I loved that this author's first Scripture quote (in the Introduction) ...
592112
I loved that this author's first Scripture quote (in the Introduction) was Daniel 11:32b, " The people that know their God shall be strong, and do exploits." This passage had recently become my personal favorite, and was a sign that there were more pearls hidden within the pages of her book.

This petite but powerful composition is a sensible synopsis of the vital attributes of God. It's a wonderful discipleship tool for new believers and a great refresher course for the more seasoned spiritual veteran. Hermie's personal accounts, sprinkled throughout, add heart and clarity to the overall message. Her teaching background is evident in her clear and concise presentation.

Each of the 12 chapters conclude with discussion questions, making this the perfect selection for those interested in a "small group" or Bible study guide. Especially appealing is that it's the first installment of a three-part series which provides a cohesive lesson plan for nearly a year! Needless to say, this author's debut trilogy is a valuable addition to my personal library and I intend to put her books to good use in the very near future.
1341851
Wow, what a great concept here!  I was amazed to find a devotional that weaves together Scripture with quotes from Shakespeare in such a meaningful and enlightening way.  The author demonstrates creativity and scholasticism in one great work!  I found it interesting to learn that Shakespeare quoted and alluded to the Scriptures over 1,000 times in his works, and Hostetler does a great job of highlighting many of those instances.  I enjoyed the ties between Shakespeare's works and the Bible, and I especially enjoyed Hostetler's ability to apply these passages to everyday life.  I felt encouraged, enlightened, and challenged by the many impactful applications that the author makes to life as we live it today.  I highly recommend this work to all!
1985501
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.  Valerie's style of writing was refreshing and light.  She wrote as if she were here in person talking to me!  She has a way of writing that makes you actually think about what you're reading.

There are many lessons that I learned by reading her book and I was definitely challenged.  I found myself thinking about the book throughout the day and trying to implement what I had read.

While this book was really helpful and encouraging, I would have really liked it more if she used the King James Bible.

Valerie is obviously very knowledgeable and is not afraid to share her knowledge or her experiences.  She is very real and isn't afraid to for others to see her for who she really is!  I believe that really helped me enjoy the book more.  As she said herself, "we can relate to people who are real".  (paraphrasing)

My favorite thing about this book was whenever Valerie referred to God (example: He, His, etc.) she would always capitalize it.  I am a firm believer in capitalizing references to God and His Word.  I'm so glad that she did that.  A lot of authors do not and it's disappointing.

I RECEIVED THIS COMPLIMENTARY BOOK FROM LITFUSE PUBLISHERS FOR REVIEW PURPOSES.
3120300
This book had me at hello. The acknowledgments and preface were so insightful ... I can't put it down. This is my first book by this author, but with the authors gift of making things understandable and relate-able, I will read more of this series of study. I knew in my heart God led me to this book. Will be sharing it with my bible study girls. Highly recommend!
2587953
This is a slim paperback book which will invite even the most timid of readers to peruse its contents. I personally found it the perfect size to slip into my purse for reading on the go.
The chapters are clear, well-organized and purposeful. Men and women alike will benefit from this book by Winfred Neely. At first I did not expect much from such a short book. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the depth and quality within. This may be a short book, but it packs an important message.
 Dr. Winfred Neely writes with understanding and wisdom. This is a book which will definitely help the worried Christian learn to place his trust in Jesus' plan. It will also unravel confusion as to where worry begins and why we worry. The author writes each chapter in a kind way, not condemning but desiring to help the reader.
I was very pleased with this book and was struck by the Biblical wisdom pertaining to trusting God instead of worrying. Sometimes you know something but don't really ponder it until reading a book about it....this is such a book.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.
1592549
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is my first Max Lucado book that I have read. I admit that I requested it because all of the hype over Max Lucado. Was he one of those crazy pastors who teach the prosperity theology? That would account for his insane amount of people following him. I was ready to read things like that and rip it apart.
Instead, after a very rough week where it seemed as if everything was going wrong, I found an author who wrote personably, who told me that God had already given me all the tools I need to succeed, its just waiting for me to take them. All of the patience I needed? Already given to me by God, I just needed to ask for it. All the strength I needed to get past just one more day? Yup, already have it, just need to ask God. Focus on God and everything I need to be the person I want to be is already there. The author does not preach the prosperity message, in fact, he often says that our rewards will not always be of this world, but they are exactly what we need, what we ask for. We are already the best person we can be; we just need to focus on God to be that person.

The interesting part about the book was that the entire book was focused on the Book of Joshua, each chapter of this book going through the Book of Joshua chapter by chapter. After every chapter, I felt more uplifted, more focused, more able. I could be that patient, loving mother, instead of the stressed, frazzled one I am, shes already in there, I just need to focus on God and ask Him.  There were some chapters where I didn't feel very connected to the message the author was saying, but it was because it didn't directly relate to what I am going through right now.
Now, I completely understand why Max Lucado has such a following. He has an amazing, uplifting, empowering, personable way of writing that makes you feel as if he is writing the book just for you. Definitely going to be following him now.
1847006
I just finished reading 'The Divine Secret' by Joe Kovacs!  I especially like the references to God's spoken words highlighted in red from the Old Testament. As well, I appreciated reading verses from the different versions of the Bible.  The concept of Mr. Kovacs' book is awesome and has really boosted my Christian beliefs as I search my Bible for answers to issues I face each day!  (I am fortunate to have a version of the KJV with God's words in red in the Old Testament, and it really helps studying.)  I will go back to 'The Divine Secret' again! It is well worth reading!
2872614
I love how the author carefully laid the groundwork, starting in the first book of the Bible, and then carefully tied all of the ends together so beautifully by the end of the book!
It was especially beautiful to catch the connection for the first time how Abrahams journey to Mt. Moriah to sacrifice his only son was exactly what God did 1900 years later with His only son, Jesus Christ! While the offering of Isaac would not have accomplished salvation for any man and so was not required, Jesus sacrifice would provide salvation to all mankind and was planned and required from the very beginning of mankind!
3392026
Like the author, I love the Psalms. So when I had the opportunity to obtain a free Story Cartel download of Carol Moye's ebook/volume 1, I jumped at the chance. Moye described her writing as an inspired response to Psalms 1-50 using poetry and song. Her hope in sharing was so she can help others be inspired by the Psalms and her experiences. In my opinion, those readers who can approach this book with fresh eyes, who are curious about ways to cope with life, and are new to the Psalms will find the most value in 'Reflections on the Psalms'.
Moye's  ebook must not be a turn off because its foundation is biblical. Instead, you can be turned on by the author's text as her writing style and topic choices allow you to follow and relate to a life situation easily. Each chapter has its own unique title. For example, Moye's titles for Psalms 1 and 2 respectively are 'The Road to Prosperity'  and 'Have We Lost Our Way?'. The writing is intentional in its meaning, whether her goal is to provoke your thinking, encourage you to change a behavior, stimulate a thought/concept, hear her gratitude, or understand when, where, and how she applies her faith.
1014764
I find in life that sometimes despite our abilities to leave our pasts behind, sometimes it's not possible. Sometimes that past comes calling again, but we have a choice as to whether to open the door and deal with it or keep the door close and hope it stops knocking. In the debut novel, The Road to Mercy, by Kathy Harris, the readers are in for a journey that will outline what it really means to trust in God and learn to walk by faith, faith defined as believing in things we don't see. In each circumstance that the main characters are challenged with, Josh and Bethany Harrison, are tested in a wide variety of ways. The faith will come into question and will at times be doubted in some areas, and whole-heartily accepted in other ways.

The book begs the reader to ask their own question of where their life of faith stands. When hard times or unexpected circumstances come upon us, will we fall apart or fall on our knees. This book is perfect for these hard times we have all fallen upon lately, with job losses, health issues, financial strains, marriage problems, and more, I find if we don't have faith as our foundation, we will fall apart. We will look to fix things ourselves and at times will come up far too short. We must in fact, put our trust in God,  because storms will come in each of our lives, our faith will be tested to points of breaking us sometimes, but it's how we weather our storms that makes us stronger and better prepared to deal with what happens next.

In The Road to Mercy, the reader gets to also know what true mercy is. Mercy is when we completely deserve punishment for something we have done wrong, but are instead given a clean slate, a new start, we get what we did not expect in return. I found myself wondering as I read along with Beth's health issue of being on the brink of death and learning she is pregnant, what decision I would make if I were in the same situation. While the well-meaning Dr. Ben Abrams tries to convince Beth and Josh that terminating her pregnancy is the best option, Beth and Josh choose to trust that God can handle the issue and will accept whatever consequences happen by their decision. Sounds like stuff that happens in real life all the time. Josh and Beth also find that dealing with the health issues and the pregnancy that it places them under tremendous personal stress of their own, each wondering if they are doing the right thing, which at times places them at odds with one another. Yet deep within the past are some secrets that may undermine their faith and completely destroy them. You'll have to read the book to see how this all plays out but trust me, it's well worth the search!

I received this book compliments of Pump Up Your Book Tours and Abingdon Press for my honest opinion and love that Kathy Harris chose this as a debut novel to write. In this tough times, we need books like this one to remind us of the cost of maintaining our faith. It may not be an easy road to walk but it will be one that pays off unexpectedly in ways we never imagined for our good in the end. For that reason I rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars.
2516694
I recently had the pleasure of reading Unafraid, by Susie Davis. This book could not have come at a better time for me, as our family is about to make a transition that has me flat-out scared. Unafraid, I am not, but Susies book gives me great hope that I, too, will become a former fear-er.

In Unafraid, Susie Davis relates her affair with fear, stemming from a traumatic event that occurred in middle school. She shares how this event interrupted her childhood and caused her to live in tremendous fear for many years after. Throughout the book, she tells how she came to understand God better, to love Him and to trust Him.

As I battle my way out of a dark season of anxiety and depression, I am all too familiar with having fear as my constant companion. Unafraid was an incredibly convicting read for me, as Susie spelled out how living in fear was like living like the prodigal son, often is wrapped up with unforgiveness, and is a lifestyle that worships fear itself rather God, our only right object of worship. Ouch. Giving in to fear makes me an unforgiving prodigal idol-worshiper? Yes, as Susie demonstrates with Scripture. However, she relays this message with utmost tenderness and a call to flee to the arms of God and be healed by His grace.

Unafraid includes both discussion questions and a study guide, making it an excellent choice for reading in a book club or small group. In our anxiety-ridden culture, I think that everyone will be able to identify with the message of this book, and by the grace of God, learn to live a life free from the clutches of fear.

FTC Disclaimer: I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.
1959895
I really enjoyed this book, especially how Price dealt with the importance of Prayer, and Praying & Fasting.  These are subjects that should be expounded upon more, setting aside consecrated time for just God and yourself.  Another thing I like about this book is that Price backs up her points with SCRIPTURE.  Hence, her writing is Bible-based.

Not only is she a talented and blessed singer/songwriter, but she's an excellent author as well. This will be an excellent addition to your library(s)!

Happy Holidays and God Bless!

~SLT~
3825812
I preordered this book back in June, and it was such a surprise to receive my copy early! I've been Bible journaling for a little over two years, but still found fresh inspiration as I flipped through. DON'T expect an art book, though. This isn't about the supplies and fancy techniques, but just putting pencil or pen to page, and then being encouraged to add color and texture with a few basic supplies. This isn't just about pages in your Bible, either -- she offers advice for setting up a prayer journal and there are also a few pages on note taking. She does show how to carve stamps, and a tiny bit on mixed media (basic things like adding printed paper and washi tape). The book also has a nice section of resources at the back: some favorite verses and quotes, an overview of various English Bible translations, and some printed pages to remove and use in your work.

Her tone is very encouraging - I know that many journalers are intimidated by beautiful art pieces they see shared, but Stephanie's style is much more text oriented. She provides lots of samples to try copying (again, simple line art) as well as many lettering styles, although very much in her style (no swoopy calligraphy here!). Definitely take some time to look over the preview to see her style.

Overall, the book is lovely. The photos are clear and bright, and I like that it's all printed on heavyweight paper (particularly since some of the pages are meant to be written on). If one does not particularly care for the author's personal artistic style, then I might pass on the book as there are no examples from other artists, but there is still plenty to gain from the encouraging text and general approach to planning a layout, and I feel it's a good value at under $15

My MESS is part of my message!!
1670204
{{sigh}} this book was very refreshing to me.  Again, this author was very transparent (which I love because there are none of us perfect).  He shared his flows and how he is often attacked through his chatterbox (we all have one).  I felt very encouraged by this book and feel that it is a resource that I can offer to those who are struggling to hear God over all the junk in our minds.  You know it is one thing for me to tell someone who is struggling to get into the word of God, make His voice louder can only be done by putting His word in your mind and heart, but it is another when a great author of some book tells them.  :)

I would recommend this to anyone (including those who feel they have a grip on the faith) to open and be encouraged.  I still have a tendency to let the enemy tell me lies.  Sometimes I start to believe them.  This book just made me feel BOLDER to fight the enemy of darkness.

At the end there is a great set of discussion questions that you can use for a small group.
529839
This is the second collection of words of advice Ive read by this author that has inspired me. The first, Lessons for Life, was written primarily for teenagers. In this book, the author offers wisdom to adults on how to increase their faith in God, raise their hopes for a better life, and accept and treasure love to find fulfillment and greater happiness. As in Lessons, theres a different truism on every page, but in this book the author expounds on each saying.

As Mr. Carpenter explains in the introduction, his writings are based in his Christian faith. Indeed, there are scripture verses and references to his beliefs sprinkled throughout the book. However, as a non-religious person, I found encouragement and solid guidance on every page.

The author is gifted in poetically expressing his advice without sounding preachy or all-knowing. I felt that he came to many of his conclusions and recommendations after experiencing disappointments of his own. His ability to write aphorisms may have come from his father whom he quotes in several places. One favorite of his fathers pithy sayings: Everyone is ignorantjust on different subjects. One other: You cant put a forty-year old head on a sixteen-year old body. Thats why we make so many mistakes as we are growing up.

Here are some of my favorite sayings by the author from each section:
In the chapter on Faith:

In life, we cannot help but be sad at times. This is why we must always have a blessing in our pocket that we can take out to lift us up.
In the chapter on Hope:

Hope is the one thing in our life that we cannot lose. If we lose hope, we lose our ability to dream. If we cannot dream, we have no future to work toward.

Sometimes, a single word of hope or a few notes of music can change a heart completely. Listen for your song today and let the words lead you.
In the chapter on Love:

True wealth is not how much you have in investments, but how much youve invested in others. Love is an appreciating asset that grows daily.

Mending a broken heart is like putting together a jigsaw puzzle. You find a piece of your heart you recognize, and you build slowly around it.

No one who ever left a memory in your heart is ever forgotten.

This is a book Id recommend to anyone to keep handy as a reference, particularly when you're experiencing a rough patch and need some inspiration. There is a treasure trove of good advice on every page.
231712
It's truly hard to believe that this is Tom's first book! I have started to read so many books like this and after the second chapter I became disinterested because the author said everything worth saying in the first ten pages. Not so with "Rubble to Redemption!" As I read I felt as though I was on a journey through the pain of my childhood searching for a ray of hope amidst the ashes. Tom not only offers the promise of hope. He delivers on it because he points to the One who restores the years the locust has eaten, the Lord Almighty. Great job! I'm looking forward to many more books in the future from you brother.

Pastor Scott K. Stroud, Salinas - California
1463888
Hello, My name is Tom.  I am fortunate in that I already am acquainted with the author.  I actually consider her a friend and hope that "Experience the Poetry of a Heathen" will be a huge success story.  I read her book from cover to cover without putting it down because it held my interest so strongly.  It has uplifting qualities and many of the poems touched me personally.  I am particularly fond of the poems entitled Blackjack and New Orleans because I related to the message in each of them.