The Spiritual Warfare Answer Book by Dr. David Jeremiah

This little book packs a punch! The cover is beautiful, and though small enough to stick into a purse or backpack, the volume feels satisfyingly weighty in your hands. Split into categories like "Terms of Engagement", "Behind Enemy Lines", and "God's Armory", topics such as being called into battle, being a courageous warrior, Satan's origin and strategies, and prayer are covered in a brief, easy-to-read manner. The Spiritual Warfare Answer Book is simple enough for my older children to read, but deep enough to cause me to think more about topics I might have brushed over in the past. I appreciate what I've learned from the book. It was a truly enjoyable read and I highly recommend it! 

Read more about the book here.  Read more bout Dr. David Jeremiah here.

I received a copy of this book from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

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How May We Hate You? Notes from the Concierge Desk, by Anna Drezen and Todd Dakotah Briscoe

I thought I'd try something different this time when choosing which book to review, and...I messed up. I knew this was tongue in cheek comedy, but I wasn't expecting so much language and crudeness. I didn't even finish it, but I will share some info.

 The book is beautifully bound, with a surprising, humorous twist. Parts of the book are definitely funny, but the snark was a bit much, and the crudeness and bad language wasn't funny. If you have to be crude and offensive to make people laugh, you may be hanging out with middle schoolers. It really isn't necessary. Also, making fun of someone's faith is distasteful, to say the least. 

There are some genuinely helpful tips if you are a world traveler, and I suppose that this book will appeal mainly to people of that group anyway. 

So, all in all, How May We Hate You was a disappointment. I don't recommend it. 

1 out 5 stars.

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review. 

Unashamed (Review & Giveaway)

I was recently hospitalized due to severe depression and anxiety. It was the first time I had ever gone to the hospital for that reason, and I was scared to death. I was also ashamed. I kept a journal during my stay and, over and over, I found myself writing, "I'm ashamed. So ashamed." I was afraid for anyone to know because of how they might think of me, and I was terrified of causing my family embarrassment.  I shouldn't have worried! When my husband let people know and asked them to pray for us, we were covered by love and understanding, and many people opened up and shared that they, too, suffered with depression. And you know what? I bet they've felt shame, too. That should be the very last thing we should have to deal with. I even interpreted it as guilt; I felt like I had done something wrong. Honestly, I'm not sure I could differentiate between guilt and shame. 

In Unashamed, Healing our Brokenness and Finding Freedom from Shame, Heather Davis Nelson defines the difference between guilt and shame, and explains how Satan uses shame to crush and defeat us. With a warmth and candor that is so needed when dealing with this sensitive subject, Heather opens up about her own experiences and offers hope and advice on how to break free from shame's bondage. Topics such as body shame, social shame, and shame in marriage and parenting are covered, and there are even extra resources for those who suffer from abuse. 

Here are some of my favorite quotes from the book:

"Insecurity leads to people-pleasing, which is often motivated by fear of intimacy, which is motivated by fear of rejection."

"What if you chose to share what's closer to real life than the airbrushed life stories our social media accounts usually portray? If you are really daring, ask a friend who knows you well in real life how similar your online presence is to who you are. And if you're feeling especially courageous, write a post about how you are really doing."

"To engage in our work and calling with all we are, and to continue without stalling out or freezing up requires silencing the critic within (because too often it is our own voice that speaks the oldest words of condemnation)."

I highly recommend this book! 

And...one of you will win a copy! To enter, simply leave a comment letting me know that you wish to be entered into the giveaway. That's it! :) Oh, and please share this with your friends! This giveaway will be open until Friday, July 8th, at 10 pm. 

I received this book in exchange for my honest review. Giveaways are open to residents of the US and Canada. Winners are chosen via random.org. If you have won in the last six months, another winner will be chosen.

Subversive Jesus, by Craig Greenfield

Recently, I've been more stirred (bothered, challenged, what have you...) by the realization of how little we actually do to help the poor and needy. We read the Bible, we profess to love Jesus and strive to be like Him, but we fail in this vital area. In Subversive Jesus, an Adventure in Justice, Mercy, & Faithfulness in a Broken World, Craig Greenfield relates how he and his family and friends made drastic changes in their lives in order to better minister to this neglected group of people. 

While the stories in this book were touching, convicting, and sometimes humorous, I was a bit turned off by the author's attitude. (Or, the attitude he seemed to me to have.) He thumbed his nose at earnest people who work with ministries that offer food and gifts to the homeless and those in poor neighborhoods, even going so far as to say that he is embarrassed by them. While handing out scarves and gloves to the homeless might not have the same affect as living among them, it is still a ministry, and those who take part shouldn't be made fun of. 

While I didn't entirely agree with the author's views, I do admire what he and his friends are doing, and I am convicted to study into what he wrote. 

This is from the back copy of Subversive Jesus:

A broken world demands a response. 
 
Subversive Jesus is the story of one family's experiment in putting the most counter-cultural teachings of Christ into practice. When Jesus says invite the poor for a meal, Craig and his family welcome homeless friends, local crack addicts, and women from the street corner over for dinner. When Jesus proclaims freedom for the captive, they organize Pirates of Justice flash mobs to protest cruise ship exploitation. When Jesus teaches love for enemies, they make homemade cookies and lemonade for the local drug dealers, and none of them show up! This adventure takes Craig's family from the slums of Cambodia to inner city Canada and back again. 

You might think that Jesus' most subversive teachings should be systematically laid out in a theological textbook. With plenty of dull footnotes. But Jesus knows well that we are people of story and grit. We need to see theological ideas in messy human form so they can spark something real in our imagination. We need to see other people screw up so we can laugh or weep and then imagine that we might dare to risk failure too.

Allow their journey to inspire your own. Allow Jesus to subvert what you think you already know. And you'll find that this book becomes an invitation to say yes to this subversive Jesus and do something courageous with your life - for the sake of justice, mercy, and faithfulness in a broken world. 

About the Author: 

Craig is the founder and director of Alongsiders International (alongsiders.org) - a fast-growing movement mobilizing and equipping thousands of young Christians in the developing world to walk alongside those who walk alone - orphans and vulnerable children in their own communities. 

During more than 15 years living and ministering in slums and inner cities in Asia and North America, Craig has established a number of initiatives to care for vulnerable kids and orphans, as well as formed Christian communities for those marginalized by society. 

For 8 years, Craig served as the International Coordinator of Servants, a ministry within the slums of Asia. His postgraduate research in International Development led to the publication of his first book, The Urban Halo: a story of hope for orphans of the poor. Craig's second book, Subversive Jesus, will be published by Zondervan in 2016.

For more info visit Craig's website: craiggreenfield.com

This book gets 3 out of 5 stars from me. 

I received this book from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review. 

The Illustrated Compendium of Amazing Animal Facts

The Illustrated Compendium of Amazing Animal Facts by Maja Säfström was a big hit. Not only is it beautiful and a little antique-y (yes, I just made up that word) on the outside, but inside, it's whimsical, black and white illustrations are brilliantly done! The text is fun, engaging, and informative. I learned right along with my kiddos! My son, who is an animal lover, especially enjoyed it. 

The Illustrated Compendium of Amazing Animal Facts is a fun addition to our homeschool, as well. I highly recommend this book! 

(Oh, and who can resist that title!? ;) )

5 out of 5 stars. 


The book can be purchased here.
Author info here.









 I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Owls, Our Most Charming Bird

I adore owls. My kids adore owls. Besides, they are so, like, IN right now. But really, I love them. So cute, so fluffy, and, according to this book, everything from "adorable" to "a monstrosity".

This little book is absolutely charming. Along with a simple and beautiful watercolor painting of each species, there is a short, informative write-up that is both quirky and educational. The species are separated into groups based on habitat. Owls, Our Most Charming Bird was a hit with my kids, too. My daughter is already trying to copy the illustrations.

4 out of 5 stars from me.

More about the book: 

An enchanting illustrated guide to owl species of the world.

The owl is one of nature’s most captivating creatures. In this enchanting guide, artist Matt Sewell brings to life fifty species from around the world. From the adorable Eurasian Pygmy Owl, small enough to fit in your pocket, to the Great Gray Owl, celebrated for its size and elegance—these charming illustrations are sure to delight anyone intrigued by these wise and wonderful animals.


Available on Amazon.com and bookstores everywhere. 

Thank you to Blogging for Books for my review copy!

Instant Happy Journal (Review)

What an adorable little book! Perfect size, perfect design--yep--I'm in love with this little gem! There isn't a whole lot of writing space, but this isn't a regular journal. There is a page for each day with either an inspirational saying, a question, a writing prompt and more, and space to record your thoughts. There is a yellow silk ribbon marker, adding to the charm of the journal. This little book is a perfect gift, for a friend or for yourself!

5 out of 5 stars from me. Get one, or more! :)

More about the book from Amazon:

Brighten your day with this colorful journal from happiness expert Karen Salmansohn. Jam-packed with 365 “happiness prompters” including motivational quotes, scientific studies, and thought-provoking questions, this journal amps up your ability to notice (and create!) moments of joy and gratitude in your life—one day at a time.

368 pages. 


I received this book from Blogging for Books in return for my honest review. 

Our Man in Charleston (Britain's Secret Agent in the Civil War South)

This beautifully bound book will take you back to early Charleston, when the city, according to this author, was anything but beautiful: it was hot, dirty, disease-ridden, and reeking with the stench of slavery, and Robert Bunch called it "home" as he worked tirelessly to bring an end to one of the greatest evils ever known. 

I am ashamed to admit it, but I still don't know the truth of the origins of the Civil War. Was slavery really the root cause? According to this book, it was, and the attitudes and practices of the day were even more despicable than I knew.

I must admit that this book wasn't exactly what I had expected. I found it a little exhausting to read because there were so many names, places, and dates that I couldn't keep up. I felt like I was cramming for a history exam! Still, I did learn much about a critical time in our nation's history. As "mentally stretching" as it was to read, I felt myself drawn to it again and again. A more intellectual reader might enjoy it a lot more than I did. *sheepish smirk*  

4 out of 5 stars.

Available at Amazon.com.Amazon.com

I received this book from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review.

Hiding in the Light

                                 

I first heard of Rifqa Bary when a video clip of her interview with Pat Roberston (link below) came up in my daughter's newsfeed. My heart went out to her--I couldn't iamgine my faith costing me so much; couldn't imagine living in fear that my own father would put me to death. 

Rifqa tells her story with intense joy and hope, her deep faith shining through even the darkest moments. God is so real to her--you can feel it in every word. From the "Presence" she sensed as a small girl in Sri Lanka, through her her discovery of Jesus and her experience of meeting Christians, her conversion, her secret-keeping, escape, and the eventual court battle for her freedom and her very life, I was glued to every page. This book unlike so many autobiographies, is well written and intensely interesting. 

5 out of 5 stars.

Video: Rifqa Bary Interview

Facebook: Rifqa Bary's Author Page

More about Hiding in the Light:

“After four years of hiding my faith from my family, I knew that it was time. I wrote with shaky hands, ‘Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. I refuse to deny him….’ There was no turning back now. I had to get out of that house if I wanted to live. Was this worth risking everything for? Yes.”

Rifqa Bary grew up in a devout Muslim home, obediently following her parents’ orders to practice the rituals of Islam. But God was calling her to freedom and love. He was calling her to true faith. He was calling her to give up everything.

Leaving Islam for Christianity cost her more than she imagined

but gave more than she could have dreamed.

Hiding in the Light is the story of Rifqa’s remarkable spiritual journey from Islam to Christianity. It is also the untold story of how she ran from her father’s threats to find refuge with strangers in Florida, only to face a controversial court case that reached national headlines. Most of all, it is the story of a young girl who made life-changing sacrifices to follow Jesus—and who inspires us to do the same.

More about Rifqa Bary here.  

Thank you to Blogging for Books for my review copy.

Anything--The Prayer That Unlocked My God And My Soul

Have you ever asked yourself, "Is this it? Is this what God wanted when He called me to serve Him?" Have you ever wondered what would happen if you prayed, "Anything, God. I'll do anything"? I have. It's a scary thought, isn't it? But why?

Jennie Allen and her husband prayed this prayer. They committed everything, anything to God. Jennie writes about that process, their prayer, and the results in Anything, the Prayer that Unlocked My God and My Soul. 

Honestly, I believe that every christian will get to this place of surrender, not just a chosen few. What "anything" looks like, and the process involved, will be different for each individual, but the desire to give a God everything, to live completely submitted to Him, is the heartbeat of every true child of God. 

This book was a bit of a struggle for me. Here are my pros and cons:

Pros:

1. There are some really deep thoughts in here. Stuff like this:

        "We love our earth. We love our people. We love our stuff. We love our schedules. We          love our short lives here. And God is saying, Look up. This is going fast. Your life          here is barely a breath. There is more. Way more. 

        Time is almost gone. Our lives are spent well on Him and whatever stories He has              written for us. What are we really so afraid of losing? 

        Heaven feels far away, and we forget. But it is real...and it is coming."

2. Interesting stories are sprinkled throughout.

3. This book will convict you. 

5. The cover art is beautiful.  

6. Parts of this book were reminiscent of In His Steps

Cons:

1. There is no real flow. The writing seems disjointed and hard to follow. 

2. On page 30 depression, failed marriages, and fear are lumped in with sins. Maybe I misunderstood, but it didn't sit well with me. Here's the quote: "We have seen friends come out of hiding, confessing broken marriages, pornography addictions, depression, abuse, alcoholism, fear, even self righteousness, and they've been met with the restorative grace of God." 

3. Some of the terminology seemed to simplify God a bit, as if that could be done, and sounded a bit...irreverent? One statement even made Him sound nearly schizophrenic. 

4. On page 102, depression is once again mentioned in an almost accusatory tone, and I seemed to understand that, in her opinion, depression is one of the things that will weaken with full surrender to God. As someone who struggles with chronic depression, I can tell you that that isn't so. Not always, anyway. 

5. The book mentions "our glory". As in ours and God's. But we don't get any glory, and God doesn't want us to. It's all His. Always has been, always will be. 

6. On page 192: "God wants to go crazy through us." I'm not trying to nitpick...I'm really not...but it always bothers me when God is not spoken of with proper reverence. 

So there are more cons than pros for me, however, there is some important stuff here that people need to hear, so I do recommend this book with caution. 

3 out of 5 stars.

More about the book:

Book Description

What if you told God you would do anything . . . and he took you up on it?

In the years since the initial release of Anything, God continued to stretch Jennie Allen and her faith because of the courageous prayer of surrender that she and her husband, Zac, prayed, "God, we will do anything. Anything." Previously caught in the dizzying haze of worldly happiness and empty pursuits, Jennie went on to begin living out the adventure God had written for them-to include becoming the founder of IF: Gathering, an organization to gather, equip, and unleash the next generation to live out their purpose.

Anything is a prayer of surrender that will spark something. A prayer that will move you to stop chasing things that just make you feel happy and start living a surrendered life that matters.

This newly revised edition is updated throughout to include a new introduction and an in-depth Bible study component for those who have been wanting to lead a study on this topic.

Join Jennie on an adventure to discover your anything, those things that actually mean nothing until you know the God truly worth giving it all up for. And when you do, that will change everything.

About the Author

Jennie Allen is a passionate leader following God's call on her life to catalyze this generation to live what they believe. She is the author of Restless and the Bible studies Stuck and Chase, and is the founder and visionary of IF: Gathering. Jennie is married to her best friend, Zac, and they have been blessed with four children.

Thank you to BookLook Bloggers for giving me this book in exchange for my honest review. 

Time to Choose by Dawn Kazmierzak and Hilda Gutwein

From the early, mostly idyllic days of her childhood through the tumultuous years of World War 2 and on throughout her eventful life as an American immigrant, Hilda Gutwein (through Dawn Kazmierzak) "connects the dots" of God's faithfulness in everything. More than just a memoir, A Time to Choose is both an admonition to learn from the atrocities and hardships of the past, and be vigilant lest they happen again. 

Hilda's story gives a perspective on World War 2 from a different point of view than is usually given, including that of her being member of a Hitler Youth.

At the end of each chapter is a "Time to Choose" with questions and points to ponder, covering everything from family life to forgiveness. 

This book is engaging and timely. I give it 4 out of 5 stars. 

Book Description from the website:

Hilda Gutwein grew up in a warzone —the Balkan States. Hilda’s family lived under socialism, communism, and Hitler’s Third Reich. Eventually, they were caught between two totalitarian forms of government, and had to make a choice—stay and defend their homeland or leave everything behind.Dawn Kazmierzak, Hilda’s daughter, shares her mother’s incredible story of faith including “Connecting the Dots” sections for equipping those who recognize it is now, every family’s Time to Choose.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Capture the Moment

I love photography--have since I was a little girl--but it was only in the last 5-6 years that I began to study it, and probably only in the past 2-3 that I got serious about it. Since I'm not able to take an actual photography course, I'm teaching myself. I especially appreciate clear, simple instructions, and that is exactly what I found in Capture the Moment.  It's practical, concise, and simply beautiful! 

Sections are organized according to topic and contain tips and gorgeous images, as well as the specs of each image, from contributing photographers. Creative exercises at the end of each chapter encourage you to try out the concepts explained, stretch your limits, and attempt new things. The photographer's reference at the end of the book defines terms that may be unfamiliar, and is especially helpful to beginning photographers. 

Capture the Moment is also beautifully bound. It's a book that you will want to show off on your coffee table. 

I am thrilled to own this valuable resource, and I highly recommend it. 

Capture the Moment gets 5 out of 5 starts from me.

Read more about the book here.

Read more about Sarah Wilkerson here.

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Undone, A Memoir by Michele Cushatt

We all dream of picture perfect, idyllic lives, don't we? We don't like unpleasant surprises. We don't like to feel like we're not in control. So, what do we do when the picture isn't pretty? When idyllic is just a nice-sounding word, and nothing more? When our lives are undone, how do we deal with it? 

In Undone, a Memoir Michele Cushatt gives a raw, honest account of her life shattering divorce, a crushing diagnosis of cancer, and her struggles as the mother of a "blended" family. This memoir, which could have been depressing and heavy, was refreshingly humorous and hopeful. Though my life is very different from Michele's, I can relate to many of the emotional battles of which she writes. (I was a little amused at the casual mention of going to the Caribbean for a rest--I mean, that's something most of us can only dream of! But, maybe I'm just envious of that part. Yeah, that's it. ;)) 

I winced inwardly as I read of her surgeries and pain, sympathized as she struggled through her sons' difficult teen years, empathized as she related her marital struggles, and felt deep admiration when I read how she and her husband took on the responsibility of three small children. I appreciated the realness of this book and the fact that the author didn't spin anything to make her look saintly or superhuman; instead, she was open about her faults and imperfections, and faithful to tell how God came through for her again and again, even though He didn't do it in the ways she thought He should. 

Michele's writing style and the humor sprinkled throughout mad this an enjoyable, easy read. Oh, and I love the cover art!  I highly recommend this book, and give it 4 out of 5 stars. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

No More Dragons by Jim Burgen (Book Review)

I remember listening to The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by Focus on the Family's Radio Theatre and loving the part about Eustace being freed by Aslan. It's a terrible, beautiful, painful, wonderful way of drawing a picture of something we can all relate to: We either are dragons, are chasing dragons, being chased by dragons, or have been undragoned. According to Jim Burgen, "undragoned" is a word. And I get it. You will too, if you read this book.

In No More Dragons Jim Burgen, lead pastor of Flatirons Community Church in Boulder County, Colorado,  tells his story of being undragoned and offers hope to others who still need to be freed. He is very direct, even startling at times, and I was a little taken aback by some of his bluntness and choice of words, however, he deals with tough subjects like depression, lost faith, and church problems with a Biblical perspective and manages to relate to his readers in a real and personal way. The section of the book about the balance that must exist between Truth and Grace was phenomenal. So much of this book is quotable, but I do think that part is the best.

I love Jim Burgen's sense of humor and direct, keep-it-plain-and-simple style. I had only read this book for about five to ten minutes and I was laughing like crazy and saying, "Yes! I totally get it! That's hysterical!"

While I did not completely agree with everything in the book, I found it eye-opening and full of hope. I recommend it!

P.S. The awesome book cover may or may not have influenced my decision to review this book. ;)

Read more about No More Dragons here:

Book Description

Becoming a dragon is a dangerously subtle process.

You make a long chain of bad choices. The chain gradually wraps around you. Layer by layer, it begins to take on the aspect of scales. One day you glance at yourself in the mirror and a monster is staring back at you. You aren't who you used to be. You aren't who you want to be. You're not who you were created and designed to be. Instead, you're a dragon.

When Jim Burgen was nineteen years old, he realized how easy it had been to become a dragon. He knew he didn't want to be one anymore . . . but how? No More Dragons is the story of our common, hopeful journey from dragonhood back to personhood.

As Pastor Burgen narrates the remarkable process of reclaiming himself from himself, he implores modern church goers to shake off the trivialities of churchiness in favor of the substantive questions that make a spiritual transformation:

"Is Jesus the only one who can undragon people?"

"Why don't I like most churches?"

"Where is God in difficult times?"

"How do you shed decades of gnarly scales?"

Some choices will lead you to a better life. Some will kill you. Some choices will add a new layer of scales to your dragon, and some will slough them off. No More Dragons is about asking Christ to deliver you and learning how to obey him.

Thanks for reading!

Jessica

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”