Category: Bookshelf

Spoken For, Book Review

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Spoken For: Embracing Who You Are and Whose You Are
by Robin Jones Gunn and Alyssa Joy Bethke

Robin Jones Gunn and Alyssa Joy Bethke have tapped into one of the great needs in the heart of most women—to be loved.  They’ve written this book, Spoken For, all about the divine romance, the way God loves us, pursues us, and calls us His own.spokenfor

The book is an extremely easy read.  I read it in a quick afternoon.  Each chapter generally starts with them taking turns telling part of their own love stories (dating, engagement, wedding day) and then relates that to how God loves us with a few Scripture verses.  They conclude each chapter with about five questions for further discussion.

This is not a Bible study.  The discussions stay fairly superficial and while it may work well for a book club, I wouldn’t choose to use it for my next women’s Bible study book.  It would be a great fit however, for a high school or college small group for women or even for women who haven’t been Christians long and need to discover their identity in Christ.  The book is also a sweet encouragement of our position in Christ for any Christian woman who struggles with feeling unloved.

I’m not a particularly emotional, romance-loving, wedding-show-watching woman.  I don’t care for most ‘chick flicks’ and didn’t start planning my wedding in high school.  I didn’t dream about ‘the perfect proposal’ and I don’t read romance novels or watch the Hallmark channel.  If you do, you’ll love this book!  But it kind of emphasized emotions and tendencies that just aren’t me.  That isn’t at all meant to take away from this book’s best audience or purpose.  As a straightforward encouragement that God loves you, this book is lovely—simple and sweet and true.

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.”

 

The Storm Inside, Book Review

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The Storm Inside: Trade the Chaos of How You Feel for the Truth of Who You Are
by Sheila Walsh

In her book, The Storm Inside, Sheila Walsh tells it straight: We can’t escape storms in this life.  It seems like we’re either in one, getting ready to be in one, or coming out of one.  thestorminsideChristians don’t escape these troubles any more than anybody else.  “In this world, you will have trouble,” Jesus said  But He also promised this: “take heart; I have overcome the world.”

While many of those storms are circumstances tossing us this way and that, interrupting our plans, threatening to overturn our lives, often the storms are causing by our own emotions, the ‘negative inside chatter’ we replay in our minds.  They are the result of lies that we’ve taken to heart and fears that overwhelm us.

Walsh tackles 10 of the most common ‘storms’ facing modern women, a list she compiled partly from the correspondence and feedback she receives from her many years as a Women of Faith Speaker.  She writes about moving:

1. From Heartbreak to Strength
2. From Disappointment to Hope
3. From Unforgiveness to Freedom
4. From Shame to Love
5. From Regret to Rest
6.From Fear to Joy
7. From Insecurity to Confidence
8. From Insignificance to Courage
9. From Despair to Faith
10.From Rage to Restoration

In each chapter, she moves through Scripture after Scripture, cementing truth and helping us replace the lies of the world, of Satan, of our own emotions with the Solid Rock Truth of God’s Word.  She’s also utterly open and vulnerable about her own struggles and past, which helps the reader remember something so necessary when you tackle such life issues:  You are not alone.

While a Bible study guide is not included in this book itself, Sheila Walsh does include a few action points and questions at the end of each chapter in a section entitled, “Standing Through Your Storm.”  These work well for helping you apply the lessons in each chapter rather than rushing through the book too quickly without allowing it to really impact your life.

Overall, Sheila Walsh offers a book with solid Biblical teaching, encouragement, heart-to-heart vulnerability and openness, humor, heartbreak, and grace. I think most women will probably find at least a chapter or two (or more!) that stand out particularly because they identify with those struggles the most.  With the breadth of ‘storms’ she covers, there likely will be something for everyone here to help them grow in their faith.

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.”

God is JUST Not Fair, Book Review

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God is Just Not Fair, Finding Hope When Life Doesn’t Make Sense
by Jennifer Rothschild

Jennifer Rothschild tackles the hard questions in her book, God is Just Not Fair, and it’s a beautifully vulnerable and powerful read.  Blind at the age of 15, she’s no stranger to struggles and the need to overcome.  But at age 40, she faced a bout of depression that challenged her faith in a new way.  So she writes about doubting God–His existence, His presence, and His love– from a personal and Scriptural perspective and tells about how God walked her through that season of a new kind of darkness.Godisnotfair

The book is divided into six main parts, each covering a different question like: Are you fair, do you err, do you hear prayer, do you care, are you aware, and are you there?  Each section is further divided into short, easy-to-read chapters.

In the tradition of David, Asaph, Job, Habakkuk and others in Scripture, she is willing to be honest about how life is hard sometimes and it’s difficult to have that faith and trust God despite the circumstances.  It’s not easy to cling to the truth of God’s Word.  But the title of the book itself is powerful.  No, God isn’t “fair,” not in the way we usually mean that.  We think that means that God has to treat us all the same.  After all, if God were “Fair,” we’d receive the punishment and judgment we really deserve instead of His amazing grace.  Instead of being “fair,” God is “Just.”  He is right and true and always brings beauty out of the dustiest pile of ashes.

She covered many of the most-beloved and well-worn Biblical accounts in this book, but even the long-term Christians will probably learn something new.  I did!

One of my favorite sections of the book was her story of being the guest speaker at a church that taught that everyone who has faith gets healed, and Christians are all blessed and happy all the time and if they aren’t, something is wrong with them.  She spoke the truth they didn’t want to hear, but that Jesus Himself told us, “In this world, you will have trouble…but take heart, I have overcome the world.”

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.”

Mended, Book Review

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Mended: Pieces of a Life Made Whole
by Angie Smith

Angie Smith writes about being broken and cracked into tiny pieces by life and then held back into place by God in her book, Mended: Pieces of a Life Made Whole.  She talks about the healing work God did in her following the loss of her newborn baby years ago and how even though she feels still broken and cracked in places, God loves her and wants to be glorified in her.

Isn’t that the story for so many of us?  Even if our pain and our testimony isn’t the same as hers, still we experience brokenness and still God lovingly rejoins our pieces and then uses us.  In fact, we’re better at reflecting His glory that way—with His light shining through all the holes and missing pieces.

She also has a wonderfully fresh perspective for a long-time church girl like me.  Angie Smith didn’t grow up doing the Christian-thing, so she writes as someone remembering the discovery of God’s Word and His character.  I love this about her.  It makes what she has to say fresh and full of grace.

Angie Smith’s writing is lovingly honest and funny, vulnerable and true.  She’s truly a storyteller who finds God in the everyday bits and pieces of life.  This book is a collection of her more devotional-like blog entries, reworked a bit to fit the format and style of a book.  They could be used as a daily devotional and slowly worked through and thought about or read like a normal book.  There are no homework lessons or discussion questions per se, but she finishes off each chapter with a brief section called “mending,” where she prompts you to think and apply.

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.”

Heart Wide Open, Book Review

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Heart Wide Open: Trading Mundane Faith for an Exuberant Life with Jesus
by Shellie Rushing Tomlinson

With a little Southern charm, a little friendly honesty, and a lot of genuine passion for God and His Word, Shellie Rushing Tomlinson’s book, Heart Wide Open, encourages women to trade in formulaic devotions and rigid expectations of ‘quiet time’ for a real and relevant adventure of living every moment with God.  After struggling herself with routine faith, she finally got honest enough to say, “God, I don’t love you like I should, but I want to love you.  Help me!”  That heartfelt prayer stirred up a passion for His Word that spills over into the pages of this book.Heart-Wide-Open_HighRes

The book reads easily and naturally, like sharing a conversation with a passionate Jesus-girl over a cup of coffee.  Each chapter is subtitled with an honest prayer such as, “Lord, I want to abandon everything to follow you, but I’m scared of what that might look like!”  With these prayers, Shellie covers issues such as building faith, obedience, what to do when you don’t like reading the Bible, and loving others even when it’s difficult.

Each chapter ends with a short prayer to start you on a journey of inviting God to help you in the weak areas and in the midst of your faith struggles.  In the back of the book, Tomlinson includes a Bible study and discussion guide that would help individuals and small groups go deeper.

Sometimes we feel like we need to already love God’s Word, know God’s Word, feel close to God, be full of faith, and have it all together before we come to Him.  But this is a book that helps you pursue Christ even when it’s hard, you don’t feel like it, don’t know how to do it, or maybe even don’t have a passion for it and yet you truly you want something more in your relationship with God.  You bring all that to Him, all that weakness, all those shortcomings, and ask for His help.

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.”

Restless DVD-Based Study Kit, Book Review

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Restless: Because You Were Made for More DVD-Based Study Kit
by Jennie Allen

I’ve reviewed Jennie Allen’s book, Anything, and her study, Chase, and I come to the same conclusion even now as I review her newest study materials: Restless: Because You Were Made for More.  Jennie Allen always comes across as genuine.  That’s the beauty of her writing, the beauty of her DVD teaching.  I think that strikes a special chord with women who are looking for ‘real’ in this world.restless

Her study, Restless, is about finding our place in God’s story, how He has made us and what He has designed us to do.  She bookends the study of Joseph with a broader look at God’s plans and calling.  The sessions include: Getting Started, God’s Story, Gifts, Suffering, Places, People, Passions, and Mystery.

A study on this topic has to walk a particular balance.  We need to know that we’re serving with pure motives, but not be so focused on that that we fail to serve at all.  We need to find our spiritual gifts and obey God’s call, but we can’t strike out on our own with pride and ambition, valuing stage ministries, best-selling authors, and the like more than the service in our own homes and communities.  By focusing on God’s story first and then pushing forward to finding our spiritual gifts and passions, she gives that sense of balance that is needed.

Jennie Allen returns to the idea again and again of finding the threads of our life that appear mundane and trusting that God is in them and using them for His glory.  Working in our cubicle, changing that diaper—we can serve in the humblest of ways and still run with passion and purpose and not get caught up in comparing ourselves with others.

I love the truly unique format of her study kits. It comes with an eight-session DVD (each session is about 20 minutes long), one copy of the study guide, a leader’s guide, and a box of discussion cards.  The DVD sessions are really the perfect length—long enough to contribute to the lesson, but not so long that your small group has no time for sharing with each other rather than just listening to her teach.  The study is discussion-driven thanks to the box of cards with questions you use during the small group time.

Her DVD teaching sessions actually begin with real women sitting at a desk and answering some of the questions, including an opening moment with Jennie herself looking like you’d meet her at the Target—not dressed and made-up like a bestselling author and speaker—just ‘real’ Jennie.  These are some of my favorite moments in the study, hearing and connecting with their stories and journeys.

Jennie teaches from a re-purposed abandoned church in Texas outfitted with Mason jar vases and comfy couches and antique desks with a small group of women listening as she talks.  It’s lovely and cozy and inviting all the while her passionate teaching stirs up a desire to find your own place in God’s story.

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.”

No Cape Required, Book Review

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No Cape Required: 52 Ways to Unleash Your Inner Hero
by Kristen Parrish

As a mom, I’m always on the hunt for ways to emphasize character education with a Biblical foundation for my kids, so Kristen Parrish’s book, No Cape Required, caught my attention.  She uses 52 examples from literature, film, and comic books to teach about Godly character.  None of the ‘heroes’ are perfect, but each exemplifies one particular character trait that she covers in this devotional.nocaperequired

The variety of examples she covers is impressive.  Since I’m more of a classic literature/classic film fan, I loved that she included examples from The Chronicles of Narnia, Gone With the Wind, It’s a Wonderful Life, To Kill a Mocking Bird, Jane Eyre and the like.  Other readers might be more excited that she included Spider-Man, Superman, Mr. Spock and Captain Kirk, Rocky Balboa, or examples from movies like Avatar, The Hunger Games, and Gladiator.  In some cases, she chose to write about the movie instead of the original book (like in the case of The Hunchback of Notre Dame), and I’d prefer to use the actual book rather than a film adaptation, but that’s a personal preference and something small to quibble over.

It’s pretty difficult to summarize complicated plots in a few short paragraphs so that anyone who picks up this devotional can enjoy the entry without ever having seen the movie or read that particular book.  Parrish does a great job with this and I easily followed her points even when I didn’t know the plot in advance. One benefit from reading this particular book might even be stirring up interest in reading some of these classics or watching the movies in their entirety.

At the end of each entry, she includes a short prayer with some ideas on how to apply the lesson learned, which include things like thanking emergency responders for their service to our community, smile at as many people as you can today, or to study a particular Scripture passage in more depth.

Overall, the spiritual lessons are brief and fairly superficial, so it really wouldn’t be a devotional I would use myself.  Instead, I would probably use this book as a starting place for encouraging my kids to do their own personal devotions.  It is well-suited for students in middle school on up, both girls and boys.  In fact, for homeschooling parents or families wanting to do devotions together, this book could really work well to guide character education.  Families could watch some of these movies together or read some of the books and then use this devotional to guide family discussions about them.

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.”

Crash the Chatterbox, Book Review

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Crash the Chatterbox
by Steven Furtick

Most of us probably battle that same internal dialogue of discouragement, lies, and even self-condemnation that Steven Furtick describes in his new book, Crash the Chatterbox.  His goal isn’t to help us overcome that completely.  As he says, it’s a battle that continues daily.  Instead, he wants to give strategies for how to choose to listen to the truth of God’s Word over the lies and to keep moving forward.crashthechatterbox

Steven Furtick’s writing style is always engaging, funny, practical, and honest.  He organizes the book around four fundamental truths we can hold on to: God Says I Am, God Says He Will, God Says He Has, God Says I Can.  His personal stories help drive each of these points home.

Furtick is social media-savvy.  Each chapter begins with a full-page-sized image of a quote bubble with a brief quote that you can then share on Facebook twitter, Pinterest or any other online outlet you choose.  He even includes the hashtag (crashthechatterbox) to help you participate in the online community that might be reading and talking about the book along with you and directs you to an online community for all “chatterboxes.”

I would perhaps have liked more Bible story, less personal story throughout the book.  His discussion questions for small group that are included in the back will be great to get groups talking, but touch lightly on Scripture and rely more heavily on personal application.  Still, it’s a truly relevant topic that can help many people overcome the paralysis of discouragement and lies many of us battle within ourselves.  I’ve read a few books on this topic geared mostly for women, but this is one that works well for men and women both and is great for either individual reading or small group discussion.

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.”

You can find more about the author and this book here:

I Am Not But I Know I AM, Book Review

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I Am Not But I Know I Am: Welcome to the Story of God
By Louie Giglio

The message of Louie Giglio’s book, I Am Not But I Know I Am, is both humbling and freeing.  He reminds us from the beginning of the book that this life story we’re living isn’t really about us at all.  It’s God’s story, and we’ve simply been invited to play a small part in His great design.iamnot

This means that we can throw over all that stress we place on ourselves, feeling like this world depends on us or that decisions and outcomes rest so heavily on our lightweight shoulders.  It also means that we can stop treating this life like the story (and the glory) is ours.  It’s about Him, always Him, and never us.

Covering a vast span of Scripture, reminders from astronomy, and personal experiences, Giglio manages to keep every chapter short, easy to read, and both inspiring and challenging.  Louie Giglio is known for his story-telling, humor, and practical teaching to college students at the Passion conferences, and his gift for communication and teaching certainly shines in this book.

My favorite sections include his teaching on the importance of keeping a Sabbath perspective in life, choosing to rest and allow God to be at work, and recognizing that the world doesn’t spin and function because of our intense 24-7-365 involvement.  God doesn’t need us to make His plans succeed; He chooses to include us.

I’ve read through it twice and I’ve been challenged both times to examine my perspective on life.  Am I forgetting how great God is?  Am I trusting in my own abilities too much?  Am I focusing too much on myself and becoming too prideful?  Am I living a life that glorifies God?  These are questions worth asking not one in a lifetime, but repeatedly in order to fight against pride and help us be more yielded to God’s purposes and usable in ministry.

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.”

Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, Book Review

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Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World (Book, Study Guide, and DVD)
by Joanne Weaver

I first read Joanne Weaver’s book, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, years ago and I return to it often even now.  In any women’s small group, most of us would probably identify ourselves as “Martha”—prone to overwhelm ourselves with work—-rather than “Mary,” ready and willing to rest and learn at the feet of Jesus.  The truth is, it’s hard to balance work and worship in this world with its many demands, especially as women filling so many roles every day.  We’re wives, moms, sisters, daughters, friends, employees, bosses, leaders, participants, and servants.  How can we fit time with Jesus into all that?mary

Joanne Weaver’s book (and accompanying study guide and DVD) offers powerful freedom, grace, and practical advice for modern women.  This is so much more than the typical lesson about how we all need to be a little less Martha and a lot more Mary in this life.  Instead, the book follows Mary and Martha throughout the Gospel accounts and reveals what we can learn from Martha’s heart for service and her teachable spirit.  That’s a breath of fresh air and grace for those of us with Martha-like tendencies!

In this study, women are encouraged and taught how to overcome a tendency to worry, how to spend time with Jesus, how to serve with our spiritual gifts, and how to stop being a burden bearer.  One of the object lessons she uses, that of a wagon and rocks, is powerful, sticking with me just about 8 years since I first read it!

The companion study guide is great for small groups and gives space for answers to questions about the DVD as well as the reading material from the book itself.  She includes memory verses, opportunities to create a personal action plan each week, space for prayer requests, and a completely manageable amount of study questions even for those of us who are super busy.

I also loved the DVD created for this study.  The first segment includes images of women joining Joanne Weaver in her home, chatting, sharing in food, and then sitting down to hear her teach.    My small group has commented before about other DVD teachings that feel staged, distant, unrealistic, or over-rehearsed, but this DVD  was so personable and “real,” making the teaching time feel fresh, relevant, and friendly, like we ourselves were sitting in her living room.

Whether you’re reading this book on your own or joining in study with a group of other women, Joanne Weaver’s book Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World can encourage and challenge pretty much any woman, whether you’re a ‘Mary,’ a ‘Martha,’ or somewhere in between.

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.”