived under the certainty of God’s provision instead of the certainty of Lexis’s worry, I might always feel this free.”

Rating: Gem Parcel