“I encourage you to seek God first in His Word through prayer. Stay connected to Him on a daily basis.  Then go about your business.  And as you are going, watch.  Train your eyes to b alert for God at work.  Then listen for His whispers.”   So advises Marilynn Chadwick in her new release, “Sometimes He Whispers, Sometimes He Roars.”

Chadwick’s book is one of the best contemporary books on intercessory prayer I’ve read in a very long time.  Beginning with her testimony of how she became a prayer warrior following 9-11, Chadwick takes readers on a journey that will change their prayer lives forever.  Using simple and practical guidelines, she demonstrates the importance of prayer, the easiest ways to incorporate prayer into your daily life and the amazing results of answered prayer.

Not only does she teach us how to hear God’s voice, Chadwick also shows how the response to God and heeding what He says can lead to incredible opportunities to build your faith.  Also included in the book is a 21-Day Prayer Experiment, an 8-week Leader’s Study Guide, a special A-List of Prayer Lifeline Scriptures and an exhaustive list of resources for those who want to go even deeper.

The 21-Day Prayer Experiment is an opportunity to learn how powerful and awesome God is and prove that you can be the answer to someone else’s prayer.

Marilynn Chadwick is the cofounder and principal speaker of Women Under Construction, an outreach of Forest Hill Church and founded Seeds of Hope, a non-proift that provides education for kids with big dreams but limited resources.

“When you start praying for God to burden your heart for people that are on His heart, it’s rather like asking Him to give you a drink from a fire hose.  Amazing things begin to happen.”

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Simon & Schuster as part of their Book Review Blogger 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: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

“In How to Be a Best Friend Forever: Making and Keeping Lifetime Relationships (Jan. 2012, Worthy Publishing), clinical psychologist and bestselling author Dr. John Townsend shows us the sustaining strength of forever friendships, helps us break through barriers, and reveals eight vital skills necessary for building long-term, rewarding friendships.

The book covers things like:

• The anatomy of a B.F.F. and 3 must-have qualities
• How to find and keep a BFF
• Learning to connect deeply in a friendship
• The trouble with family or spousal BFFs
• Does Facebook make friendships better?”

In modern times, the word “friend” has taken on a variety of meanings.  With Facebook and Twitter, friends can be anything from vague acquaintances to people who truly are our BFFs.  With the growth of digital technology it’s getting harder and harder to maintain quality in our relationships.

Dr. Townsend believes we thrive on quality friendships and that these friendships bring tremendous joy into our lives.  In his book, Dr. Townsend shows you how to build relationships that will last using research and stories from his own experiences and provides eight skills necessary to build long-lasting, rewarding friendships.

Much of what Dr. Townsend offers in his book are tools we should already and probably do know. The book is an easy read and one probably best read by teenagers and young adults or those who have found it difficult to maintain quality friendships.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Worthy Publishing as part of their Book Review Blogger 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: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Lots of people struggle with their weight and never understand why.  Could it possibly be because pastors are uncomfortable preaching about gluttony and overeating?  Maybe it’s because every church activity is either followed or preceded by feasting.  Lots of books, both secular and Christian, discuss fitness and exercise offering diet advice and recipes but often fail to address the root cause.  In “Every Body Matters”, Gary Thomas blames our self-centered society on fooling us into believing that we aren’t hurting anyone with our poor eating and exercise habits.

Thomas forces us to confront our bad habits and convicts us into seeing our overeating as selfish and sinful.  When we change our habits to include exercise and better food choices we are better able to serve where God has called us.  If our bodies are suffering due to poor eating and exercise habits, then our souls will also suffer.

Thomas challenges us to face or overeating and lazy exercise habits and make drastic changes so we can be better servants for God.  By confronting the real reason why we are overweight we can make positive changes in our life which will help us lose pounds and maintain a healthy weight.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Zondervan as part of the “Every Body Matters” Blog Tour. 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: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

 

Dan Schaeffer tackles one of the most difficult topics facing the church today.  Many people are leaving the church.  Not their faith. But the church itself.  Why? Because they are tired of going through the motions—removing the joy from worship.

Have you been there? Are you there now?  Is there a solution?  In “Faking Church,” Schaeffer identifies the problem, assesses the causes and offers a solution, but in the process he forces you to take an honest self-evaluation.  You will have to be honest and truthful with yourself and others if you expect to receive a breakthrough.

It’s easy to get disenchanted with church when you make it all about you, but when you decide to make it all about God church can become for you what God created it to be.  The author does not offer the solution of just walking away from the church but finding a way to gracefully walk back in.

(Note:  I wrote this review because I liked the book; however, the book is only available in limited quantities from the author at www.danschaeffer.com or as a used book from Amazon.com. )

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free.  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: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

 

Four years ago, Susan Gregory launched “The Daniel Fast” blog because others were curious about how to have a successful fasting experience.  Later, she put all of her information into a book and recently an expanded version has been published which includes the book, recipes and a 21-day devotional.

“The Daniel Fast” is based on the diet in the book of Daniel and is an experience for your whole person:  body, soul and spirit.  According to Gregory, “sometimes you are so hungry, the only way to be fed is to fast.”  The one thing that Gregory is adamant about is that fasting is always about food.  The very definition is “to restrict food for a spiritual purpose.”  The Daniel Fast is a partial fast in which certain foods are restricted.  It has become a very popular form of fasting and is based on Jewish fasting principles.

If you are hungry for more of God in your life and want to discover the discipline of fasting, Gregory’s book will show you the steps and provide recipes for you to try.  It is exhaustive and informative and will help you through your 21-day journey.  Having all of the information you need in one place will help you succeed and encounter God in a new and amazing way.

For more information, click here to visit Gregory’s website.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Tyndale House, as part of their Book Review Blogger 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: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Words are everywhere.  They describe us. They define us.  God created the world with three of them, “Let there be…”  Without words, how would we communicate with others?  Debbie Macomber, in her book “One Perfect Word”, shares how she began choosing one word to focus on throughout the year and the journey it has led her on.  She discovered that when she decided to choose one word for the year that God took part in that choosing.

Using her journal, she shares her experiences over the past 20 years with the words she has chosen and shares her thoughts and prayers.  She has been able to look back and see how that word was perfect for what she was going through and growing toward.  She was also able to look back and see how only God could have chosen that word for her.

 

Over the past several years, I have read blogs by others who have done the same thing choosing words such as “intentional,”  “purpose,” and “passion.”  Some have even chosen words like “organized” and “focus.”  The main ingredient to choose your word to focus on is prayer and listening to God’s Words.  “One Perfect Word” is an incredible reminder of our journey with God and a look into His wisdom and love for us.  Not only has He chosen us to live in relationship with Him, He has also chosen our path.

Macomber shares her heart and opens up about the difficulties in her life and how one perfect word from the Father changed her life in ways she never thought possible even before she could realize it.  Spending a year with one Word perfectly chosen will teach you about yourself and God Himself.

This year I have chosen “perseverance”.  I would love to hear what word you are going to focus on this year.  Please leave me a comment and let me know.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Howard Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc., as part of their Book Review Blogger 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: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Combining the best of English literature with the timeless truths of God’s Word, Thomas Nelson is offering a unique approach to your quiet time through its new devotional series.  Two new devotionals were released this month.  “A Charles Dickens Devotional” an “A Jane Austin Devotional” both contain more than 100 devotions and scripture selections based on excerpts from their works which remind us of the importance of prayer, the use of faith to deal with our fears, unconditional love and forgiveness along with many other inspirational thoughts.

Combining timeless fiction with the eternal truth of God’s Word is both unique and thought-provoking.  These two beloved authors shared a wealth of Christian themes which are covered in these two devotionals.  A thoughtful gift or a treat for yourself, you will love how these devotionals offer a refreshing look at scripture and truth.  From Dickens’ “The Old Curiosity Shop” and Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice,” you will appreciate this unique approach to quiet time.  The book covers alone will inspire you to open and read them.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from PR By The Book, as part of their book blogger 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: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Kimberly Daniels challenges you to look at everything you do and everything you invite into your home through the media, ideas, material items and even friendships in her book .  God has told Christians not to be unequally yoked and to be in the world but not of the world.  Daniels wrote “Spiritual Housekeeping” to present guidelines for us to follow in order to rid our homes of satanic influences and understand our spiritual authority.

Her keys to defeating the devil and putting your spiritual house in order include avoiding compromise and ungodly tolerance and being able to discern between what is holy and what isn’t.  In today’s world it’s very easy to innocently allow in ungodly influences especially with television and the internet.   Our children are watching shows that promote religious ideology unheard of when we were growing up.  We are seeing more sex and violence than ever on television and in movies (even Disney movies). It is time we became the gatekeepers of our homes by sweeping up and uncluttering our homes of evil.  If you are unaware of what you have invited into your home, pray and ask God to show you what you are missing and what needs to be done.

Read Daniels’ book.  As a sought-after conference speaker, preacher and powerful prayer warrior, she is able to show you how to rid your life of satanic oppression and live the life God has called you to live.

Click here to read a sample chapter.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Charisma House, a Strang Company, as part of their Book Review Blogger 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: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

 

Abby Lewis is a massage therapist who changed the course of her life through the simple act of being still before the Lord even in the midst of the chaos of anxiety, depression, addition, physical pain and broken relationships.  Her goal in writing “Blossoming Out of the Valley” is to bring this amazing transformation of body, mind and spirit to others.

Honestly sharing her journey from brokenness to wholeness through prayer, meditation and being still before God, Lewis believes that expensive therapy and medication can be avoided by following the simple steps in her book.  She is living proof that wholeness is possible by turning to God.

Lewis hit rock bottom before finding the peace and clarity being still before God brought to her life.  The book is divided into four parts:  spirit, mind, body and freedom.  Each part is devoted to how to bring healing to each area with the section on freedom discussing what needs to be done to experience true freedom to live a healthy life.

Click here to visit her website to read and learn more about Blossoming Out of the Valley.  She also offers a CD called “A Breath~in Stillness” designed to assist you in establishing a life of peace and stillness.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from  the author. 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: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Shay Brandenberger, a divorced mom, is trying to raise a daughter and maintain her parents’ ranch while hiding behind the hurt and embarrassment of the past.  Her first love, Travis McCoy, left her on the courthouse steps to a fast and free life on the rodeo circuit.  Now, he’s back in Moose Creek.  Shay agreed to portray the bride in a wedding reenactment not knowing that Travis has been asked to play the groom.  After the preacher accidentally sends in their old marriage license, they discover that the marriage was real.  Travis wants to win her back, but Shay is stubborn and resistant not wanting to be hurt again.

Denise Hunter’s “The Accidental Bride” is more than just a romantic story of two people destined for each other.  The story is about what happens when we live our lives based on what others think.  Shay was full of pride and shame over her past that she was hindered from forging into the future.  Thinking only of herself, she forgot that the only One she had to please was God.  Seeking God’s will for her life meant forgetting about what others were thinking and saying about her.

Hunter’s goal of bringing readers to an awareness of how simple life can be when we please God rather than man is successfully achieved in this romantic story of a man trying to win back the trust of the only woman he’s ever loved and the woman trying desperately to save her heart by rejecting his.

“The Accidental Bride” releases Tuesday, January 3, 2012.  A great weekend read, you will enjoy Hunter’s characters and story.  Hopefully, you will discover the grand adventure of following God rather than listening to the prattle of man.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from The B&B Media Group, Inc., as part of their Book Review Blogger 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: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”