Tag Archives: NIV
The Good Wife’s Guide
Are you a good wife? Is there room for improvement? Or do you have it all figured out? I know I fail big time, especially when my emotions get in the way. Fortunately I have a husband who loves me and puts up with my moods and character flaws. Still, that’s no reason to continue. I recently read a book by the Time Warp Wife and was blessed by her words of wisdom.
This Mom’s Review of The Good Wife’s Guide
This book is written for women — all women. Even working wives will want to read this. The author understands the need for some women to work outside the home. She encourages you to make sure your decisions, including the one to work outside the home, are grounded in faith.
Discipline and Self-Sacrifice is a section of the book that really grabbed my attention. I’ve been battling with discontentment over unmet goals and neglected priorities. As I listen to the author describe me, I realize the problem is me. No, she’s not pointing the finger directly at me or passing judgment in the pages of the book. God is using this woman’s wisdom to convict me regarding issues I’ve been battling for several years. It’s exactly what I need to hear!
Some things the Lord has laid on my heart as I read this book:
- My need to serve my family with joy, rather than begrudgingly
- The importance of prioritizing faith and family above other things.
- The best way to handle conflict in my marriage
I’ve read many books and articles on they Whys and Hows of setting goals based on priorities and proper time management. The author has really put it altogether in a way that moves the heart with conviction and hopefully the hands and feet with change.
Included in the book are some household helps, including house cleaning recipes and deep cleaning guides.
While this book is written from a work-at-home mom’s perspective, I found the book to be just as insightful for the mom who works outside her home.
Scripture translation used in this book: NIV, KJV
$4.95 eBook
Book Description:
In The Good Wife’s Guide author Darlene Schacht encourages women to joyfully serve their families. In doing so she offers reasons for achieving a well-managed home backed by scripture and gleaned from experience. As well she provides readers with detailed cleaning and organizing schedules for practical application.
The Good Wife’s Guide encourages women to make faith and family their first priorities from a place of sacrificial love. It reminds women that they were created with a specific purpose in mind, which is that of being a help meet. In supporting our husbands and living in unity we reflect God’s blueprint for marriage.
About the Author:
Darlene Schacht is an ordinary mom, living an extraordinary life, because of who she is through Jesus Christ. As help-meet to her husband Michael, she guides and nurtures their four children, leading them toward a deeper walk of faith.
Her work has been published in anthologies by Thomas Nelson, Tyndale Publishing and Adams Media. As well she has co-authored a book with actress Candace Cameron Bure, the award-winning and New York TimesBest-Seller, Reshaping it All: Motivation for Spiritual and Physical Fitness.
If you haven’t read the eBook, I encourage you to. Read more about the book or grab your copy of The Good’s Wife Guide.
Disclosure: Affiliate link included for an eBook I personally recommend.
Finding Encouragement in Troubling Times {1 Peter Study}: Week 1
I’ve been invited to participate in a 9 week Bible study and you’re invited to join me each week as I share what I’ve learned. First, let me share the book with you.
About the Book
It’s easy for Christians to be strong in their faith when they are comfortable–in their church, in a small-group, in their family. But what happens if they are faced with prison, poverty, and pain? Life is more demanding than ever before. Finances are tight, relationships are stressed, and disappointments are common. Why is it so hard to stand up for God during these troubling times?
The letter of 1 Peter was heard by women who knew times like these. This newest addition to the Sue Edwards Inductive Bible Study series digs into 1 Peter and takes a look at the stories of real women–past and present–to teach today’s woman how to stand faithful to God regardless of her trials, however severe.
About the Author: Sue Edwards (MA, Dallas Theological Seminary; D.Min., Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary) teaches full-time in the Christian Education Department at Dallas Theological Seminary. She has more than twenty-five years of experience teaching, pastoring, and directing women’s ministries. In addition, Sue speaks at retreats, conferences, and seminars across the country. She is the coauthor of Women’s Retreats and New Doors in Ministry to Women, and the author of the Sue Edwards Inductive Bible Study series.
This Mom’s Review: Week 1
The first week-long lesson is based around 1 Peter 1:1-12.
While some of the subject matter was familiar to me and I could answer the study questions with no hesitation, other parts of it caused me to have to read the Scripture over a few times. The author doesn’t spill a lot of her opinion or commentary. She allowed me to use my own noggin – I even had to leave a few questions blank because I didn’t quite understand what was being asked.
I’m hoping to return to the Scripture in a few days and see if I can answer the questions. I’ll admit that my head has been clouded lately, so it just may be the fact that I’m not giving God my full attention.
What I did learn is that this is not my home and that I will face struggles and trials while here on earth. How I respond to those struggles and trials is my choice. God is an active resource in our lives, waiting for our cue for Him to guide, strengthen and even bless us. I learned what the blessings and benefits of belong to Christ are. Do you know what they are?
7 Money Rules for Life {How to Take Control of Your Financial Future} by Mary Hunt
How to Take Control of Your Financial Future
Across the country Americans are flunking their finances. Credit-card debt has reached $828 billion, 77 percent of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck and 43 percent have less than $10,000 saved for retirement. An alarming number of Americans have never been taught how to handle their personal finances, and this has led to financial ruin for millions.
Hunt openly shares her own struggles with an emotional connection to spending that drove her family into financial ruin. Over the past 20 years, Hunt has helped thousands of people get out of debt and live below their means.
“These simple rules,” says Hunt, “cut through the confusion, mystery and misery, enabling readers to get their financial lives on track.” By following her seven rules, readers can fix their financial problems and take control of the future. Hunt provides a solid foundation of financial knowledge and encourages readers to get started on the road to becoming financially secure.
As she successfully paid off her debt, Hunt developed and fine-tuned the seven money rules. These simple, unchanging, basic rules work in every financial situation, for every income level, and for every stage of life:
Rule 1: Spend Less than You Earn
Rule 2: Save for the Future
Rule 3: Give Some Away
Rule 4: Anticipate Your Irregular Expenses
Rule 5: Tell Your Money Where to Go
Rule 6: Manage Your Credit
Rule 7: Borrow Only What You Know You Can Repay
This Mom’s Review
As hubby and I seek to reduce our credit card debt, we are looking for any advice we can find. We come across this book and its money rules – many sounding familiar but seemingly unrealistic.
Or, maybe that is just Satan giving me another dose of doubt, as I venture to work on debt reduction. I can’t tell you that the advice presented in this book does work, only because I have just read it and haven’t put it to the test. Ask me again at the end of 2012 and see how my finances look.
I can tell you that it is a plan that can be put into action. The steps are simple, yet require action on the part of the reader (or debtor). Nothing is successful without action, right? The author provides easy to understand instruction, visual aids, scenarios and even her own testimony for implementing each rule.
Even if you broke Rule #7: Borrow Only What You Know You Can Repay before reading this book – just as I have, you can still make headway with the advice from this author.
In my attempt to be frugal this year and pay down my credit card debt, I will be implementing The 7 Money Rules for Life. Available January 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
Scripture translation included: NIV
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from Baker Publishing Group in exchange for my honest review.
On the Path with God by Erwin W. Lutzer {Photography by John and Debora Scanlan}
It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old…or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!
You never know when I might play a wild card on you!
Photographed by:
and the book:
Harvest House Publishers (July 1, 2011)
***Special thanks to Karri | Marketing Assistant, Harvest House Publishers for sending me a review copy.***
Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer, Senior Pastor of The Moody Church since 1980, is an award-winning author of more than 20 books including Walking with God. He’s a celebrated international conference speaker and the featured speaker on three radio programs that are heard around the world. He and his wife, Rebecca, have been married for 35 years. They live in the Chicago area and are the parents of three married children.
Visit the author’s website.
John and Debora Scanlan are partners in life and in creating Scanlan Windows to the World™ Fine Art Photography. They are internationally renowned for capturing the beauty, intrigue, and romance of the world while presenting the essence of every scene. Their work is featured in galleries, special exhibitions and juried art shows, on numerous products including cards and calendars, and in their breathtaking fine art photography book Windows to the World.
Visit the photographers’ website.
Inspiring meditations from the heart of popular pastor and author Dr. Erwin Lutzer join breathtaking photographs of winding country paths and cobblestone streets and invite readers to take time to walk with God. The joy-filled promises of faith await those who treasure an enriched journey with the Creator.
Product Details:
List Price: $15.99
Hardcover: 48 pages
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (July 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0736939369
ISBN-13: 978-0736939362
AND NOW…THE FIRST FEW PAGES (The images were scanned so that you may see what this delightful book looks like, but the words were placed here from these scanned images, so that you may read and be blessed.) Please click on the images to see them larger:
Why Walk with God?
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12
A tour through a cemetery can be beneficial and educational. I like to read epitaphs because they often say something interesting about the person who is finished with this life and has gone on to the next. Maybe epitaphs should be required reading for everyone once a year. They are a reminder that life is short and that eternity is near.
Most epitaphs are serious, some are tragic, and yes, there are at least a few that are funny. I’m told that this poem is found on the tombstone of a lady named Anna Wallace in England:
The children of Israel wanted bread.
The Lord sent them manna.
Old clerk Wallace wanted a wife.
The devil sent him Anna.
Here is a poem I learned in grade school, though I doubt it is on a tombstone—it could be. It contains an important message about automobile safety:
Here lies the body of William Jay,
Who died while maintaining his right of
way.
He was right, completely right as he sped along,
But he’s just as dead as if he’d been wrong!
My favorite epitaph is found in the Bible, embedded in a long list of genealogies in the fifth chapter of Genesis. To read these verses is like walking though a cemetery. The names are difficult to pronounce and we are left to guess what life was like so many centuries ago. Like the tolling of a bell, every tombstone bears the same message; six times we read the simple phrase “and he died.”
Then unexpectedly we discover that there was a man who did not die! His name was Enoch, and of him we read in verse 24, “Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.” Twice we are told that Enoch “walked with God.” In fact, He walked with God right into heaven!
This epitaph is perhaps one of the most beautiful phrases in the entire Bible. If it could be said of you and me that we “walked with God,” nothing more need be said. Those few words contain an eternity of meaning.
An Invitation to the Journey
Walking with God is both difficult and simple. Difficult because it takes thought, discipline, and commitment; simple because the same characteristics that apply to walking with a close friend or a loved one apply to walking with God.
Enoch walked with God in the midst of a society filled with temptations and obstacles just like those we face. He is a powerful reminder that we can be faithful to walk with God in our day as well. When we accept the invitation to begin the journey, trials and distractions need not keep us from our time with the Almighty.
Interestingly, Enoch was motivated to begin this journey after his first son Methuselah was born. Maybe he felt a new sense of responsibility as he held the baby boy in his arms. Perhaps as the child reached out to touch the stubble of his father’s beard Enoch said to himself, “I need to reorder my priorities and begin to take God more seriously.” Evidently he realized that the greatest contribution he could make in life was to guide his family on the right path.
Spend some moments reflecting on what motivates your heart to walk with the Lord today. Have you faced a trial and found yourself ready to give your sorrow to God? Do you long to leave a legacy of faith for your children? Maybe you’ve been in fellowship with the Lord for many years and you are ready for refreshment. Together we can explore how to walk with God and embrace the meaningful, remarkable, and abundant life He has planned for you. Let’s take a step forward toward the light of life.
You have declared this day that the LORD is your God
and that you will walk in his ways, that you will keep his decrees,
commands and laws, and that you will obey him.
And the LORD has declared this day that you are his people,
his treasured possession as he promised, and that
you are to keep all his commands.
Deuteronomy 26:17-18
Help for the Journey
I’ve often thought about what others might say of me after I die. I don’t mean the beautiful eulogies often given at funerals. Instead, I wonder what people will really think—what they will really remember about the impact for good or ill I have had in their lives. God of course, will give the final evaluation, but imagine our legacy if it could be said that we “walked with God.”
If an epitaph were written for you today, what would it be? Are you satisfied with that? What do you hope you will be remembered for?
Consider Jesus’ simple invitation to brothers Simon and Andrew referenced below. Think about how wonderful it feels to have Jesus call to you today in the same, simple way. What is your response to Jesus as He waves to you and says, “Come, follow me?”
As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men” (Mark 1:16-17).
God provides what you need each step of the way. What worries or weaknesses do you want to give to God—need to give to God—in exchange for His hope and renewing strength?
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:30-31
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
Psalm 119:105
This Mom’s Review:
This book is beautifully written and illustrated. Most devotional books I read are black and white print with no pictures. This one has vivid pictures and muted scenes behind the text. The pictures lead me to pause and think about what is being said about my walk with God. The author provides motivating stories (and examples) from the Bible, such as Enoch, and from the present day, such as Joni Eareckson Tada.
Each short but powerful devotional ends with “Help for the Journey” with prayer and action prompts to move you in a closer walk with God.
Scripture translations include NIV, NASB and NKJV.
The Power of a Praying Wife Devotional by Stormie Omartian
It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old…or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!
You never know when I might play a wild card on you!
and the book:
Harvest House Publishers (August 1, 2011)
***Special thanks to Karri James of Harvest House Publishers for sending me a review copy.***
Stormie Omartian is the bestselling author (more than 13 million books sold) of The Power of a Praying® series, which includes The Power of Praying® for Your Adult Children, The Power of a Praying® Wife, The Power of a Praying® Husband, and The Power of Prayer™ to Change Your Marriage. Her many other books include Just Enough Light for the Step I’m On, The Prayer That Changes Everything®, The Power of a Praying® Woman, and The Power of Praying® Through the Bible. Stormie and her husband, Michael, have been married more than 37 years and are the parents of two adult children.
Visit the author’s website.
New from bestselling author Stormie Omartian is a book close to her own heart—The Power of a Praying® Wife Devotional. Following up on the insights and prayers of The Power of a Praying® Wife (more than 3.5 million books sold) 100 brand-new devotions, prayers, and supporting Scriptures offer a praying wife fresh ways to pray for her husband, herself, and her marriage.
These easy-to-read devotions will increase any wife’s understanding, strength, and peace, as well as provide her with perspective on the situations and challenges she faces. And each prayer will help both husbands and wives be more attuned to the Holy Spirit so they can do what’s right without allowing negative emotions or unclear thinking to get in the way.
A must-have for anyone wanting God’s best for this most important relationship.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGXe4VjjSeU]
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s24xkaWABbo]
Product Details:
List Price: $14.99
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (August 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0736926925
ISBN-13: 978-0736926928
AND NOW…THE FIRST CHAPTER:
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,
in everything give thanks;
for this is the will of God in
Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
As a wife, you need the kind of prayer habit that doesn’t give up or allow discouragement to get in the way, but instead persists and keeps on praying and asking.
When God told Abraham He intended to determine if Sodom was deserving of destruction, Abraham then interceded, praying on behalf of however many righteous people might be there. He asked God if He would destroy Sodom if fifty righteous people were found there, and the Lord said He would not. Abraham then asked if He would destroy the city if forty-five righteous people were found there, then forty people, then thirty, then twenty. Each time Abraham asked, God said He would not destroy it for that many people. Finally Abraham said, “Suppose ten should be found there?” And God said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of ten” (Genesis 18:32). As it turned out, only four righteous people were there, so God destroyed it. But Abraham had stopped asking at ten.
We need the kind of persistence in prayer that causes us to continue asking as Abraham did. Too often we stop short. Perhaps Abraham stopped asking because he couldn’t imagine that there wouldn’t be at least ten righteous people in Sodom. Or perhaps by then God had proved His point and revealed His intentions. God knew the city was wicked enough to destroy, but He saved the four righteous people—which were Lot, his wife, and their two daughters (Genesis 19:29).
Your prayers are powerful to save too. So keep asking and continue seeking, and don’t ask for crumbs when God wants to give you the banquet. When it comes to praying for you and your husband and your marriage, ask God to help you persist in prayer for even what may seem impossible. Ask for your marriage to not only be saved, but to be good. Ask for it to not only be good, but to be great. God doesn’t say “No” to what is His will. If your husband has a strong will that refuses to submit to God’s will, persist in praying that God’s will wins out.
My Prayer to God
Lord, I pray You would help me to be persistent in prayer—to ask and keep asking for what I believe is Your will. I know anything less than love, selflessness, kindness, peace, and generosity of soul is not Your will in my relationship with my husband. Help me to persist in praying for nothing less than the high standard You have for our marriage. Give me a vision of how You want me to pray. Show me the way You want our marriage to be and help me to pray accordingly so that it becomes all that.
I know I cannot force my husband’s will to be anything other than what it is, but You can touch his heart and turn it toward You. I pray You would do that. May he welcome Your Lordship in his life. Help me to pray consistently and passionately, and to persevere no matter what is happening. I thank You in advance for the great things You are going to do in both of us and in our marriage.
In Jesus’ name I pray.
This Mom’s Review:
Praying is one of my weak areas. I get frustrated with my husband, my children and even myself. Instead, I should be praying. That’s what Stormie reminded me of while I was reading her new devotional.
The contents of the book are divided into “When I…”, “When He…”, and “When We…” devotionals. You’ll read one of each, then the author starts over with the same pattern. It’s a good way to steer the reader (you or me) away from focusing all on herself or all on her husband. Instead, there is turn-taking in whom the reader prays for — herself, her husband, her marriage.
Some topics covered that are heavy on my heart include:
When I Have to Rise Above the Things That Irritate Me – This one helped me with some resentment I’ve been holding for someone other than my husband.
When I Need to be Delivered from Bad Habits – This one left burn marks. Not really, but I have some bad habits that I can’t seem to overcome. The author was straight forward with me and to my dismay is correct.
When He Carries a Heavy Burden – This one prompted me to react and worry less and pray for my husband more. He has so much on his plate and sometimes I’m a burden rather than a blessing to him.
Those are just a few! This book makes a great devotional, prayer prompter and mind renewer!
The 2012 Biblical Guide to Voting: Voice Your Values and Make Your Vote Count
It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old…or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!
You never know when I might play a wild card on you!
and the book:
The 2012 Biblical Guide to Voting
Frontline (August 9, 2011)
***Special thanks to Kim Jones | Publicity Coordinator, Charisma House | Charisma Media for sending me a review copy.***
What Issues Matter to You?
Who Should You Vote For?
How Can You Know You Are Choosing Well?
The 2012 election promises to be one of the most critically important of our lifetime and will be highly debated in both public and private settings, with deeply divisive opinions on all sides. Our choices today will likely influence the direction of our nation for decades to come.
Make Your Vote Count explains today’s major issues in a style that is easy to access and understand. This anthology of present-day issues will fortify you with the biblical perspective on which to base your decisions. With the Bible as the ultimate source of answers, you can be sure that your decisions will be grounded in faithful stewardship and godly obedience.
This book is not about being a Republican or Democrat; it’s not about endorsing candidates or telling you how to cast your vote. It simply provides a biblical foundation upon which to make voting decisions that will both honor God and best serve our country in 2012 and beyond.
Product Details:
List Price: $9.99
Paperback: 96 pages
Publisher: Frontline (August 9, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1616384662
ISBN-13: 978-1616384661
AND NOW…THE FIRST CHAPTER:
Where do we go from here? And how do we get there?
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.
—Proverbs 4:7, nkjv
Never has our nation faced a time of upheaval and tension such as this. Since Election Day 2008 we have endured a near implosion of our financial foundation with widespread collateral damage in the form of a continuing recession; a subdued, chugging, and burping economic recovery; unemployment that remains painfully close to the 10 percent threshold; real estate values that have yet to find their bottom let alone begin to mount any form of substantial rebound; bailouts; layoffs; massive deficits as far as the eye can see; a lecture from the media elite that our civic discourse isn’t civil enough, conveniently after their candidate was elected to the White House—recall how dissent was the highest form of patriotism, but apparently only until January 19, 2009—and the cherry on the bad-news sundae in the form of a tin-eared administration that responds to
the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression by ramming a multi-trillion-dollar socialized medicine new
entitlement down the throats of the American people.
It is hard now to decide what the larger insult added to injury was: the repugnant charade committed by Nancy
Pelosi, Harry Reid, and the rest of the Democrat-majority Congress under the name “deem and pass,” or the blatant hypocrisy across the county from the summer of 2009 and early 2010 as the talking heads of the media slandered the Tea Party with vulgar remarks night after night on television.
In hindsight, maybe we shouldn’t be shocked by anything this administration has done since taking office. They stated with vivid clarity near the end of the campaign season their intent not to “let a serious crisis go to waste.” And indeed they wasted no time concocting their “Stimulus Bill,” a moniker so breathtakingly steeped in Orwellian double-speak you had to wonder if they themselves ever wonder, “Can we really get away with this?”
They certainly did, and it’s quite challenging to arrive at any conclusion other than the political Left of the United States viewed their stimulus plan as their chance to raid the public treasury with the same reckless abandon they utterly wrongly ascribed to their political foes on the right during the Bush years, and specifically during the War on Terror following the September 11 terror attacks. Make no mistake—the political Left in the United States shrieked for more than six years in all their Bush derangements syndrome glory against the fraud and opportunism they accused the Bush administration of in response to the 9/11 terror attacks—and then turned around and did the exact same thing in reaction to the financial crisis of late 2008 and the ensuing recession that defined the first few years of the Obama administration.
Within that time span there was also the Obama Apology Tour in which the president attempted to curry favor with every left-wing goon around the world by attempting to apologize for everything the Bush administration had done. One wonders how the free people in Iraq felt about that apology, while popular uprisings across the Middle East hear not the first whisper from Washington in support of their calls for democracy. They must all wonder how the priorities of the United States got so far out of whack so fast.
And now we look ahead at what’s before us . . .
• What sort of economic fallout will there be in the years after huge deficits resulting from the economic stimulus?
• How will the freedom movements in the Middle East shake out in the long term?
• In the near term, will the instability of the Middle East and the corresponding spiking of oil prices completely derail the global economic recovery?
• How many candidates will join the fray for the Republican nomination? Will we be choosing between Newt and Sarah? Will Jeb Bush jump in?
• What kind of all-out blitz will the country be subjected to for the reelection of Obama, considering the raid on history the Left pulled just to get Obama in office the first time?
• Will the recovery have legs and start blooming jobs by the time the summer of 2012 rolls around?
• Or will there be some kind of double-dip, the recovery dragged down by the massive deficits and municipal debt at the state level or the slow-to-recover commercial real estate market?
• Will there finally be an energy policy grounded in innovation?
• And how much more spreading around of other people’s wealth will we have to endure before our economy gets back on a solid footing of competitiveness and growth?
As believers, we know to take our cares and concerns with thanksgiving and petition our Lord in prayer. And as
we said in the run-up to 2008, the first thing Christians must do is pray. Pray that the Lord will raise up godly
candidates whose values are based on biblical principles and who will govern in a way that is in agreementwith God’s wisdom and honors the blessings God has given. And encourage others to pray as well.
Second, stay informed of where the candidates stand on the critical issues highlighted for you in this book.
Third, get involved. Speak up in support of candidates who hold biblically based positions on key issues.
Fourth, if you aren’t registered to vote, register now, while there’s still time to vote in the important elections
this fall.
Fifth, contribute financially to the campaigns of candidates you support.
Finally, cast your vote accordingly. May the new president we elect in November of 2012 be a godly, wise
servant of this wonderful nation who will lead us into a rich, wondrous future.
This Mom’s Review:
Reading this book really made me aware of my ignorance of what’s going on around me. I always depend on my hubby to tell me anything interesting, rather than watching the news for myself. He tells me quite a bit, but I realized that I need to research, understand and have an opinion of my own on many different political topics presented in this book.
This is probably one reason why the unsaved have more of their way in our modern world – because Christians haven’t done their homework and stood of for the ways of the Lord!
The book is an easy read, but enough to get your mind moving to make positive changes.
How to Defeat Harmful Habits: Freedom from Six Addictive Behaviors (Counseling Through the Bible Series) by June Hunt
It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old…or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!
You never know when I might play a wild card on you!
and the book:
Harvest House Publishers (October 1, 2011)
***Special thanks to Karri James | Marketing Assistant, Harvest House Publishers for sending me a review copy.***
June Hunt is the founder of Hope for the Heart, a worldwide biblical counseling ministry that provides numerous resources for people seeking help. She hosts a live, two–hour call–in counseling program called Hope in the Night, and is the author of Counseling Through Your Bible Handbook and How to Handle Your Emotions.
Visit the author’s website.
Respected Christian counselor and founder of Hope for the Heart ministries June Hunt knows that countless lives are impacted and detoured by addictions. People are desperate for answers. They are hungry for hope.
In this insightful book, June provides compassionate biblical guidance to help readers recognize addictive impulses and habits, set boundaries, seek help, and trust the power of Christ and God’s Word to release them from the hold of addictions including:
overeating
alcohol and drug abuse
sexual addiction
codependency
anorexia and bulimia and more
For those struggling with addiction or watching a loved one caught in its destructive cycles, this is an encouraging resource of lasting answers and a path to healing God’s way.
Product Details:
List Price: $14.99
Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (October 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0736923292
ISBN-13: 978-0736923293
AND NOW…THE FIRST CHAPTER:
World of Addictions
On the surface I realize the title above sounds somewhat absurd. Normally we welcome friends into a warm, inviting home, or to a delicious dinner, or to a positive experience. In fact, welcomes are most always positive, almost always pleasant.
Why, then, would I welcome you to the dark world of addictions, where sorrow, suffering, and shame permeate the atmosphere? Because I want you here—I need you here! I want to deepen your understanding of this debilitating world to help free you—or someone you love—from its gravitational grip.
And so I welcome you. I want you to learn about the isolated inner world of the addicted—the devastating, self-destructive struggles that characterize every day of their lives. I also welcome you to explore what has brought help to countless millions—the “crisis interventions,” the various rehabilitation programs, the Christian 12-step world of recovery, and so much more. What better way to develop a compassionate heart for strugglers?
I further welcome you to learn about the ways to connect with, pray for, and reach out to a struggler. What better way to be used by God than to help meet a struggler’s needs?
If you worked for a disaster relief organization and you were assigned to a country on the opposite side of the globe, you would surely take time to learn about its people and language, its currency and customs. You would want to educate yourself so you could be of greater help to those you are about to meet. The same is true when stepping into the world of addictions. The more you enter into an understanding of this world, the more you can help others exit this world.
I wish you had known my Uncle Billy. He was quite bright. His teachers said he was a stellar student who could make straight As without even coming to class. He had thick brown hair, deep-set dimples, and a winsome smile. Everyone wanted to be around Uncle Billy, yet he kept his distance. He seemed to keep an impenetrable wall between himself and others.
I always felt sorry for my uncle because he was somewhat the black sheep of the family. By the time I was a teenager, he had experienced many losses because of his heavy drinking. The worst, by far, was the day he discovered his business partner had run off with all of their company’s money—and with his wife.
Uncle Billy was devastated. He not only lost his work and his wife, but he also lost control of his life—something else had control of him. He was an alcoholic, and he literally lost his life—he died as a result of suicide. We all loved Uncle Billy, but in the end, we lost him.
I’ve often wondered, What might have helped my Uncle Billy? What would have delivered him from his addiction? What would have saved him from his own self-destruction? Like my uncle, countless others have been destroyed by debilitating addictions, leaving family and friends grappling with the haunting “if onlys”: If only I’d grasped the gravity…if only I’d learned…If only I’d understood…
With addictive habits affecting so many millions who continually relapse, some wonder, Can those who struggle with addictions be set free—permanently? The answer is yes! There is genuine hope—guaranteed hope—rooted in the promises of God. He can give the supernatural help so desperately needed—not only to be set free, but also to stay free. It all beg
ins with the admission that there is a problem. Then there must be a willingness to face the problem so healing can begin.
And for every struggler who is reading this: Remember, you are not alone. God is ready to provide all the strength, power, and discipline you need. According to the prophet Isaiah, He is reaching out to you, saying, “I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you” (Isaiah 41:13).
Do you need His help? Do you need His strong hand to get you on the road to recovery? If so, grab hold…start now. Keep in mind that every journey begins with a single step. So start walking. And if you stumble, that’s okay. Don’t give up! Get back up and keep going.
You can leave the world of addictions—you can live in the world of freedom. It’s not impossible! The Bible gives you this absolute assurance: “Nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37).
This Mom’s Review:
This is definitely a book that the addicted and the addicted’s loved ones need to have on their bookshelf. It’s over 400 pages of life-saving information. As I read it, I thought about my eating habits and my overindulgence of drinking pop. I also thought about my brother’s drug habit. I thought about how both of us have overcome our habits, only to go right back to it after several months of ‘beating it’.
Comparing my addiction to soda pop to my brothers’ addiction to drugs seems kind of silly, but there’s a correlation between the two. The author provides background information to help the addicted and their loved ones understand why anyone can be pulled into addictions of different kinds.
Also included are steps for overcoming harmful habits and addictions, as well as thorough details about each kind of addictive behavior presented in this book: alcohol and drug abuse, anorexia, bulimia, gambling, overeating and sexual addiction. For example, you’ll learn about different drugs, their danger and what to look for in someone who may be abusing them.
How do we know these steps will work? The book is loaded with Scripture supporting the content written. Also, included are real life examples — some you may even recognize — of lives almost overtaken by addictions. The key ingredient is one you may be surprised by. However, Scripture and the real life examples are proof of the solution.
Spiritual Warfare for Women: Winning the Battle for Your Home, Family, and Friends
Do You Know How to Protect Your Family, Your Friends–and Yourself? The enemy is real, and his mission is to hurt you, your family, and your relationships. But the enemy has no weapon that could ever compare to God’s love.
Leighann McCoy, women’s minister and speaker, shows how sometimes the most significant spiritual battles are the ones you fight inside yourself. With warmth and wisdom, she offers practical tips on identifying and combating Satan’s most powerful attacks, helping you find the victory that comes through knowing who God is and who you are in Him. Spiritual warfare doesn’t always mean plunging headlong into the enemy’s camp with sword raised high. Sometimes it comes down to a more subtle war between the lies that imprison and the Truth that will set you free.
This Mom’s Review of Spiritual Warfare for Women: Winning the Battle for Your Home, Family, and Friends
Spiritual warfare is a topic that has been taught in church. Yet, I pictured it as something that just affects my spiritual growth. In this book, I see just how Satan can and has attacked many areas in my life: my marriage, children, friendships, health and church; which are areas covered by the author. (See the table of contents). I think the chapter that spoke to me most was about friendships with other women. I find myself getting into pity parties and telling myself I don’t need my friends. I now understand why I need those female friendships. God has given us friendships for vital reasons shared in this book. In addition to that chapter, the reader of this book will learn about God’s love, Satan’s character and methods, and who we are in Christ. All these things will help us win the battle for our homes, families, and friends.
In the beginning of the book, fear is discussed. Here is a quote from the book that really stuck in my mind – page 15:
“… We truly worship that which we fear most… Our fear drives us to adjust our behavior so that we honor the object of our fear.”
This is a smart observation. God tells us to fear Him and we’re to worship Him – a healthy, God-revering fear. This little quote has prompted me to think about my fears and the attention they get in my life. I’ve never looked at it this way before, so when I read this, some light was shed on some things in my life that line up with what the author has said.
This is the first time I’ve read a book written by Leighann McCoy. I am interested in reading more of her books!
Bible translations include NIV, ESV, HCSB, The Message, NASB, NLT, and KJV.
Questions & Answers with Author Leighann McCoy
You say in your book that because you grew up in a denomination that taught very little about spiritual warfare you developed your own theology that proved to be
“grossly false.” What was wrong with your theology?
My false theology went something like this: What you don’t know can’t hurt you. Only people who are a little bit wacky get involved in that sort of thing. And, just don’t go there. As a pastor’s wife in a small church, I learned that what I didn’t know hurt me more because I never saw the battle coming. Then I looked around and watched as many people I’d consider reasonably sane were targeted for attack. And perhaps the most powerful lesson came when I realized that you don’t have to go looking for the battlefield; it comes to you.
What is your definition of spiritual warfare?
Spiritual warfare is a battle between God and Satan. It is a war that began in the heavenlies before Adam and Eve ever arrived on the scene. And although the war was won at the cross, battles continue today with us at the center of them. Spiritual warfare involves Satan’s attempts to bring pain, suffering and heinous evil into our lives (and into the world) that.
How do you define the “win” in spiritual warfare?
The “win” is defined by whether or not followers of Christ proclaim or profane the name of God. When we encounter an attack and respond to that encounter with courage, confidence, and great faith in the power and love of God, we win. When we encounter an attack and respond to that encounter with defeat, discouragement, and a lack of faith in the power and love of God, the enemy wins.
In your book you mention women who think they’ve “out-sinned the love of God.” What do you mean by that, and how does that thought process impact spiritual warfare?
I’ve met many women who live in constant awareness of their failures. While they intellectually understand that Jesus died for their sins, they have a hard time understanding that He completely forgives them for that particular sin. In chapter 3 of my book I shout the truth that you cannot out-sin the love of God. I encourage the reader to camp out at the foot of the cross long enough to realize that when Jesus declared sin’s price tag paid in full…it was paid in full. Who would know how much sin cost better than God’s only begotten Son? The impact this has on spiritual warfare is huge. If the Enemy can somehow paralyze us with guilt, shame, and remorse, we’ll live our lives hiding from the presence of God rather than walking with Him on this adventure called life.
You mention throughout your book the power of God’s Word. You even talk about “Post-It Note” warfare. What is that?
Post-It Note warfare is simply taking verses from the Bible, printing them on Post-It Notes, and sticking them wherever you’ll see them throughout your day: on the mirror in the bathroom, just above the kitchen sink, on the steering wheel in your car, anywhere you will look. Then, throughout the day, read those verses aloud in order to
take your thoughts captive to the lordship of Christ.
More Questions & Answers with Leighann McCoy (pdf file).
A copy of the book was provided by Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review. Sneak a peak via Scribd.com, then grab a copy from Amazon.com, Christianbook.com, BarnesandNoble.com or your local bookstore.
52 Ways to Wow Your Husband by Pam Farrel
It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old…or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!
You never know when I might play a wild card on you!
and the book:
52 Ways to Wow Your Husband: How to Put a Smile on His Face
Harvest House Publishers (August 1, 2011)
***Special thanks to Catherine Miller, Marketing Assistant, Harvest House Publishers for sending me a review copy.***
Pam Farrel and her husband, Bill, are cofounders and codirectors of Masterful Living, an organization that provides practical insights for personal relationships. The Farrels are also regular relationship columnists. As coauthors their books include Men Are Like Waffles—Women Are Like Spaghetti, The 10 Best Decisions Every Parent Can Make, and Red-Hot Monogamy. In addition Pam has written Fantastic After 40! and The 10 Best Decisions a Woman Can Make. The Farrels have been married more than 30 years and have three children and a daughter-in-law.
Visit the author’s website.
With her trademark humor and godly wisdom, bestselling author Pam Farrel inspires women to add the wow-factor to their marriages and lives through 52 clever ideas for dates, meals, getaways, and daily expressions of love. A spark of fun and refreshment for newlyweds, married with kids, or empty nesters.
[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/15207016 w=400&h=226]
Love Wise Intro from Bill & Pam Farrel on Vimeo.
Product Details:
List Price: $10.99
Paperback: 160 pages
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (August 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0736937803
ISBN-13: 978-0736937801
AND NOW…THE FIRST CHAPTER:
The Recharger Box
What a man finds romantic is a woman who will lower his stress! In Men Are Like Waffles—Women Are Like Spaghetti, I explain that men go to their favorite easy boxes to rest and recharge. God helped us women recognize these easy boxes in that most of them are shaped like boxes—the TV screen, the newspaper, the garage, the Xbox, the computer screen, the football field, the baseball diamond, the basketball court, the refrigerator, and the bed. The bed box (also known as the sex box) is a husband’s favorite box to go to when he is stressed out. This box or square is kind of like the center square on a bingo card, and a man can get to that box from every other square on his waffle.
Wow Assignment
Find out your man’s favorite easy box he goes to for recharging. Here are some ways to discover this vital information:
If given thirty minutes of dead time, what does he do?
If he were given a day off, where would he like to go?
What does he do now when stressed?
What does he watch on TV when relaxing? (Sports? Movies? Adventures? Fix-it shows?)
Kendra Smiley and her husband, John, wrote Do Your Kids a Favor…Love Your Spouse. John was wowed unexpectedly by Kendra with his all-time favorite box:
I’ve been a Green Bay Packers fan for years and transferred that enthusiasm to our three teenage sons. I never imagined I would actually be able to see a game at Lambeau Field because legend has it that the only way to get tickets is to inherit them when someone dies. But legends don’t stop Kendra! She called the ticket office, asking about the purchase of five tickets for the last home game of the season. After the laughter died down (I guess there was some truth to the legend), they referred her to an agency offering “Weekend Packages.” She knew we couldn’t afford all the extras of a package, and somehow she managed to convince the woman at that office to simply sell her five tickets. She gave me a gift that took her time, her effort, and a little bit of her charming persuasion. What a great model for our kids!
My man’s favorite easy box is: ________________________
Wow Wisdom
Pray and thank God for your husband. Often we women push, push, push our spouse to be more productive or work on our “honey-do” list even on his day off. If you keep pushing, he might begin to see you as a mother or a boss, not a wife and lover. A husband who gets pushed to do too many things he doesn’t enjoy will exhaust himself emotionally and grow distant from his wife. Think about how much better your life is when you are connected with your lover!
Instead of resenting your “waffleman” for needing to recharge, thank God he has a box to recharge in so he can maintain the energy to keep up with you! As Paul reminds us, “In everything give thanks” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 nasb).
Wow Date
Make him breakfast in bed and serve waffles. Give him a note for one free day off to do whatever he wants—to enjoy his favorite “waffle box(es).” Include a gift card for something that helps him recharge. While you’re there in bed, why not enjoy some “bingo”? Remember, for most men, bingo is the number one recharger box.
This Mom’s Review
I think the best way in this book to WOW my husband would be apply #3. My mood gets out of hand at times. I cry, throw fits and seem to convince myself that things are worse than what they are. In reality, I am very blessed with the husband God has given to me. My husband would be blessed to see a change in my moods. He puts up with them, but doesn’t like them one bit. However, he has commented several times that I am beautiful when I smile. How can I smile when I’m in a mood?!?
You could easily read one per week, giving yourself a week to apply the easy assignment. Or, you could read and apply several in one week. Some of these are no-brainers, meaning “why didn’t I think of that?” Marriage is meant to be a life-long commitment. Why not bless your partner with the simple ideas presented in this book.
Several scripture translations were used in this book: NIV, NASB, AMP, NLT, and MSG.
Secure Daughters, Confident Sons
About the Book
In this eye-opening book, family researcher Glenn T. Stanton offers a clear vision for why gender matters in how we raise our children. His thought-provoking insights expose the problems with stifling stereotypes and damaging cultural assumptions, then highlight a practical pathway for guiding children into healthy manhood and womanhood.
You’ll discover…
- what gender-appropriate behavior looks like at various ages—and why you shouldn’t panic if your toddler boy plays with his sister’s dolls.
- how to help your daughter become secure in her sense of significance—whether she prefers chasing butterflies or shooting hoops.
- how to inspire your son to compete and take healthy risks—in ways that fit his unique personality.
- how moms and dads complement one another as they discipline differently, comfort differently, and influence differently.
- what you can do on a daily basis to nurture your children’s God-given design and help them resist the pressure to conform to arbitrary cultural rules.
With practical tools, well-researched insights, and real-life scenarios, this book equips parents to launch daughters who are secure in the power of their femininity and sons who are confident in their strength to make a difference in the world.
This Mom’s Review
I got more than what I expected from reading this book. It is packed with information that parents need in this crazy world of gender confusion and false ideas.
As a Mother:
- I better understand the difference between girls and boys, and how God has uniquely designed each child. I also have some guidelines – not rigid rules – but guidelines in helping my children grow to be healthy in their own God-given gender.
- I see where opposite gender play and activities can go from healthy to dangerous – yes, it’s okay to be a tomboy, but it’s not okay to try to hide one’s own gender.
As a Wife:
- I know this book is for parents to guide their children, but I found a wealth of information that helped me understand my own husband. I get frustrated with the way he does things and some of the things he says. The author helped me see my husband in a different light, from a man’s way of thinking. God definitely designed man and woman differently and knowing the details will really help me in my future responses to how my husband operates.
- I also see by changing my responses to my husband, maybe I can be a better example to my daughter, a future wife, and my son, a future husband.
Scripture translations used are the New King James Version, The Message, and the New International Version.
Please rate my review at BloggingforBooks.com.
I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group in exchange for my honest review. You can read an excerpt, then grab a paperback copy of Secure Daughters, Confident Sons from your local bookstore, Amazon.com or PaperBackswap.com, or the eBook version at Amazon Kindle.
