(All my reviews will be listed and linked here.)
My ratings system:
- (Poor) Was just okay; didn’t like much.
- (Fair) Liked some parts, but didn’t like others.
- (Average) Liked most parts, but didn’t love it.
- (Good) Liked a lot and would read again.
- (Excellent) Loved it; would recommend to everyone.
In the queue:
Amy Inspired
by Bethany Pierce
Amy Gallagher, aspiring writer, has an unabashed obsession with words. She gave up a steady, albeit unexciting, job to pursue a life of writing. However, two years and one master’s degree later, she finds herself almost exactly right back where she started. Discouraged by the growing pile of rejections from publishers and afraid that she has settled, Amy knows something has to change.
Then she meets the mysterious, attractive, and unavailable Eli. Amy finds herself struggling to walk the fine line between friendship and something more with Eli, even as she tries to cope with the feeling that her friends and family are moving on without her. When the unexpected begins pouring in, Amy doubts the love and fulfillment she seeks will ever come her way. Forced to take a close look at who she has become, the state of her faith, and her aspirations for her life, she must make a choice: play it safe yet again or finally find the courage to follow her dreams.
Description by Bethany House
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Radical- Taking Back Your Faith From the American Dream
by David Platt
WHAT IS JESUS WORTH TO YOU?
It’s easy for American Christians to forget how Jesus said his followers would actually live, what their new lifestyle would actually look like. They would, he said, leave behind security, money, convenience, even family for him. They would abandon everything for the gospel. They would take up their crosses daily…
BUT WHO DO YOU KNOW WHO LIVES LIKE THAT? DO YOU?
In Radical, David Platt challenges you to consider with an open heart how we have manipulated the gospel to fit our cultural preferences. He shows what Jesus actually said about being his disciple–then invites you to believe and obey what you have heard. And he tells the dramatic story of what is happening as a “successful” suburban church decides to get serious about the gospel according to Jesus.
Finally, he urges you to join in The Radical Experiment –a one-year journey in authentic discipleship that will transform how you live in a world that desperately needs the Good News Jesus came to bring.
Description by WaterBrook Multnomah
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The Principle of the Path
by Andy Stanley
Your Direction, not Your Intention, Determines Your Destination. There is often a tension between where we want to end up in life and the path we choose to get there. We fail to see that having good intentions is never good enough. Like Charlie Brown, we wrongly believe there’s something to be said for trying hard. We need to understand why, in spite of our good intentions, we may have ended up at the wrong destination with our finances, our marriages, our careers, or a host of other dreams. So how do we get from where we are to where we truly want to be? The Principle of the Path is a road map to proper direction and discipline.
Includes Extensive Study Guide.
Description by Thomas Nelson
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Couples Who Pray
The Most Intimate Act Between a Man and a Woman
by Squire Rushness, Louise DuArt
In this entertaining, highly readable book, couples learn that a fabulous marriage can be the outcome of learning to pray together, causing a 20 to 30% increase in romance, conversation and happiness.
Best-selling author SQuire Rushnell and his wife, entertainer and talk show host, Louise DuArt take readers step by step through The 40 Day Prayer Challenge™ in which couples commit to praying together five minutes a day for forty days. Backed by compelling research from Baylor University and Gallup Poll, the true-life experiences of 24 test couples, including Denzel and Pauletta Washington, Kathie Lee and Frank Gifford, Donna Summer and Bruce Sudano, Scott and Tracie Hamilton, reveal that daily prayer is a “life changing experience” in which most couples report positive outcomes in less than two weeks.
Couples Who Pray includes an easy questionnaire prepared by Baylor University to help couples to chart their own progress during The 40 Day Prayer Challenge™.
Description by Thomas Nelson
Published Reviews:
The Heavens Proclaim His Glory
A Spectacular View of Creation Through the Lens of the Hubble Telescope
Created and Compiled by Lisa Stilwell
“Our world displays the handiwork of God—in the land and sea, the animals and the plants. But in respect to the sky, the heavens, the universe…there’s a realm of beauty and creation only recently witnessed by man, thanks to the amazing feats of the Hubble® telescope. The Heavens Proclaim His Glory opens the curtain to a stage of unspeakable beauty– a stage where only God Himself can receive all the credit. It’s a display that will leave you speechless and ever-so-mindful of just how small we are in the vast scheme of His power and might.”
Read my review HERE
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Outlive Your Life
You Were Made to Make a Difference
by Max Lucado
“These are difficult days in our world’s history. 1.75 billion people are desperately poor, natural disasters are gouging entire nations, and economic uncertainty still reigns across the globe. But you and I have been given an opportunity to make a big difference. What if we did? What if we rocked the world with hope? Infiltrated all corners with God’s love and life? We are created by a great God to do great works. He invites us to outlive our lives, not just in heaven, but here on earth. Let’s live our lives in such a way that the world will be glad we did.”
Read my review HERE
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You Changed My Life
Stories of Real People with Remarkable Hearts
By Max Lucado
“If someone has changed your life for the good, now is the time to celebrate by letting them know how much they matter.
Oftentimes true heroes of faith don’t stand out in the world, but they have made a lasting difference in someone’s life—they’re a hero to someone. This gift book celebrates their story by first providing a dedication beginning with “You changed my life by___” to be written in detail by the giver to the recipient. To follow are stories told by Max about others who have answered the call of their convictions and took steps of faith (both big and small) resulting in lasting change in the lives around them. It’s a message that honors the person who receives the book, and inspires us all to see that real people with remarkable hearts can change lives.”
Read my review HERE
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The Least Among You (DVD)
Published by Lionsgate
Leaders are not chosen, they are called. Inspired by a true story.
Arrested in the 1965 Watts riots, Richard Kelly (Cedric Sanders) must serve probation at an all-white seminary. Although encouraged to break racial boundaries by its president Alan Beckett (William Devane), the school wants black followers not leaders. Even former missionary, Kate Allison (Lauren Holly), initially rejects Richard. A prison sentence looming, Richard meets Samuel Benton (Louis Gossett, Jr.) — “the gardener in the basement.” As Samuel guides Richard through his many trials, Richard must choose between his dreams and his destiny.
Read my review HERE
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Really Woolly Bible Stories
By DaySpring
Favorite Bible stories presented with the beloved Really Woolly art style help little children discover that God is faithful and true and that Jesus, The Good Shepherd, loves them.
This case-bound padded board book from the Really Woolly® brand by DaySpring® makes it easy to share important stories from God’s Word with little children, while teaching them about God’s shepherd-like love for them. Bible stories include Creation, Noah, Abraham, Moses, the Ten Commandments, Joseph, Samson, Daniel, David and Goliath, Jonah, Jesus’ Birth, Jesus Loves the Little Children, Jesus Feeds 5,000, Jesus the Good Samaritan, Jesus Walks on Water, Jesus’ Death & Resurrection, The Great Commission. Little ones will love the charming Really Woolly® illustrations.
Read my review HERE and on Christianbook.com
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The Grace of God
By Andy Stanley
Learn how God’s grace can and will transform you.
None of us deserve what God offers, a life free from sin and hope for a glorious future, but unbelievably it’s ours for the taking. Why? Because of God’s grace. The unmerited favor, the lavish love and kindness he pours out on us, and has, since Creation.
But if it’s so available then why do we live a grace-less life? Why are our churches filled with disillusioned Christians, weary of religion’s demands, struggling with personal defeat because of issues or behaviors?
Join pastor Andy Stanley as he traces grace through the Old and New Testament, observing God’s grace at work in the lives of some of the best, and worst, characters. He also uses personal stories from his own life to reveal how grace is not a natural response but is the most essential one. Together these stories unravel the mystery of grace and tell of its transforming power to set us free.
Read my review HERE
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Then Sings My Soul
by Robert Morgan
Stories of the most favorite and beloved seasonal hymns of faith.
Don’t look for a dry recounting of boring historical fact, the devotional-style stories in Then Sings My Soul show the emotion and drama behind the hymns of faith that have changed many lives throughout history. Designed to be personally reflective, these stories speak to the soul and add depth to a meaningful worship time with God through song.
Recounted are stories of the people whose faith led them to write these wonderful seasonal hymns and the people whose faith was affected by reading, hearing, and singing the songs.
Includes words and music to each hymn Special softcover, French flap cover design Ivory paper with brown ink Jagged edged paper, giving it a classic feel Complete with hymn index Use for devotionals, teaching illustrations, introductory remarks for song leaders and music ministers.
Read my review HERE
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Almost Heaven
by Chris Fabry
Billy Allman is a hillbilly genius. People in Dogwood, West Virginia, say he was born with a second helping of brains and a gift for playing the mandolin but was cut short on social skills. Though he’d gladly give you the shirt off his back, they were right. Billy longs to use his life as an ode to God, a lyrical, beautiful bluegrass song played with a finely tuned heart. So with spare parts from a lifetime of collecting, he builds a radio station in his own home. People in town laugh. But Billy carries a brutal secret that keeps him from significance and purpose. Things always seem to go wrong for him. However small his life seems, from a different perspective Billy’s song reaches far beyond the hills and hollers he calls home. Malachi is an angel sent to observe Billy. Though it is not his dream assignment, Malachi follows the man and begins to see the bigger picture of how each painful step Billy takes is a note added to a beautiful symphony that will forever change the lives of those who hear it.
Read my review HERE
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It Was Out of Love
by James S. (Jim) Marr
A true story of the ultimate victory of God’s love and forgiveness over deception and death.
It Was Out of Love is the true story of the bizarre journey author James Marr began when he met his future wife. Before they were married, he made a decision to forgive her for deceiving him about who she really was.
After they were married, he encountered many inconsistencies in his wife’s story about her family and background. He chose to trust his wife. Then, after thirty years of marriage and only weeks before his wife went home to be with the Lord, Jim learned that there was much more to the original deception than he ever knew. Once again, with God’s help, he forgave his best friend and the love of his life for her deception. The story of their life together concludes with his wife’s poignant passing into heaven.
With compassion, humor, and intrigue, you will live these events as the author and his wife lived them. You will share in their victory over many challenges to their faith. It Was Out of Love will introduce you to a loving God of forgiveness—or if you already know God, this story will strengthen your faith. You will be encouraged to seek God’s will even in the midst of circumstances that seem overwhelming.
Read my review HERE
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