Book Review: Faith Like A Child

 

Faith Like a Child

Embracing Our Lives as Children of God

by Lacy Finn Borgo

Pub Date 09 May 2023 

 InterVarsity Press,  IVP

 Christian  |  Nonfiction (Adult)  |  Religion & Spirituality 

I am reviewing a copy of Faith Like A Child through Intervarsity Press, IVP and Netgalley:

Faith Like A Child encourages readers to accept and embrace the invitation to a childlike Faith.  Jesus encouraged his followers to become like little children.  But we often have different in remembering the natural patterns of our childhood selves that enabled us to live freely in God's wonder-filled presence. Is childlike faith simply an unquestioning faith, or is it being present with ourselves in a way that invites healing and wholeness?

In Faith Like A Child we are encouraged to consider Jesus' invitation to childlike faith and explores seven distinct ways of welcoming the child within. Offering wisdom from years of experience as a spiritual director with both adults and children, Lacy Finn Borgo explores practices to welcome and enliven your childhood self. 

I give Faith Like A Child five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: Flip the Script

 

Flip the Script

Make Your Move from Broken to Brilliant

by Brittany Estes

Pub Date 14 Mar 2023 

 Abilene Christian University Press & Leafwood Publishers

 Christian  |  Religion & Spirituality 

  

I am reviewing a copy of Flip the Script through  Abilene Christian University Press & Leafwood Publishers and Netgalley:

In Flip the Script Brittany Estes reminds readers not to let harmful dialogues play through your mind; it’s time to flip the script and reclaim your joy. Soon you’ll begin to see life in a brand-new way.

We are bombarded by negative, broken, lie filled sentences that fill our heads in work and in play, as we go on with the business of daily living.  And these scripts are sidelining us, maligning us, and harming us.

But what if it were another way?  What if your life didn’t have to be defined by what others say? Or even by what you say to yourself over and over? What if you knew that beauty and life are yours to be found and you finally danced in the freedom that awaits you?

Flip the Script reminds readers that there is more for us.  We can learn how to silence all the negative scripts in order to hear the one that really matters, so we can live exuberant, positive life meant for us.  this book, you’ll finally uncover the scripts that have broken us down. The great news is that we are never broken beyond repair. Learn how God gently collects all our broken pieces and puts them back together as we retrain our minds to think differently about our situation, God, and our world.

I give Flip the Script five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: Surrender Your Story

 

 

Surrender Your Story

Ditch the Myth of Control and Discover Freedom in Trusting God

by Tara Sun

Pub Date 07 Mar 2023 

 Nelson Books,  Thomas Nelson

 Christian  |  Nonfiction (Adult)

I am reviewing a copy of Surrender Your Story through  Nelson Books, Thomas Nelson and Netgalley:

In Surrender Your Story through Nelson Books, Thomas Nelson and Netgalley:

In Surrender Your Story popular podcaster and self acclaimed control freak points out that today's culture is peddling a seductive promise, a message that bombards social media feeds and dominates bestseller lists: you can control your circumstances and achieve any goal through positive thinking, organization, and sheer force of will.

Anyone who has to white-knuckle their way to self-fulfillment has discovered what lies on the other side of this supposedly empowering message: frustration, disappointment, and exhaustion.

Tara understands what it is like to be obsessed with control, all under the guise of the supposed virtues of being self-sufficient, organized, and high achieving. When a battle with severe chronic illness demolished her illusions of control.

Tara embarked on a journey of discovering the antidote to the burdensome and ultimately empty myth of control: surrender to the God who cares for us and has an infinitely better blueprint for a life filled with joy, peace, and meaning.

In Surrender Your Story readers will learn how to identify how the false promises of control and self-sufficiency have warped their view of themselves, their hopes, and their purpose; learn to trust God--in the big events and the small details of their lives; discover practical steps and strategies for letting go of control and moving forward in faith, even in the face of setbacks and disappointments; and be inspired by examples from Tara's life and from the Bible of the strength and purpose that comes through a lifestyle of surrender.

I give Surrender Your Story five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: From the Ground Up

 

From the Ground Up

Building a Dream House---and a Beautiful Life---through Grit and Grace

by Noell Jett

Pub Date 08 Mar 2022 

 Nelson Books,  Thomas Nelson

 Christian 

I am reviewing a copy of From the Ground Up Through Nelson Books, Thomas Nelson and Netgalley:

Noell Jett's home was built by hand, built to last.

From the Ground Up is a great idea that the best dreams start with love.

Noell's home is more than a a farmhouse. It’s a testament to overcoming challenges, working side by side with those you love, and learning to say yes to your dreams again and again, even when the world says no.

Noell Jett knows what it is to struggle, to work hard simply to survive, she grew up in poverty in a family with extremist religious beliefs.  When she married Daniel and they began a family together, she discovered the joy of working hard to achieve her dreams.

From the Ground Up shares the unbelievable story behind her 3,700-square foot custom farmhouse built by hand and savvy influencer marketing and the key strategies she learned about never giving up. With beautiful photos, reflections questions, and Noell’s trademark DIY tips, From the Ground Up offers a vision for living beyond the confines of your past, inspiration for home renovation on a budget, tricks to make influencer marketing work for you,

spiritual insight into finding true freedom, and encouragement to take that life-changing leap of faith.

From the Ground Up is a powerful reminder that following your passion is worth a few sacrifices along the way. After all, some dreams are worth giving it all you’ve got. Why not follow yours?

I give From the Ground Up Five out of five Stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: Words With God

 

Words with God

Trading Boring, Empty Prayer for Real Connection

by Addison D. Bevere

Pub Date 18 Apr 2023 

 Revell 

 Christian  |  Religion & Spirituality 

I am reviewing a copy of Words With God through Revell and Netgalley:

Words with God reminds us that prayer is a struggle for most of us.  We are aware of the need for us to pray.  We know it would be good for us help us be more grounded, more connected to God. But in our hurried lives, slowing down to pray can feel like a cosmic waste of time. Do our prayers even matter? What, if anything, happens when we pray? Are we having words with God or just words with ourselves?

Addison Bevere takes you into and through the tension of prayer--the struggles, the doubts, the answers--to the place where God makes himself real to you, in this thoughtful book.

If you are tired of boring, empty, transactional prayer then Words With God, this is the book for you.

I give Words With God five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: Listen to Your Day

 

Listen to Your Day

The Life-Changing Practice of Paying Attention

by Paul Angone

Pub Date 04 Apr 2023 

 Baker Books 

 Christian  |  Self-Help 

I am reviewing a copy of Listen tonYour Day through Baker Books and Netgalley:

This book asks the questions What are you supposed to do with your life? What deserves your limited reserve of energy, attention, and time? What's making you anxious or frustrated right now? What would make you happy and fulfilled? 

The answers to the above questions are being shouted by the world , but the real answers are quieter and right in front of you. They are in the details of your day, every day. But we usually look right past them. Or we are simply so distracted we've lost the ability to see and hear the life going on right in front of us. If we're not intentional about changing this trend, this "inattentional blindness" can rob us of years of joyful productivity. But when we learn to observe the details of our days, we discover new lenses through which to see and new practices of paying attention that add meaning to life.

Listen to Your Day Reminds us to stop drifting, Stop worrying. Stop living distracted. Walk purposefully through life with a firm grasp on what's important to you and what you're working toward--all by listening to the details of your day.

I give Listen To Your Day five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: Rebuilding Beautiful

 

Rebuilding Beautiful

Welcome What Is, Dare to Dream Again, and Step Bravely into What Could Be

by Kayla Stoecklein

Pub Date 20 Sep 2022 

 Nelson Books,  Thomas Nelson

 Christian 

I am reviewing a copy of Rebuilding Beautiful through Nelson Books, Thomas Nelson and Netgalley:

What people long for most in the midst of  hardship and loss is hope.  They long for Hope for a way forward hope that purpose can come from this difficult season, hope that God is still with you.

Since Kayla Stoecklein lost her husband to suicide in August 2018,  and has been passionate about bringing hope to those who wonder if life will ever hold beauty again. In Rebuilding Beautiful, Kayla shares the hard-won truths she has embraced in these years of grief and new beginnings to help you: discover practical and spiritual ways to welcome your pain so that you can ultimately surrender it.

step into community in order to be held as well as hold space for the pain of others.

understand the ways your body remembers trauma and find avenues for physical and mental healing.

awaken to the splendor of a life in which sadness and joy coexist, and

dare to dream again—spiritually, relationally, vocationally—as you discover more of who God made you to be in Christ.

In Rebuilding Beautiful Kayla reminds readers that it takes time to go from agony to awe.

I give Rebuilding Beautiful five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!