Book of Hope



If you are facing a hardship in life, pick up this book! There is a plan for your life, even if you cannot see it at the moment. This book challenges and encourages the reader to look at how your limits can be used by God. “Have the courage to pursue your own dreams, and never doubt your ability to meet whatever challenges come your way” (36).

The part that stuck out most to me was of a girl who talks to Nick about having conversations about God with her friends. She doesn't necessarily want all the answers... She wants to be able to put the puzzle pieces together on her own and figure out what she believes. This reminded me of college and the awesome adventure of making my faith my own, complete with conversations with friends about Jesus and what it means to truly follow Him.

This is a powerful book about Nick’s own personal challenges in life. He is unapologetic in giving glory to God; however this book is for everyone, not just Christians.

I reviewed this book for Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers Blogging for Books. I received this book for free in exchange for a review of the book.

Lazarus Awakening Put Me to Sleep

I was excited about this book. Little did I know that the author had already written two books. Had I researched a little bit better before selecting her book, I probably would not have chosen her book. I could not get myself to read one of her other books Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World.

I love the passage she selected to base her books on (John 11), however I did not really connect with her writing style. It might be because of the different stages of life we are in that she would connect better with women who are older than I am.

Her emphasis of God not always acting on our timetable is one that needs to be heard, but I had a hard time motivating myself to pick up the book.

I reviewed this book for Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers Blogging for Books. I received this book for free in exchange for a review of the book.

Little Star

A short review for a short book. 

I do not have children, but I still enjoyed the story. It was nice to hear about the Christmas story from the perspective of the star. This story reminds me of the humility of Jesus Christ coming to earth as a baby and doing things unconventionally. It is a simple story that a Dad tells his son. It does not matter what time of year it is, it is always good to remember Jesus coming to earth. "The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world." - John 1.9

I reviewed this book for Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers Blogging for Books. I received this book for free in exchange for a review of the book.

Throughout Sun Stand Still there are little treasures. I liked Furtick’s authentic writing and that he sees the value of everyone’s testimony. “The story God has scripted for your life isn’t inferior to Joshua’s – or anyone else’s” (13).

I do not agree with everything in the book theologically, but the overall theme of dreaming God-sized dreams and asking God for the impossible is something I am holding onto for life.

Chapter thirteen redeemed the quality of this book a little bit. Furtick knows that some people expect a miracle when they pray prayers like Joshua’s Sun Stand Still prayer and that it might not happen. But he said: “Audacious faith doesn’t mean my prayers work every time. It means that God is working even when my prayers don’t seem to be working at all” (148).

“The glory of God often shines the brightest when the sun goes down… and we keep our eyes on Jesus anyway” (140).

“The time between the conception and the completion of a vision will test the limits of your faith. And a lot of people fail the test” (182). Ouch. People are given God-ordained dreams and give up for whatever reason. Earlier in the book, Furtick makes it clear that: “When you examine the lives of people who are called to do great things for God, regardless of their age, you’ll usually notice three things:
* They offer God a long list of excuses.
* God doesn’t seem surprised.
* God doesn’t change his mind.” (30)

This book was a slow read for me, but I get restless reading about ACTING on faith. There is only so much you CAN read about this topic before getting antsy.

I reviewed this book for Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers Blogging for Books. I received this book for free in exchange for a review of the book.

Joanne Kathleen Rowling

I went to the library recently and was searching for missionary biographies. While I was browsing through the young adult biographies (because let's face it -- who has time to read 600 pages about someone -- gotta love young adult literature!), I found this book:

J.K. Rowling: the Wizard Behind Harry Potter. 

It was a super quick read and insightful into the mastermind behind HP. It's an unauthorized biography, but since I do not really know much about her anyway, any information about her would be new to me.

I devoured the HP series after graduating college. I was sick of reading books about ministry and welcomed the escape to Hogwarts... and I get a little skeptical of books that HUGE HITS right off the bat. I wasn't too impressed with Twilight.

But anyway, Rowling's story is worth telling. Her love of children certainly comes through... and I love that she placed HP in the awkward, not always appreciated jr. high stage of life.

Reading her story connected with mine in a lot of ways:

I was quiet, freckly, short-sighted, and rubbish at sports (35). Hmm... I was so sure that she was talking about ME!

Getting dressed up and presenting herself at job interviews was not something the young woman liked doing. It seemed like a silly, unnecessary game. It made her feel totally inadequate and very much like a little girl again. Besides, this was not what she really wanted to do, which was to write fabulous stories, see them published, and be able to keep writing, and live happily ever after. But since she was not willing to take the risks necessary to reach that pinnacle, Joanne would have to contend with the real world. (45)

Joanne was feeling confident in what she had jotted down and began seriously contemplating writing the novel. But she was torn between living out her dream of a life dedicated to writing and the guilt she was feeling at not being like everyone else (53-54). Torn between living the dream and comparing herself to others... I can relate.

I thought it was funny because this book came out in 2000 and they mentioned a possible title for the sixth HP book: Harry Potter and the Green Flame Torch (159).

I would definitely be interested in reading about biography on Rowling.

The Power of Whisper: Hearing God and Having the Guts to Respond

I know that it may seem like all I do is read, but I AM actually looking for a job, too... But I am enjoying the time I have to read a bunch of stuff -- and I'm open to suggestions (I'm currently looking for books about the life/ministry/church planting/missionary journeys of Paul).

The Power of a Whisper is the first book I read by Hybels -- and I plan to read more! 

God keeps reminding me of Isaiah 55.8: 

God’s ways and thoughts are rarely my own. I need to listen for God’s promptings in my life.

This was the first book I read completely on my Kindle! I plan to order the book because it was THAT good! You’ll have to excuse this post… I do not know where in the book the quotes are (and I'm not exactly sure how to quote something on a kindle)!

GOD COMMUNICATES!

“My entire journey comes down to a series of unplanned promptings from heaven that have charted a course for my life even I never could have foreseen”.

“If there is a pattern in Scripture regarding whispers, it is that we serve a communicating God – a God of words. He created with a word, he healed with a word, he encouraged with a word, he rebuked with a word, he guided with a word, he prophesied with a word, he assured with a word, he loved with a word, he served with a word and he comforted with a word. Throughout all of history, God has communicated, and he still is at it today. The issue isn’t whether or not God is speaking; it’s whether we will have ears to hear what he says.”

This reminds me of Hebrews 1.1-4... and this Acappella song. 

BIBLE READING

“There is tremendous benefit to be gained from going slowly and systematically through the Word of God, asking him with every turn of events, ‘What were you up to here, God? Why did you pour favor on that woman or man?...’”

OBEDIENCE

“Whenever you find yourself on the receiving end of God’s prompting, be sure to obey – no matter the cost. Don’t let fear or doubt rob you of one bit of what God has in store for you. Whenever you hear from God, do precisely what he asks for you to do.”

“It’s one thing to say to God, ‘I want to obey the input I hear from heaven. I want to follow your whispers every step of the way.’ But it’s quite another thing to actually follow through.”

I was not expecting to be so saddened by the end of this book. But when you hear about how God is working in someone’s life, you find yourself not wanting their story to end. It was a good to time for me to reflect on how God's whispers have shaped my life.

Blogging for Books: Soul Print

SOUL PRINT: Mark Batterson (Soul Print comes out on January 18)

The only book I took with me to Italy was Mark Batterson’s Wild Goose Chase. I devoured it. So it’s no surprise to me that I devoured his new book Soul Print in just a few days.

Your soulprint is “who God has destined you to become from the inside out” (7). This includes your true identity: who you were, who you are, and who you will be.

A theme throughout the book was the reminder of becoming who God meant us to be. “When it comes to the will of God, we tend to focus on what and where. But what you are doing or where you are going are secondary issues. God’s primary concern is who you’re becoming” (12).

Batterson really knows how to speak to people in their 20’s – something that is a real gift – but the book applies to anyone willing to read it. He challenges us to really evaluate and get to know ourselves better. This was a great read, especially since 2010 was a year of self-discovery for me. Reading Soul Print encouraged me to continue learning how God has created me.

A few good reminders for me:

“So you may not like your present circumstances, but they may be the key to your character development. And character development is the key to your future” (32).

“Integrity isn’t sexy…. Without it in your life, everything falls apart. And that includes your destiny. You’ll never fulfill your God-given destiny without integrity” (79).

“The only perfect mirror is Scripture. And the more you read it, the more you will reflect God. Why? Because the Bible is where God is revealed…. [The Bible] is not only the best cure for identity problems. It’s also the best prevention” (135).

“The reason so many of us are strangers to ourselves is because we don’t sit before the Lord. If you want to discover your destiny, you’ve got to spend time in the presence of God” (144).

I firmly believe in reading books at certain points in life. I am so glad that my circumstances of looking for a job and being at an “in-between” time coincided with reading this book. It was a great reminder of where I get my true identity.

I reviewed this book for Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers Blogging for Books. I received this book for free in exchange for a review of the book.