New Review: Play to Their Strength

So our next book is a parenting book. I'm almost always up for reading someone else's take on parenting because as parents we don't know it all. And if someone has advice that can make me a better, more God-honouring parent then I'm all ears.

From the cover, this one promises both.

So in this book, we meet parents who have got it wrong then strove on how to get it right.  Their goal is to not parent from a place of fear but one of working to uncover what their children's gifts and talents are, then parent their children in such a way that nurtures those gifts and talents. Some practical tools they offer are to find the 5 e's (your child's enthusiasm, ease, excellence, energy, and enjoyment) regarding what your children are involved in; creating a vision board, which works with children the same way it does us, adults; and keeping an eye out for red flags that trigger frustration and keep parents from reacting and disciplining out of anger.

Then the last 80 pages of the book is the Bonus Playbook which helps parents actually used what they've read. There are practical tips to go with every chapter.

This book has been an interesting book to read, especially since we have five (5) children that span in an age range from 1 to 12. For me, Chapters 12 and 13 have been the most useful and implementor. I see this book as an ongoing reference book that would get a reread every so often for recharge. But all in all, I like their approach to parenting, its encouragement and cultivation at its best.

I also like that they encourage really learning our children and not taking the approach that we know them because we birthed them.

I definitely recommend this book to parents. 

{Also, please note that I received this book from the publisher, Harvest House, in exchange for my honest opinion.}

Good News For Little Hearts: Henry Says Good-bye

So we have TONS of new children's books to review from New Growth Press.

So Good News for Little Hearts is a very cute series that helps children address their feelings.

First Up: Henry Says Good-Bye

This is one of the  BEST books. It deals with grief and how feelings are real and how many times we can be mean when they are grieving. Henry's pet ladybug dies while he is at school one day and he's so sad and grieving, that even at times he takes it out on his friends. But then his parents help him to address his sadness and to grieve. They have a memorial service for Lila and all of Henry's friends come to say their good-byes he starts to not be so sad because he realizes his friends loved Lila the Ladybug too. 

Parents, this book is good to just have. Keep it on the bookshelf because death and loss are inevitable and as parents, we have to help our children through the losses that are sure to come. Even if the good-bye isn't due to death but perhaps moving and having to leave behind friends and family, a loss is still loss and our children need our help navigating the waters.

A must-have.

{I received this book from the publisher, New Growth Press, in exchange for my honest review.}

New Review: Life In Community

Community is a concept was hugely believed in and lived by in the early church. So much so, that it has survived through hundreds of years and is still written about to this day. I realize there is no shortage of writers that are writing on community or hospitality.
And therefore I find myself interested in reading this book to see what does Dustin Willis have to say on the topic that hasn't already been said or how does he present the material in a fresh way.

You can purchase the book on Amazon.

So after reading this book, which is split into three sections: forming community, the values for living in community, and next steps for a strong community. What I have found is that I do have a great appreciation for Dustin's message on returning to the idea of community as close to what it looked like in the Early Church as possible. I love the idea of holding each other accountable, of showing our true selves (the one our family sees), of forgiveness, and having real relationships. I think I expected more on the topic of hospitality. This book has exactly one chapter on hospitality, which is (in my opinion) a huge part of community, of being able to invite people into your life and to do life together.

I also appreciate the discussion questions at the end of each chapter as it encourages the reader to really engage with the book and self reflect on how we are apart of or encourage community around us. I personally noticed that I do not quite engage in the community around me like I want. And it gave me a nugget to chew on to engage in community and develop deeper relationships with those around me. My favorite quote from the book is "This was mot a Sunday activity that took place for an hour and ended with a prayer and a song. Community is more than a Sunday." I also enjoy the analogy of the after-church potluck meal to the need for everyone to bring their gifts to the body christ in community. No one is quite trying to make the same dish, just like each of our gifts our not quite the same or even used exactly the same. And we have to appreciate that both on an individual personal level and on a corporate level.

A great feature found in this book is the small group leader's guide. I really appreciate this because all too often, great books will have the study guide in a completely separate book that you have to buy and this one bundles it together for an easy way to do a book study and everyone is able to follow along.

All in all, I think this book is a solid read. It's great for those looking for the reasons why we should develop community and the values to base community on. It is also great for the book guide in the back, which breaks the book down into 6 weeks of reading that everyone in your newfound community can do together so everyone has the same understanding and appreciation for the community you are building. 

{As always I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.}

The Gospel According to Paul

The Gospel According to Paul is John MacArthur's breakdown of Paul's letters in the Bible as well as the missionary trips Paul undertook. John takes care to expound on the truths contained in Paul's letters as they relate to the teachings of Jesus. Not only that but John helps us to understand key passages in the Pauline letters. This book functions almost like a commentary on key passages of Pauline Epistles. 

John MacArthur makes sure to examine key passages in the Pauline letters. MacArthur asks some key questions that are the foundation of our faith and answers them with Scripture and uses Paul's letters to do so. Some of those questions are:

What is the gospel?

What are the essential elements of the gospel?

How can we be certain we have it right?

We NEED to know and understand and digest the gospel. We should know what the gospel is and be able to explain to the next person as well as know Scripture to back it up. We should know the essential elements of the gospel like who is Jesus, who is the Holy Spirit, who is God. We should know their relationship and how they relate to us. We should know the function of the church and those within the church like your pastor. We should know what God likes and dislikes. We should know why God allowed Jesus to come here. And those are the types of questions that John MacArthur asks and helps us to understand.


{FYI: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my HONEST opinion.}

Pastoral Theology

This book seems to focus on the what rather than the do of pastors. What do they believe, why do they believe it and how it impacts those they lead. 

I believe this book is hugely important because pastors play such a role in the body of Christ that they are responsible for shepherding God's people and their hearts. And that is what this book addresses. It addresses the different rhetoric and ways that we fall by the wayside. It helps those in ministry (even those not pastors) to see the areas in which they are relying more on theology and knowledge rather than God, Himself. One of my favorite quotes is that "The required characteristics establish the pastor as a representative of the One whom he ultimately serves and to whom he must give an account." To be a pastor is more than preaching on Sundays and collecting an offering. It is more than a platform. But rather a pastor is a representative of God and ultimately that is who they serve and report to. The church board is not the highest authority the pastor is accountable to. And as such pastors must be aware of and meet the characteristics set forth by God's Word. This even applies to those who simply operate a ministry but may not be a pastor. 

The book approaches pastorship and ministry from a theological, Christological, pneumatological, anthropological, ecclesiological, missiological, ministerial, homiletical, and familial perspectives. By approaching from these many perspectives (each receiving their own chapter) the authors help us view pastorship and ministry from different angles so that we grasp the accountability of the roles we find ourselves in. And how we are responsible for them. 

I recommend this book to those in any form of ministry, not just those in a pastorship, although I highly recommend those in or training for the pastorship.

{FYI, I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.}

Jesus wants His church back??

Jesus called and He wants His church back.

Now of course that statement isn't literal, but it packs quite the punch when thought about.

For example, when we think about the church here in America, we see that there is so much inconsistency to point that one thing that is surely consistent is offense and disobedience.

Many times we, Christians, argue when people disagree with us. Rather than loving them in spite of the differing perspectives. We try to damn them to hell instead of loving them to heaven.

Ray Johnston, has written this book to address the fact that the church does more of what IT wants rather than what GOD wants. We have become comfortably lukewarm and we often forget that God spits out the lukewarm (chapter 6).

We are comfortable watching from the couch or social media rather than getting up and getting literally involved. 

Then Johnston, presents Jesus in seven different ways: Jesus who wants us fully alive; Jesus who wants us to stop playing it safe; Jesus who wants to use us; Jesus who redefines greatness; Jesus who is inviting; Jesus who still believes in the church; and Jesus who is a magnet for sinners.

I think like the Pharisees, many of us forget that Jesus came for those who were in need of Him. If you got it all together then where do you need Him?  If you refuse to acknowledge your sin, then what do you need Him who took on the price of your sin?

I think this book is good, it is greatly needed. Because this generation has the greatest access. Access to bibles, access to church, access to other countries.

{FYI I received this book through the BookLook Blogger program in exchange for my HONEST opinion.}

Prayer & A.W. Tozer

The first thing to note is that this is a compilation. It is not a complete direct book written on prayer but rather a compilation of sermons on prayer. So there will be times where you will be reading a decades old sermon on prayer by A.W. Tozer and there will be times you will be reading the current day reflection from the compiler.

Note that it is not an instruction manual or guide. It is a peek into the sermons Tozer preached on prayer. The goal is to help us understand the necessity and the priority prayer should take in our lives. To help us see how prayer is not about us nor is it a singular event. 

Prayer changes us and humbles us and in effect glorifies GOD. It is us saying to GOD, I cannot do it on my own, I am in need of a savior of THE savior of Jesus Christ. My strength is no strength at all and is not enough. I need the strength of the Father. 

And that is some of what you will read from Tozer.

{FYI: I received this book from Moody Publishers, in exchange for my HONEST opinion.}

I am found

So I am so excited about this bible study it is in a series of bible studies by Moody Publishers just for women. The first one, An Unexplainable Life, I also reviewed here. 

This bible study is about me, about you. Women are trying to be seen and known by God but when we sin and are ashamed we tend to hide. For me when I am ashamed I literally hide out in my bedroom. 

I love this study for that very reason it is challenging me to stop hiding from God, from my husband. It is also teaching me to stop "not being bothered" with other people. It is nothing personal against them, I just often prefer my own company to that of others. 

The blurb is: 

I Am Found summons us from the shadows and into the light. This 6-week Bible study on shame and freedom explores: why we hide from God and others, why God’s love frees us to come out of hiding, what it looks like to live like we’ve been found, and how to cultivate relationships that encourage vulnerability

And that is exactly what this study does. It has encouraged me to turn to GOD when I feel ashamed, when I have sinned. It is encouraging me to stop hiding from my husband when we have disagreements. It is encouraging me to not hide from people outside of my home when they may offend or insult me.

Here are some fun things I found on the Moody Publisher's Women page to go with this study. Also if you go on the page, you will find a study tool (Download Excerpts) from Moody Commentary which allows you to read the commentary to go with the the Scripture found in the study. (AWESOME.)

Moody Publishers also allow ministry leaders the ability to receive a FREE copy of this study to use with their study groups, which I think is pretty awesome. 

The Jump to Trust God

This book addresses a few different topics of application of the Christian faith: 

• When we trust God's love for us, 
• when we choose to walk with Jesus, 
• when we choose to relax
• when we take the time to notice God in everything, 
• when we choose to invest our time and finances into God's kingdom, 
• when we choose to be kind to everyone, 
• and when we place our hope in God. 

When we do these things, Rusty then explains the different ways God shows up in our lives. Each topic of application is explain in an "if then" circumstance. IF we choose to walk with Jesus, THEN God will show us how. Too often we forget, all of the Christian life starts with a choice. A choice to trust God, to accept Jesus Christ, to confess our sins and turn our backs on that sin (repentance). But after we make that choice, we must live our lives in such a way that we start to look like Jesus Christ: walk like Jesus, talk like Jesus, point people past ourselves and on to Jesus.

This book is endorsed by Kyle Idleman (he wrote the forward) and I truly have enjoyed his books (Not a Fan & Gods at War). So that helped me become interested in the content of this book. And after reading it, it puts me in the mind of the Believe series of books by Randy Frazee. They seek to aid us in our walk in Jesus, in our relationship with God. And this book does the same.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking to the application and benefit of application of walking with Jesus, trusting God, choosing God.

{fyi: I got this book through the BookLook Blogger program in exchange for my HONEST review.}

Strong & Kind

As a parent have you ever sat down to think of character traits you wanted to instill in your children?

I mean, sure kids have those ingrain traits but all of those traits are not good nor do we want them to sustain those traits. For example, Caleb (our 4 year old) has developed a tendency to be selfish with his things and while if left unchecked could become a very nasty character trait to have. As parents we have chosen to prune his character early and abolish that tendency before it becomes a hardcore character trait.

I'd been reading the book Strong & Kind by Korie Robertson and if you watch Duck Dynasty then you know who she is. If you don't then, here's a quick update: Korie is the wife of  Willie who now the head of the family business. She's been a mama for over twenty years, so I'd say she's got plenty of practice and experience.

I'd made it my business to add this book to my collection because I have yet to read anything from this family that I disliked or disagreed with. I love their principles and how grounded they are in the word of God.

In this book Korie details Strong & Kind, the two character traits that she and Willie decided they wanted to pass on to their children. They agreed while their children was young that they wanted them to be strong to endure in this world and to be kindhearted people.

 And in that choice came the realization that you cannot want to develop those traits in your children without developing & living them out yourself. It is ever so important to make sure that whatever character trait you choose to develop in your children that you LIVE THEM.

The book is awesome because it doesn't just focus on those two character traits but many character traits and the living those traits out as parents. Because as most of parents have realized its a "monkey see monkey do" world not a "monkey say monkey do" world.

Without realizing it, my hubby and I had already been modeling certain character traits for our children. My husband has been showing our children to be hardworking and consistent and to be well dressed. I'd been showing my children the importance of books and reading but also of love. My children will quickly hug you and say I love you. Because that's how their mama is. I like warm friendly welcomes. Give me a hug not a handshake! lol.

And prayerfully the good retains while we kick the bad traits out of all of us. :)

{FYI: I received this book via the booklookbloggers program in exchange for my HONEST review.}

Communication at its Best

This morning I read an article on HappyWivesClub and I was quite surprised and yet not surprised in what I read.

Fawn Weaver reminds the reader of the age old saying that arguing is normal that all couples argue at some point and that to a degree arguing is healthy for a relationship. Something I think everyone has heard. But then she quotes something Rosie O'Donnell said on Oprah a while back in which Rosie said she wished she would have expressed her feelings versus getting angry and snapping off (in a situation with Barbara Walters). Rosie states that had she just reacted exactly how she felt, then the outcome of that situation would have probably been quite different.

Fawn then relates this to marriage in how most people do the same thing Rosie did which is to snap out in anger when they're hurt or offended.

So then I began to reflect on different arguments or "heated discussions" that I've had in my marriage and I can definitely agree. There have been several times that I have been hurt by something my husband said and instead of addressing my hurt feelings, I have snapped out in anger, which in hindsight did absolutely nothing to address my hurt feelings but did start an unnecessary argument. And I can honestly say the same has happened with my husband and its after the fact, after we've argued and further compounded the situation that we speak on the underlying feelings, on how an action made us feel & why we snapped. 

I wonder how much different the landscape and atmosphere in our marriage would be if instead of getting angry/yelling/snapping, we just addressed our actual feelings. No anger, no animosity just plain and simple, "this is how __ made me feel."

I challenge all of my readers to make this change, instead of getting angry and lashing out that you address your feelings. Now here's the side effect: it will make you face your vulnerability.

When you address your feelings instead of allowing anger to surface, you allow your vulnerability to surface. In marriage this can be crucial, to allow your husband/wife a look inside your feelings, inside your heart. To let them see what really affects you.


Remember love keeps no record of wrong doing, love covers a multitude of sin. We can start by being slow to anger and quick to address what has offended us in a respectful manner that gets across our "feelings" but does not point blame or offends. I read recently (somewhere on Facebook) that when you criticize a behavior be very careful to criticize the person.




We do better, when we know better.
~Kris