Tag Archives: NLT
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.
