The Lion Cubs by Chrissy M. Dennis

I was priviledged to be asked to read and review The Lion Cubs by Chrissy M. Dennis, the 2011 Winner of the Word Alive Press 2011 Free Publishing Contest in the Fiction Category.

The back cover intrigues with the following teaser:

15-year-old loner, Lexi Vogan, has had enough: four foster families in two years is enough to make anybody run away! Alone in the world, she flees to Jacksonville where a group of runaway teens live in abandoned tunnels hidden below the city. It seems like the perfect place for a forgotten face.

Liz Swavier, 36, became a widow two years ago when her husband succumbed to cancer, but she’s doing okay, at least that’s what she tells herself. Working long hours as a doctor in the ER department, Liz's friends and family grow concerned that she’s hurled herself into work to numb her grief.

Then, on a typical Friday afternoon, an appointment with Divine intervention causes these two very different lives to collide beginning a journey towards restoration that only an all-knowing, loving God could weave together.

My heart and mind were engaged from the start as Dennis had me slipping in and out of the lives of her two central characters.  I flipped page after page, not wanting to put the story aside.

Just as He does in real life, God was shown to weave threads together, working things out in ways that only He is able.

If you have a heart for homeless youth, or a heart for hurting women, or simply a heart that beats with the things that move God, this is a novel you shouldn't miss.

Book has been provided courtesy of Word Alive Press and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available now from your favourite bookseller.

The opinions I have expressed are my own.

For information about the 2012 Contest click here

 

You're Already Amazing - Holley Gerth

When Holley Gerth's You're Already Amazing: Embracing Who You Are, Becoming All God Created You to Be became available I knew I was supposed to read it, certain that God would have something for me between the covers of this new book.

I admit that I'm like most other women I have met.  We never quite believe we measure up, never think we're good enough.  Holly's work here points the way to the truth of how God sees us, a reminder we all need.

What God wants most of all is you.  Just as you are.  Then he'll show you how he wants to use your life to partner with him in fulfilling his purposes.  It won't be a burden, but instead a glorious adventure - with plenty of room for mistakes, growth, and joy along the way.

This is more than mere preaching, more than just words on pages.  Holly offers exercises that help us focus our thoughts and discover what we believe about ourselves and our place in the life God created for us.

Dare to embrace who you are.  Dare to do those weird things you do.  Dare to trust God's whispers into your life more than the demands of the world around you about the "right way." You have the Holy Spirit within you, and he will show you what you need to change in a way that's gentle, life giving, and affirming.

When I first began reading, I was a bit skeptical. I do not like the "self-help" genre. I was happily surprised to find that this volume will not fit into that category, for it is indeed a "God-help" book, reminding all who read that He can do for us what we can not do for ourselves.

I can't think of any woman I know who would not benefit from a journey through this book!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

The opinions I have expressed are my own. 

Stuck - dvd based study by Jennie Allen

When Stuck was first released I received a sampler version of the book and dvd to review. This was my review of the little bite I received:

As I clicked the play button I was quickly set at ease by the soft music and the tone of Jennie's voice as she humbly presented herself as a woman just like the rest of us, broken, unsure and tired of hiding her "stuff" from those around her. In the introduction Jennie writes:

So my prayer is this study will be a safe place to explore God and your own heart. The state of our hearts and what we believe about God are the two most important things about us.

This study is intended to be shared in small groups that create a safe place for women to openly share the things they may have been hiding for years and allow God to begin to bring healing and wholeness to those places inside that are broken.

The workbook provides opportunities to dig deeper into scripture, pray, spend time pondering with the Lord, even draw pictures.

I feel as if I have been given an appetizer and it has indeed made me hungry for the rest of the meal. I need this study and suspect that most of the women I know need it as well. My mind is busy churning the idea of hosting a small group at my home, seeing a vision of freedom as we break through and become un-stuck!

Thomas Nelson soon made available a limited number of the complete study and my idea of a home study became a reality. The study kit includes:

• 8 sessions on DVD
• Study Guide with story-driven teaching, Scripture study, and short five-day-per-week lessons
• Leader’s Guide for facilitating group study
• Conversation cards help to facilitate more spontaneous and authentic conversation
• Promotional resources for churchwide campaign

I am happy to tell you that this study is practical and easy to use. The leader’s guide supplies valuable tips and the box of questions fit into the lessons well and provide great openings for honest sharing.

One of the most valuable tips was to bathe the entire study in prayer.

 

I look forward to using this tool again with other groups of women and celebrating again the joy of freedom as God helps them become “un-stuck”.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 

 

 

The Resolution for Men by S. & A. Kendrick

The third and last book I read related to the movie Courageous is The Resolution for Men by Stephen and Alex Kendrick with Randy Alcorn.

This is indeed a book by men, for men and about men, but because I love my husband and want the very best in life for him I felt I could glean important information within the covers of this book.  I was not disappointed.

The first page, even before the introduction, begins with the following words:

Weak men will not be able to handle the contents of this book.

Wow!  I pray that statement challenges men to dive in, for there is much to be digested here.

Each chapter concerns a different resolution, written with direct and specific approaches to confronting sin.  I cannot imagine anyone being able to read without feeling the power of God stirring in their spirit.

There is also a great wealth of information in the nine appendices, from finding peace with God, to forming accountability groups and avoiding pornography.  There are also discussion questions that can be used alone or with a group.

My husband read through this quickly and with great hunger and said he wants to begin again, working through it slowly this time. allowing God to work changes through the pages.

If you are a man, you need to read this book.  If you are a woman, this will help you understand God's plans for the men in your life.

Book has been provided courtesy of David C Cook and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from B&H Publishing Group.

The opinions I have expressed are my own.


 

The Resolution for Women by Priscilla Shirer

My next plunge into books related to the film Courageous was The Resolution for Women by Priscilla Shirer.  The three sections of the book ask you to explore and understand the following:

This is who I am.
This is what I have.
This is what matters to me.

There is something here for every woman, married or single; childless or raising many.  As Priscilla explains, God had a special reason for creating each one of us.

We were each created by God to do our part.  And if we fail to do it because we don't think it's valuable enough, great loss will be suffered.  Someone, somewhere needs you - in all your uniqueness - to step up to the plate of your calling.

Your creation was supernaturally superintended by Almighty God.  You are extraordinarily significant.

We need to know and understand the person God created us to be and learn to accept her.

Many of us spend so much of our lives wishing or pretending we were somebody different from who we are, we never get to experience the sheer freedom of just being ourselves.

But rediscovering and celebrating the you that God originally created is paramount for any woman who desires to live out her primary purpose.

Priscilla's words helped me move ahead in my journey to be the person God desires me to be, not necessarily who the world asks me to be, not even who I might have chosen for myself to become.

If you want to live with integrity, with purpose and with grace leaving a Godly legacy for others to follow, then this book will surely help you as you move toward those goals.

Book has been provided courtesy of David C Cook and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from B&H Publishing Group.

The opinions I have expressed are my own.

 

Grace for the Good Girl by Emily P. Freeman

I have been a regular reader of Emily Freeman’s blog Chatting at the Sky and was an active participant in her online community gathering Tuesdays Unwrapped where we took the time to explore the gifts God was placing in our lives. Emily’s new book Grace for the Good Girl letting go of the try-hard life is surely one of those gifts.

The back cover intrigues with:

You're strong. You're responsible. You're good. But . . .

. . . as day fades to dusk, you begin to feel the familiar fog of anxiety, the weight and pressure of holding it together and of longing left unmet. Good girls sometimes feel that the Christian life means doing hard work with a sweet disposition. We tend to focus only on the things we can handle, our disciplined lives, and our unshakable good moods.

But what would happen if we let grace pour out boundless acceptance into our worn-out hearts and undo us? If we dared to talk about the ways we hide, our longing to be known, and the fear in the knowing?

I wasn’t sure I thought of myself as a “good girl” for I am one of those that Emily writes about who spent a lifetime of turning-away before I allowed the Lord to own my heart. Yet as I moved through page after page I did indeed find myself within her words.

If the masks we wear are the false identities we show the world, then our performance is the rubber band that holds them in place. I perform so you will like me. I perform so you will think I’m okay. I perform because it’s comfortable. I perform to prove my worth to you, to God, and to myself. I perform because I don’t know how not to. Page 24

There is hope, there is One Who desires to rescue us from our “good life” and allow us to live a life dependent on Him.

The Jesus dependent life is not a balance between a little bit of law and a little bit of grace. Be sure not to tip too far to one side! That’s the problem: we can’t figure how to keep the scale balanced all the time. The true gospel says we don’t have to. Page 74

Jesus came to save me from myself. He came to save me from self-effort. He didn’t just die for my sin to give me forgiveness; he rose again to give me life. And so he beckons me, “Come.” Page 124

There is freedom in the pages of this book. You will find yourself and find the One Who longs to lavish His grace upon you, and if you want to share the good news with others, there is a small group study included.

Don’t miss the chance to learn more about His great love. Don’t miss this book!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

The opinions I have expressed are my own.

 

Stuck by Jennie Allen

When Graf-Martin Communications approached me with the opportunity to review the new DVD-based Bible study Stuck the places we get stuck & the God who sets us free by Jennie Allen, I couldn't say "yes" fast enough. I was intrigued by what the publisher shared:

We are often so stuck in invisible struggles in our hearts and minds, we barely have space for God. These deep struggles, these stuck places, are familiar to every one of us: brokenness, anger, discontentment, fear, and sadness. Stuck takes on these struggles within us so that we can encounter God. Because until we recognize that we are stuck and in need of God, we will miss what He has for us.

Jennie Allen's Bible studies are designed to draw women close to God and to each other. These shorter studies dig deep quickly, creating experiential conversations and allowing women to wrestle with Scripture in a deep and authentic way throughout the week.

I received a sampler version of the book and a dvd containing small samples from each of the eight sessions.

As I clicked the play button I was quickly set at ease by the soft music and the tone of Jennie's voice as she humbly presented herself as a woman just like the rest of us, broken, unsure and tired of hiding her "stuff" from those around her.  In the introduction Jennie writes:

So my prayer is this study will be a safe place to explore God and your own heart.  The state of our hearts and what we believe about God are the two most important things about us.

This study is intended to be shared in small groups that create a safe place for women to openly share the things they may have been hiding for years and allow God to begin to bring healing and wholeness to those places inside that are broken.

The workbook provides opportunities to dig deeper into scripture, pray, spend time pondering with the Lord, even draw pictures.

I feel as if I have been given an appetizer and it has indeed made me hungry for the rest of the meal.  I need this study and suspect that most of the women I know need it as well.  My mind is busy churning the idea of hosting a small group at my home, seeing a vision of freedom as we break through and become un-stuck!

I received a complimentary sample study from Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.

The Me Project by Kathi Lipp Blog Tour

The Blog Tour for Kathi Lipp's The Me Project 21 Days to Living the Life You've Always Wanted is stopping right here in my own living room! This is what Harvest House Publishers say about this new book:

Most women in the midst of careers, marriage, raising children, and caring for parents set their personal goals aside. The Me Project provides women with fun and creative ways to bring back the sense of purpose and vitality that comes with living out the plans and dreams God has planted in their hearts. Kathi Lipp’s warm tone and laugh-out-loud humor will motivate women to take daily steps toward bringing purpose back into their lives and give them the confidence they can do it in spite of busy schedules.

A woman who reads and applies The Me Project will:

•discover the unique plan God has for her life and her role as a wife, mother, worker, or volunteer

•gather a community of like-minded women who want to make their goals a priority

•change her attitudes toward her roles in life, as well as how she approaches her personal goals

This handy guide coaches women to do one simple thing toward achieving their goals each day for three weeks, bringing a sense of vitality and exhilaration back into their lives.

I look forward to working my way through these pages allowing the Holy Spirit to lead me in the ways He desires me to go, making His dreams come to bear fruit in my life.

Kathi Lipp is a busy conference and retreat speaker, currently speaking each year to thousands of women throughout the United States. She is the author of The Husband Project and The Marriage Project and has had articles published in several magazines, including Today’s Christian Woman and Discipleship Journal. Kathi and her husband, Roger, live in California and are the parents of four teenagers and young adults.  You can visit her website HERE

Half the Church - Carolyn Custis James

I have recently completed reading the words of Carolyn Custis James in her new book Half The Church - Recovering God's Global Vision for Women.

I agreed to read and review this book for Zondervan with some trepidation, for indeed the debate about women and the church rages hot, as the author explains:

Since the late twentieth century two polarized groups - complementarian and egalitarians - have defined the evangelical landscape for women, particularly in the West.  The debate between the two groups creates a fault line that runs straight through the body of Christ.  Evangelical churches, denominations, and individuals have taken sides.  It is a cause of profound division among us.

Instead of taking one side or the other, James attempts to present a complete overview of the issue.  What most connected with my spirit was her cry for those so often forgotten in the debate, women from outside our Western world.

Bringing these women into this discussion changes everything.  In our culture, the church has tended to concentrate on a tiny segment of the female population - a narrow, prosperous, protected, well-educated female demographic located in the comfortable midsection of human society.  The prosperity we enjoy shapes both the questions we ask and the answers we embrace.  And we - both the women who are asking and the Christian leaders who are defining the answers - are clueless that this is happening.  We can ask questions like, "Do I plan to use my college degree or set it aside?" and "Should I be a stay-at-home mom, or work outside the home?"  But for the rest of the world, these questions are unimaginable luxuries.  For them, education is a lifeline that promises a better life for a woman and her children and will doubtless benefit her community.

Working outside the home is not an option where grinding povery exists and there are hungry mouths to feed.  Everybody works.  Our cloistered discussions about God's purposes for women and the resulting infighting that ensues among us leave women elsewhere in the world scratching thier heads.

No matter what side you may find yourself on today, you can find insight and truth in James exploration.  You may find that God moves your heart in ways aligned with the beating of His own, and that, indeed, makes the investment much more than worthwhile.

I received this book free from Zondervan. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Find Your Strongest Life: What the Happiest and Most Successful Women Do Differently by Marcus Buckingham

Women are hungry to live lives that are satisfying, meaningful and purpose driven. We have more choices than any other time in history, yet statistics show a decline in happiness. Many women have bought into the myth that they could and should “have it all” and that belief led them down a path of disillusionment.

Using carefully structured questions called The Strong Life Test, (available online) Marcus Buckingham suggests primary and secondary roles that you can fill. By working in these areas you will find your strongest life.

As one who trusts God’s Word which says “Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 Amplified, I was disappointed that so much of Buckingham’s advice leads us to rely on our emotions. I would like to have seen mention made of allowing the Lord into all of our decision making processes. That is where we can truly find our strongest lives.

For more information check the Thomas Nelson product page here: Find Your Strongest Life (Jacketed Hardcover): What the Happiest and Most Successful Women Do Differently by Marcus Buckingham Book Preview Thomas Nelson Publisher of Christian Products

A Woman Inspired or Ignited?

I have completed three out of four days of the "A Woman Inspired - Ministry Online Conference". Each evening my husband has asked me "What did you learn today?" and I have tried to answer in some sane fashion, while my mind has been spinning with new ideas, concepts and convictions.

I'm learning about how to introduce my Twitter to my Facebook and let them build a relationship of their own. I'm taking tests to determine my personality type. What colours best represent that personality? Who am I trying to reach? How has God gifted me? What am I most passionate about and how can I best share that passion? And more... and more....

It's not about me, it's all about Him, and all that I say, write and do is (or should be) to bring Him glory.

Have I been inspired? I think perhaps it would be better to say I've been ignited! Anyone else feel the same way?

Creating Woman

I received this via email a few days ago. I rarely post things that are not my own words, but this is just too good to keep to myself. I will be sharing it tomorrow night at our Fall Kick-off for Women's Ministries which is a campfire here at our place. Our new name is W.O.W. standing for Women Of Worth. Do you think this fits in?

When God created a woman, He was working late on the 6th day. An angel came by and said, ''Why spend so much time on that one?''

And the Lord answered, ''Have you seen all the specifications I had to meet to shape her? She must be washable, but not made of plastic, have more than 200 moving parts which all must be replaceable and she must function on all kinds of food, she must be able to embrace several kids at the same time, give a hug that can heal anything from a bruised knee to a broken heart and she must do all these with only two hands.”

The angel was impressed, ''Just two hands?..impossible! And this is the standard model!?! Too much work for one day..wait until tomorrow and complete her.''

''I will not.'' said the Lord. ''I am so close to complete this creation, which will be the favourite of my heart. She cures herself when sick and she can work 18hrs a day.''

The angel came nearer and touched the woman. ''But my Lord, you have made her soft.''

''She is soft” said the Lord. ''But I've also made her strong. You can imagine what she can endure and overcome''

''Can she think?'' the angel asked.

The Lord answered, ''Not only can she think she can also reason and negotiate.''

The angel touches the woman's cheek... ''Lord, it seems this creation is leaking! You have put too much burdens on her.''

''She's not leaking...it's a tear.'' The Lord corrected the angel.'

'What is it for?'' asked the angel.

And the Lord said, ''Tears are her way of expressing grief, her doubts, her love, her loneliness, her suffering and her pride.''

This made a very big impression on the angel. ''Lord, you are a genius. You thought of everything. The woman is indeed marvelous!''

Indeed she is!

A woman has strengths that amaze man. She can handle trouble and carry heavy burdens. She holds happiness, love and opinions. She smiles when feeling like screaming. She sighs when she feels like crying, cries when she is happy and laughs when she is afraid. She fights for what she believes in. She stands up against injustice. She doesn't take 'no' for an answer. She gives herself so that her family can thrive. She takes her friend to the doctors if she is afraid. Her love is unconditional. She cries when her kids are victorious. She's happy when her friends do well. She's glad when she hears of a birth or a wedding. Her heart is broken when a next of kin or friend dies. But she finds the strength to get on with life. She knows that a kiss and a hug can heal a broken heart.

But there's only one thing wrong with her...

SHE FORGETS WHAT SHE IS WORTH