The Good Life

 Kids' Quest Study Bible by Zondervan was just the Bible I was looking for to get my 3 boys. My 5 year old really likes the questions and I was very happy with the biblically sound advice the publishers put together. Each chapter begins with information about the book and I really liked being able to give my guys context for what we were reading. The colors and drawings make the Bible visually appealing and engaging for elementary age children.  I highly recommend this Bible for 4-10 year olds. It's a great way to help your children learn to love God's Word. The questions in the Bible open up great avenues for a deeper conversation. I received this book for free from BookLook Bloggers. My opinions are my own. 

Colors of Goodbye was a remarkable read. While I have never personally been through such a loss like the author and her family, this book was very inspiring and heart wrenching all at once. September Vaudrey tells with beautiful words and imagery the story of her daughter. She is an incredible writer and her words are genuine and real, but also kind and encouraging. If you have a friend or family member going through the death of a child or family member, please get them this book. Her story is told with stark honesty but holding to the truth that God is good and He loves us. I can't recommend this book enough! I bawled my eyes out, laughed, and went away encourage by the faith of a family that experienced immense loss and still loves Jesus. I received this book for free from Tyndale Blog Network. 

The 9 Arts of Spiritual Conversations was just the book I was looking for! The authors made the book such an easy read. It felt like you were sitting in a coffee shop talking about relational evangelism and not just reading a book about it. The 9 Arts really fills a needed gap in Christian books today. We have so much talk about evangelism, but how do you really do it? And how do you share your faith in a genuine and real way, not just handing someone a tract. If you have wanted to learn how to better share your faith in the context of relationship, please pick this book up! You won't be disappointed. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to grow in the practical development of their spiritual conversations they have with people. I received this book for free from Tyndale Blog Network. My opinions are my own. 

I love a good memoir and Saving My Assassin was incredible! You will not be able to put down this true story of one brave woman's stand for Christ. I won't give away too much because you will want to read this for yourself, but read the story of Virginia Prodan, a lawyer from Romania, who says yes to Jesus despite strong pushback. Saving My Assassin will inspire you and remind you of just how great a God we serve. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to be encouraged in their faith. You will not be able to put it down!  I received this book for free from the publisher. My opinions are my own. 

Black and White Bible, Black and Blue Wife is a very eye opening and much needed read. Ruth Tuckers shares her very heart wrenching story of abuse and cautions Christians to carefully consider what the Bible says about submission. I think it is a very needed read because abuse in Christian marriages is a very true and sad reality. I did not agree with all of her points on Complementarianism or egalitarianism but still felt the book was a fresh perspective on a very important topic.  

Drema Hall Berheimer's moving and funny account of her childhood in West Virginia is the perfect read for a lazy Saturday. She weaves her stories and draws you in until you don't want to put the book down. Journey with her through her sometimes painful, always authentic, and hilariously accurate account of life as a young girl growing up in Appalachia in a Pentecostal household.  I love how the chapters are fairly short, but packed full of great narrative. The author does an amazing job of making you feel like you are right there in the middle of the story.  Memoirs are my favorite genre and this one does not disappoint! I highly recommend it. This book was provided to me for free by BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review. 

The Gentle Art of Discipling Women is a wonderful resource! It is readable, relatable, and full of Godly wisdom on how to love and disciple women towards a more Christlike life. I really liked Dana Yeakley's style of writing and her open and genuine way of sharing about herself, including successes  and failures.  I especially appreciated the first section of the book, which is a great heart check for anyone desiring to disciple other women. I appreciated the time to be able to examine my own heart, motives, and thoughts before I attempted to lead other women.  The rest of the book was a wonderful balance of how-to and real stories. I felt encouraged and empowered to disciple other women and how to be discipled myself. I highly recommend this book to women's ministry leaders, Christian counselors, and everyday women wanting to help others grow in their relationship with Christ. I received this book for free from Tyndale Publishers in exchange for my honest opinio

Randy Alcorn does it again! I just love his style of writing and the content of his books. I couldn't put down "Heaven" and knew I needed to read "Happiness." Just as I expected, my paradigm was totally shifted again. So often in the Christian life, we form beliefs from something we hear and assume it's Biblical and true. I had so many pre-conceived notions about Heaven and knew after reading Alcorn's book on it, I would be forever changed. The same was true of "Happiness." Many times we can go around with guilt over feeling like God wants us to be holy, not happy. Acorn flips this idea on it's head and not only shows through skillful, engaging writing but also with solid Scriptural references. Don't get bogged down by the length, just read and enjoy as you go.  I highly recommend this book to anyone who might need a fresh dose of grace! Be encouraged fellow believers and be happy in Christ :) I received this book for free from Ty

Wow! I was not able to put down Dangerous Love. It is a riveting, heartbreaking, faith inspiring true story about a father and daughter who must face the unthinkable:  forgiveness in the face of no remorse. Ray and his daughter Hannah show true love that only comes from faith in Christ. Living in Mauritania as World Relief workers, they see the good, the bad, and the ugly of cross cultural living. Throughout the whole book, you are amazed at their faith and the love they show. I highly recommend this book to anyone who would like to see their faith in God restored. It's such an uplifting and incredible reminder of how God's love for us is like Ray and Hannah and their family's love shown to their attacker. Completely undeserved...but what an amazing God we serve who not only showed us this love but enables us to shower others with it, too. A must read!! 

Robby Dawkins is the real deal! He was my pastor in Aurora and he is the same in person as he is in his writing. He is passionate, kind, seeking to glorify Christ through his actions, words, and prayers. When you read this book, you will be very encouraged and Robby helps open your eyes to the enemy's plan to derail your desire to know and serve the Lord. Identity Thief reads like part memoir and part training manual. You will not want to put it down! The stories are so engaging and what Robby has to say is spot on. I recommend this book to all believers and buy an extra copy to give to a friend. I received this book for free from Bethany House Publisher in exchange for an honest review.