Category: Bookshelf

Confessions of a Wonder Woman Wannabe, Book Review

Leave a comment

Confessions of a Wonder Woman Wannabe
by Jenny Lee Sulpizio

I never was into Wonder Woman as a kid and may not have went through a superhero crazy, but as a mom I definitely feel the pull, the push, the drive, the compulsion, the pressure or whatever that is to be SuperMom.  Yes, able to clean messes with a single swipe, keep her home immaculate, her meals delicious, her husband happy, her children super-successful, and herself looking amazing.  There’s really no end to the perfection we moms sometimes demand from ourselves.wonderwomanwannabe

That’s why Jenny Lee Sulpizio’s book, Confessions of a Wonder Woman Wannabe, can be such a treasure box of useful tips, tools, ideas, and resources for any busy mom with a young family.  She’s engaging, witty, and vulnerable as she shares her own mom-mistakes, mom-discoveries, and mom-expertise.

Sulpizio weaves reminders of God’s grace and His promises to help us while creating a practical resource or handbook for everything “Mom.” She includes chapters on everything from meal planning, grocery shopping, coupon clipping, house cleaning, taking care of your own health and beauty, how to pack emergency supplies in your car, and what to keep in your purse.

If you’re a natural organizer and planner, many of these tips and ideas will come naturally to you.  Perhaps you even subscribe to your favorite Mom-blogs with much of this information.  But Sulpizio has done a great job of compiling a ton of resources that could help any mom (naturally organized or not) be a better manager of home and family.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and 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.

Anything, Book Review

Leave a comment

Anything: The Prayer that Unlocked My God and My Soul
by Jennie Allen

Breathtaking.  People use that word to describe physical beauty, like a bride on her wedding day or the ocean view out their vacation home or the first time they touch their feet onto African ground and view the landscape. It’s all so breathtaking.anything2

Me, sure I’m a lover of physical beauty, but it’s words that make me gasp for breath.  I’ve had a few books that make me suck in air when I sit down to read and after a few minutes it feels like I haven’t taken another breath.  Dishes don’t get done.  Laundry remains in a pile.  And then I look up. I’ve finished.  I gasp for air.

Jennie Allen’s book took my breath away.  It’s her writing, so raw and lovely, so rhythmic without being in-your-face poetic.  But it’s something more.  It’s because just over one year ago I told God that if I could have anything I wanted from Him, it’d be His glory.  Just be glorified, Lord.  And whatever you want me to do to glorify Your name, then I’d do it.

Jennie prayed that same prayer, but she used just one word: “Anything.”  She told God she’d do anything at all in obedience to Him and He took her up on her offer.  He messed with what she’d always wanted out of life and stirred up a desire in her heart for Him before everything .  . . and anything . . . else.

I found myself nodding my head with her pursuit of passion for God and the struggles, the difficult walk of obeying Him, because when He says, “Follow me,” it’s not always an easy jog to our destination.  Sometimes it’s an uphill hike or a marathon.

In some ways, this is just another book by an author challenging us to live radical lives because we’re so crazy in love with Jesus.  You’ve probably read books like this.  I’ve read them.  I’ve liked them.  But Jennie Allen’s book worked for me in a way the others didn’t.  She reminds us that sometimes this means moving to Africa to be missionaries, but sometimes it means moving close to your sick mother to care for her.

I’ve walked away from similar books disillusioned and frustrated sometimes because I want to be obedient to Christ and I don’t live a materialistic, comfy, self-focused life.  I desire to put Him first.  I want to do anything, give anything to live that radically obedient walk . . .but then God didn’t call me to full-time missions or urban ministry.   So, it seemed so illusory.  Makes for a great book, changes lives for others, never really changed mine.

Yet, Jennie Allen reminds us that we don’t get to pick and choose what God desires for us and how He uses us.  Sometimes the call He gives us seems small to others and insignificant in comparison to the ministry of those we see. We can’t please everyone along the way either.  The important thing is to do whatever He has said, big and small, simple and terribly risky, and do it because He said and that’s enough.

This is not one of Jennie Allen’s Bible studies, but it is a walk through two years of her life when she and her husband committed to doing anything God asked.  It’s fabulous for an individual read, maybe even a book club or small group looking for something different to read.  For those who want more of a Bible Study structure, I encourage you to check out her other resources.  I know I will.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and 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.”

A Sudden Glory, Book Review

Leave a comment

A Sudden Glory: God’s Lavish Response to Your Ache for Something More
by Sharon Jaynes

Fix breakfast for your kids.  Wash the dishes.  Supervise teeth brushing, comb hair, plant kisses.  Buy groceries.  Pay bills.  Drive to work, drive home.  Cook dinner.  Do Bible study.  Answer suddenglory2emails.  Pray and go to bed.

The daily drag of life can sometimes weigh us down. More than that, it can blind us to God’s glory.  That’s what Sharon Jaynes is writing about in this book–the reminder to be alert for God, to press in to Him and long for His presence.

Even when we’re doing everything right, we can still miss out on the intimacy and elaborate grace God intends for us.  We long for something more; maybe it’s a need we can’t even identify, but we still we feel it.  So we DO what we are supposed to do.  Yet, she writes: “Rather than ask God what he wants from us, we need to ask Him what He wants for us” ( pg.9).

Sharon Jaynes has written a beautiful, inspiring, challenging, encouraging and very real book, perfect for the individual to read and for a group setting (study guide included).  She shares out of her own personal pain, the times she was angry at God and the times when His plans weren’t her own.  This openness makes her writing even more compelling because life doesn’t always go how any of us expect.  Most of us have been there, crying, disappointed, upset with God, desperately hurting, and we need the testimony of someone who’s walked through that and seen God glorified.

I’ve so often heard messages on this topic that remain frustratingly simplistic and superficial.  They go something like this:  We long for something more.  We know Jesus better.  We feel better.  Amen.

Even those of us walking with Jesus so closely, though, will still feel a longing for more, a sense of incompleteness.  Sometimes pastors and teachers ignore that, giving pat answers, cliched lessons, and leaving us all unsatisfied as to why we’re still longing when we’ve done everything they’ve said.

The fact is that as long as we are on this side of heaven, we will never be truly filled.  The closer we walk with God, the more satisfied we will be, but the more we will be reminded of the beauty of heaven when nothing will cloud our vision, when nothing remains hidden or unanswered.  When we see Jesus face to face, that’s when our deepest longings will truly be satisfied.  Sharon Jaynes avoids all of the pitfalls of over-simplification here and gives us the hope of heaven.

But she also gives us hope for the meantime while we wait here in this earthly place.  We live in obedience, in worship, in gratitude, in communion with our God and He draws us close, giving us glimpses of heaven—glimpses of His glory.  That’s how He responds to our ache for something more and it’s glorious.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and 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.”

Sweet and Simple Moments with God, Book Review

1 Comment

Sweet and Simple Moments With God, Book Review

The One Year Sweet and Simple Moments with God Devotional
by Kim Newlen

Kim Newlen’s devotional for women is aptly titled, The One Year Sweet and Simple Moments with God Devotional.  It’s just that—sweet and simple.  For women wanting a quick morning sweetandsimplepick-me-up and encouraging word with your morning cup of coffee or tea, this devotional is a great start.  The book is also laid out beautifully—colorfully eye-catching with fun and flowery headers on each page.

Her stories are engaging and real.  The devotionals themselves are quite brief and are centered on one short verse written out at the top of each page, taking only a few minutes to read through each day.  At the end of each entry, there is a ‘key’ with a challenge on how to apply that day’s lesson to life.

Ultimately, how much you love this devotional will depend on what you are looking for.  If you want something more thought-provoking, deep, or challenging for your spiritual walk, you’ll probably need to find another devotional to use.  My personal preference tends to be for the deeper studies and discussions of the Bible.  I’d also love to see a devotional that matches up with a one-year Bible reading plan instead of hopping through the verses of Scripture.

But if simple and sweet is what you want (and sometimes in this busy and crazy life that’s what we need!), then this could be a perfect fit.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and 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.”

Adventures in Odyssey: 90 Devotions for Kids, Book Review

1 Comment

Adventures in Odyssey: 90 Devotions for Kids

I’m a Whit’s End and Odyssey fan from way back.  We used to listen in the car when I was a girl, somehow managing to get five kids hushed enough to hear the stories over the radio.  Adventures in Odyssey now captivates my daughter.  I’ve been buying her the CDs, starting with the golden oldies from when I was a kid, and now she listens at night before she goes to AiOsleep.

The devotions that the Adventures in Odyssey team have put together are another great spiritual tool to use in teaching my kids about God’s Word and faith in Jesus Christ.  Separated into 13 different sections, these devotions cover some of the most foundational themes about our faith: Worship, Going to Church, The Bible, Prayer . . . When you finish the book, you will certainly have at least begun discussions with your children about the basic tenets of what we believe, why we believe it, and why we serve and worship God the way we do.

For each of the themes, there is a theme verse to memorize, some lessons from the Bible or from great heroes of the faith like William Wilberforce, a puzzle here and there to make it fun, some challenge ideas for families to put their faith into practice, and some fun and interesting “asides” from the Odyssey characters.  The lessons also often link up with Adventures in Odyssey episodes, so you can always download the audio or build your own AiO collection and listen as a family.

I especially love the introductory comment from “Mr. Whitaker” that “When we use the word story in reference to the Bible, we mean a true historical account from the pages of Scripture.  The Bible is not a book of myths, tall tales, or legends.  It’s true, every word of it.”  I love using imagination and storytelling to teach children and adults about God, but it’s so important to clarify that the Bible is truth.

The book can be minimally covered in just a few minutes before bedtime as a family.  But in order to have time to do the extra activities and such, I may set it aside to use during the summer when we don’t have Awana and school and a million other activities.  With 90 devotionals, it’s a perfect fit for summer use!  Still, families can probably find many ways to use these devotionals effectively at any time of the year.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and 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.”

Seven Men: And the Secret of their Greatness, Book Review

Leave a comment

Seven Men: And the Secret of Their Greatness
by Eric Metaxas

Eric Metaxas’s biographies of William Wilberforce and Dietrich Bonhoeffer were some of my favorite works in any genre.  I found them inspiring, full of information while still being readable, and actually theologically educational.  I learned so much about these men and their faith.  Even my eight-year-old daughter has become a fan of Metaxas because she loved his biography of Squanto for kids. So, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read and review his new book, Seven Men: And the Secret of Their Greatness.7men

The introduction is compelling. As a woman and a mom with three daughters at that, I haven’t really given much thought to the crisis facing boys in our modern times, when ideals of chivalry, strength of convictions, and moral confidence are scoffed at, mocked, denied, and often ripped to pieces by the media and other cultural influences.  Metaxas’s goal, then, in writing this book was to address the question of ‘What is a man?’ by looking at seven men he believes represent a model of manhood.

As always for Metaxas, the writing style is readable and easy to follow. The stories he tells are engaging and interesting, and the biographies become more inspirational than just the cold, hard facts with Metaxas’s commentary and presentation.  He chose to write about: George Washington, William Wilberforce, Eric Liddell, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Jackie Robinson, Pope John Paul II, and Charles Colson.  Some of these biographies were more familiar to me than others.  In particular, I learned the most and was surprised the most by the biography on Pope John Paul II.

After reading the longer Metaxas biographies, I have to confess I was a bit disappointed by these extremely small, fast-paced, and superficial looks at the lives of seven incredibly complex and historic men.  I shouldn’t have been surprised.  It makes sense that he’d only be able to give a cursory overview of their lives in the amount of space available.

So, while I wouldn’t consider this book an adequate study on any of these individual men, as a brief introduction to these biographies, this book works.  As an exploration of the concept of manhood and an attempt to inspire us to value chivalry, self-sacrifice, and standing up for what is right, this book succeeds.  Perhaps more importantly, I’m now intrigued by the lives of the men I didn’t know much about and I can’t wait to read longer, in-depth biographies of their lives.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and 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.”

Grace, Book Review

Leave a comment

Grace: More Than We Deserve, Greater Than We Imagine
by Max Lucado

Each of our testimonies is unique and our God-story always carries that personal touch. We all can share with others the story of what God did for ME. But at the core, no matter what God has done, no matter where He found you or where He’s taken you, your story is about grace. It’s true for all of us.grace

All of our stories at their bottom line are about grace. None of us, after all, deserve one half-second’s notice from a God so holy, and yet He humbled Himself for us, came here for us, died for us. It is surely “much more than we deserve.”

Maybe because this grace is so universal, we often overlook it, forget it, stop being thankful for it, recognize it in name but not in deep-down life-changing everyday reality. We slip into self-condemnation and falter into works-based faith, propelling ourselves into performance and busyness and standards we can’t ever meet.

So, an inspirational book on grace may be a healthy reminder for all of us, and Max Lucado’s book on Grace is pure “Max.” He’s an artist with words, painting inspirational chapters, each one a quick and simple read that stirs the soul. It’s not a theological treatise. It doesn’t really claim to be. It’s more like sitting at the feet of a storyteller while he embellishes on a single theme.

The study guide that accompanies the book serves as a tool for individuals who want to dig deeper or for group study. While the book itself mostly revolves around stories (Biblical and otherwise), the study guide walks through Scripture.

If you’re a fan of Max Lucado’s style or if you’re in need of some inspiration or if you’ve recognized in your own life the habit of forgetting grace rather than embracing it, this book may be just the refresher your spirit needs.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and 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.”

Confessions of a Raging Perfectionist, Book Review

Leave a comment

Confessions of a Raging Perfectionist: Learning to Be Free
by Amanda Jenkins

Amanda Jenkins is a list-maker, so she had my attention from page one of this book, Confessions of a Raging Perfectionist: Learning to Be Free.  I’ve never really considered myself a perfectionist.  I’m more of a pragmatist, more focused on getting things done than doing it perfectly.  But I can totally relate to Amanda’s incessant standard-setting for herself, creating unrealistic and impossible expectations and then feeling like a failure when I fall flat on my face trying to attain perfection.perfectionist

She starts each section being as vulnerable as you can get, sharing whatever listed expectation she made for herself. and how she measures up to her goals.  Her weight, her bank account, or how many Diet Cokes she’s had so far today, it’s all fair game in this book.  Ultimately, her light-hearted and gut-honest storytelling walk you through authenticity and grace in areas of your life like obedience, vanity, coveting recognition, making plans and then having God change them, and depending on anything other than God to fill us each day.

She’s no perky, pasted-on-smile Christian, there to motivate you without being honest about the down-and-dirty problems in life.  She talks about her family’s international adoption and dares to tell the hard things and how God transformed her in the process.  She talks about the shocking death of a friend’s young husband and the financial struggles of loved ones and other times that she found God, met with Him and was blessed to see Him even when life got ugly.

Ultimately, the book is about finding grace.  It’d be an encouragement and challenge for any woman (whether she thinks she’s a perfectionist or not) and even perhaps teen girls.  The appendix includes Bible study notes that could work well for any women’s small group, as well.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and 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.”

To read a sample chapter, you can click here!

For a Q&A with Amanda Jenkins, you can click here!

About the Author . . .
Amanda Jenkins attended Northwestern Bible College and graduated with a degree in biblical studies and communications. She has
worked in sales and marketing for a number of Christian retailers, as well as in visual communications and advertising. For the past 14 years she has taught Bible studies for women of all ages and is passionate about communicating truth in a culturally relevant and humorous way.  She lives just outside of Chicago with her husband, Dallas, and their four young children, including their newly adopted son.