Book: The Better Mom

About the book:

In The Better Mom, Ruth Schwenk invites you to grow out of the "mess" of motherhood and into a place where you can grow as a better, happier mom. Ruth encourages you to embrace the refining work of the Holy Spirit to help you and your family not just survive, but thrive through the parenting years.

She says, "It's okay to come as we are, but what we're called to do and be is far too important to stay there! The way to becoming a better mom starts not with what we are doing, but with who God is inviting us to become."

About the author:
Ruth Schwenk is the founder of The Better Mom, and along with her husband, Patrick, the creator of For the Family. She is a pastor's wife, a mom of four energetic kids, a lover of coffee, and a dreamer of big dreams. She loves leading, speaking, and blogging. A graduate of Moody Bible Institute, Ruth is the coauthor of Hoodwinked and Pressing Pause. The Schwenks are the coauthors of For Better or for Kids. Ruth, Patrick, and their children live in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

My thoughts:
This is one of those books that it was a blessing to read as a Mom.  I guess I am often drawn to books on mothering and some are of course better than others.  This one did take me a little while to "get into."  I did enjoy reading it overall.

I like how each chapter focuses on a different pressure or issue a Mom may have. For example some of the chapter titles are: "I Want the Perfect Home," "I Have No Idea What I'm Doing," and "I Want to Make a Difference."  Moms will be able to relate to this book. It is real about the struggles Moms face, but it isn't overly negative (like another book on motherhood I recently read).  Another aspect I appreciated in this book was the biblical truths that are tied to each chapter. 

Here is a quote I appreciated as I have been thinking about my oldest son having four more years of high school.  I shared it on my Facebook page as I was reading this book. 
"Time is not our enemy. While it is often sobering to think about the future and the fleeting time we have, this is why we are raising our kids! We are not raising our kids to keep them. We are raising our kids to release them to God for his purposes." 

I received a copy of this book from Handlebar review program for my honest review.  Thank you.

Have a day of blessings! 
   Bethany

Book: Adored: 365 Devotions for Young Women

About the book:

In an ever-changing world, we can be certain of one thing: we are beloved by God. Adored: 365 Devotions for Young Women tackles tough topics girls face, from bullying and social media to friendships and dating, all the while showing readers how infinitely precious they are in God’s sight.

Each day features an easy-to-read, relevant devotion paired with a scripture verse and journaling space to help readers reflect on the day’s message. With honest, poignant, and sometimes humorous text, every page will speak to the pressures and changes girls face, giving them real-world applications to find God in their hearts and in their lives. Perfect for everyday use, Adored will resonate with girls searching for truth and guidance. Gift givers will love this highly designed book featuring a beautiful, foiled cover, and two-color interior pages.

My thoughts:
I have really enjoyed this little devotional book.  I've been reading it for the past month or so.  It is written well for young women and I believe it will speak to them in regards to what they are facing in their life.  The devotionals are not too lengthy yet they all have a good point that is applicable to real life.  I think a young teen woman would be encouraged by this book and in her walk with the Lord. 

I loved the size of this book because it was easy to hold and not too bulky even though it is thick.  Each page has a verse, devotional thought, and a few lines for journaling your thoughts if you wish.  Another plus I found is that it does not have each page dated; instead it says Day 1, Day 2, etc.  This makes it nice for you to give this book anytime, not just at the beginning of the year.  

This would make a very nice Christmas gift for any young girl in your life.  I think it would be suitable for those aged 13 and up.

Go to this page for more information and some nice shareables like the one below.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and Handlebar review group for my honest review. Thank you.

Have a day of blessings!
    Bethany

NIV Bible for Teen Guys

About this Bible:

The NIV Bible for Teen Guys, designed specifically for guys ages 13 to 18, is for real teenage guys with real lives. Packed with daily readings, highlighted promises of God, challenging insights, smart advice, and open discussion about the realities of life, this Bible is designed to help teen guys grow in their faith. The NIV Bible for Teen Guys is as serious about your walk with God as you are, helping you discover his will for all areas of your life, including relating to your family, dealing with friends, work, sports, girls, and so much more.

Features include:  Daily readings for teen guys by popular Christian male authors (Mark Batterson, Kyle Idleman, Mark Hall, Max Lucado, and more) Character profiles of men in the Bible Book introductions for each book of the Bible Highlighted promises of God: verses worth remembering A concordance for help in finding verses The complete text of the bestselling New International Version (NIV) of the Bible

My thoughts:
I have enjoyed using the NIV Bible for Teen Guys.  It is a hardback version and a good size to carry....not too big or bulky and also not too small that the text is too difficult to read. The easy-to-read text of black and olive for the chapter names/numbers and artistic elements are perfect for a guy (nothing girly!). The yellow design on the front is used inside as well.

There are some really good devotional thoughts in here.  I think they are very appropriate for a teen guy and are not too long or wordy that they won't read it.  I liked the topical index as well.

I asked my son to share his thoughts too.  He said he liked the Bible and thought the devotions had good lessons for teens.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Have a day of blessings!
   Bethany

Miles From Nowhere

Here is a book for you to check out by Amy Clipston!

About the book:
In the third book in the Roadside Assistance trilogy, Chelsea Morris has always been responsible, and focused on her dreams of fashion design-a dream that will officially begin come fall, when she leaves for college in New York City. And as she settles into her role as the lead designer for the local theater group, she decides to make the most of her last summer in North Carolina. But with her best friend Emily working late and spending time with Zander, and tensions with Chelsea's boyfriend, Todd, running high, the summer she envisioned seems to be falling flat. Then Dylan joins the latest summer production. There's something about the college boy that makes her feel free and alive, and soon she's broken up with Todd, and is sneaking out late to meet Dylan at parties and breaking rules at the playhouse. Before she knows it, her exciting nights are interfering with her job, her role on the play, as well as her relationship with Emily and with her parents. Worse, Chelsea finds herself feeling more and more estranged from God.

My thoughts:
I had not read any of Amy Clipston's young adult books.  I must say this is a very enjoyable book and I would recommend it.  There are so many lessons in this book for young adults which would make it a great book for a book study group.  I felt like the relationships and troubles experienced in this book are real to life for young adults today.  I liked that things were not just solved immediately and Chelsea doesn't always make the right decisions, which makes her seem like a real person.  I think young adults will be able to relate to the situations in this story.

If you have young adults in  your life looking for a good author with great stories, check out Amy Clipston.

This book is available April 7.  You can find more information here.  I received an ARC of this book as part of Amy Clipston's Bakery Bunch.

Have a day of blessings!
 

Once A Day Bible

Book Description:The NIV Once-A-Day Bible: Chronological Edition organizes the New International Version Bible---the world’s most popular modern-English Bible---into 365 daily readings placed in chronological order. This softcover edition includes a daily Scripture reading followed by a short devotional thought written by the staff at the trusted ministry Walk Thru the Bible.

My Thoughts:
I have read through the entire Bible in the past. I have always wanted a chronological Bible and was happy to receive this Bible for review. 

I have been very pleased with this Bible so far. I like the size of the book itself....it is not overly big and bulky as some Bibles are. Also, the font size is appropriate for me.  Each day has had 3-4 chapters to read followed by a short paragraph devotional about whatever you read that day.  The readings take probably 10-15 minutes. Another thing I like is that the days are not dated, it simply starts with Day 1.  This makes it great to start any time of year, not just in January! 

Having a daily reading makes it easier for some people to get in the habit of Bible reading.  I would highly recommend this Bible to you.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers &lt;http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 &lt;http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Have a day of blessings!
 

Teen Study Bible

Book Description:
The bestselling NIV Teen Study Bible has an all-new updated design to appeal to the next generation of teens. Packed full of study features that help today's students learn more about God, the Bible, and how God's Word relates to their lives, this Bible includes the following features:

• "We Believe" unpacks the Apostles' Creed to reveal the biblical foundation of faith
• Topical indexes help with in-depth Bible study
• Book introductions provide an overview for each book of the Bible
• Bible promises highlight Bible verses worth remembering
• Q and As test Bible knowledge
• 4 color pages include a presentation page and information about the Apostles' Creed
• 8-page full-color map section
• Biblical advice about friends, family, school, and other issues
• Complete text of the bestselling New International Version (NIV) of the Bible

With over 3.5 million copies sold, the NIV Teen Study Bible continues to be a teen's top resource for discovering the foundational truths of the Bible.

My thoughts:This NIV Bible has an appealing front cover and uses both the color and emblem on the front throughout.  It begins with the Apostles' Creed at the beginning and then throughout the Bible these are broken down line by line and explained with the text to back it up.  Another feature I liked was called "Instant Access" which is short little thoughts related to a particular scripture passage.  It helps the teen apply the verse to their own lives in a way that they understand.  "Dear Jordan" is another feature, which is like an advice column where someone writes a question and then Jordan writes a response.  These are about a wide variety of topics and seem relevant to teens  I liked reading these too.  There are other features too which are helpful like the maps at the end and a reading guide. 

Personally, I think teens (boys or girls) will enjoy using this Bible and find the layout and extra features helpful and interesting.   I know when I was a teenager I liked having a Bible with little "extras" tucked throughout that I enjoyed reading as I read God's Word.  I hope teens today will be in the habit of reading the Bible and find this is a great tool for parents to get their teens involved in daily reading. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Have a day of blessings!

The Bridge Tender

I finished The Bridge Tender by Matybeth Whalen while we were driving to our vacation. I've enjoyed her other books and was glad to be able to review this one.

About the book: Emily must realize that her dreams didn’t have to die with her first love. When Emily Shaw, a young widow, learns that her late husband's last surprise for her involves returning to Sunset Beach, North Carolina, to realize an old dream of theirs, she reluctantly embarks on a summer of discovery in the midst of grief. There, in the oasis of the beach community, she meets a host of townspeople with their own broken dreams and unexpected situations. As the island citizens divide over the fate of a nostalgic bridge, Emily happens upon a man who just may be the one to restore her faith in dreams, hope, and possibly love.

My thoughts:
This is a story of loss and healing after a loss. After Emily Shaw's husband passes away, she is faced with a life very different than she ever imagined. Her best friend Marta stands by her side through her grief and also encourages her to live life and pursue the dreams she had.  Emily works to do that and get involved in her new community and even make new friends, even though it hurts and she constantly misses her husband.

A big part of this book is the bridge. I enjoyed the symbolism of the bridge that is tied into the whole story.

I enjoyed the characters and their story. It reminded me that even with the pain in our lives we can find a way to continue living life and also the importance of not building a wall and shutting out others when we hurt the most.  Usually others have pain in their past too and shutting out people does not help you heal while opening up can sometimes bring healing to both parties. 

This is a nice book to add to your summer reading list!  I hope you will check it out!

Have a day of blessings!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book: Schools in Crisis

Book information:
Millions of children are not fulfilling their God-given potential in many of our nation’s classrooms. Their potential and purpose is literally being left on the floor of classrooms in many low-income communities. What may God have called them to do? How will a substandard education possibly prohibit them from accomplishing that purpose? In what ways are Christians and churches accountable for that? How are we our brother and sister’s keeper with respect to a quality education?

Join Nicole Baker Fulgham, formerly on the national staff of Teach for America and the founder of The Expectations Project, as she explores what our role is in solving the nation’s crisis for public education. This Barna Frame explores a critical topic of our time – Schools in Crisis

My thoughts:We don't have to look very hard in the news to find stories about problems in schools across our country.  What are we doing to try to solve these problems?  Should Christians get involved?  What can we do to make a difference?  These are the types of questions addressed in this little book from the Barna Group called Schools in Crisis.
 
What I like about this book is that it is easy to read and understand.  It is short in length so it is manageable to read in short time in a world where many people are busy and don't have time to sit down and read a long book about this topic.  It took me about an hour to read through it.  I learned some things about the problems facing schools across the nation and the trouble this causes for students and in turn society.  There are multiple graphs with data from various surveys that make the information presented easy to understand.  You will read a "frame" by Nicole Baker Fulgham who shares a story about a classmate that exemplified to her the vast disparity between education received by students from different schools.  This led her to want to know why this gap is the case for many students. In "Re/Frame" by Kristine Sommers and Jeff Martin, you will read three principles that should be considered by a church group before they begin helping a school.    

Whose problem is this?  Should you get involved?  Read this book and get some ideas on why it matters for you to be involved, even if you do not have children of your own in school. 

This book was provided to me through the BookLook Bloggers reviewer program.  Thank you. 

Have a day of blessings!

Book: Hands Free Mama

About the book:
If technology is the new addiction, then multi-tasking is the new marching order. We check our email while cooking dinner, send a text while bathing the kids, and spend more time looking into electronic screens than into the eyes of our loved ones. With our never-ending to-do lists and jam-packed schedules, it’s no wonder we’re distracted.

But this isn’t the way it has to be.

In July 2010, special education teacher and mother Rachel Macy Stafford decided enough was enough. Tired of losing track of what matters most in life, Rachel began practicing simple strategies that enabled her to momentarily let go of largely meaningless distractions and engage in meaningful soul-to-soul connections. She started a blog to chronicle her endeavors and soon saw how both external and internal distractions had been sabotaging her happiness and preventing her from bonding with the people she loves most.

Hands Free Mama is the digital society’s answer to finding balance in a media-saturated, perfection-obsessed world. It doesn’t mean giving up all technology forever. It doesn’t mean forgoing our jobs and responsibilities. What it does mean is seizing the little moments that life offers us to engage in real and meaningful interaction. It means looking our loved ones in the eye and giving them the gift of our undivided attention, leaving the laundry till later to dance with our kids in the rain, and living a present, authentic, and intentional life despite a world full of distractions.

So join Rachel and go hands-free. Discover what happens when you choose to open your heart---and your hands---to the possibilities of each God-given moment.

My thoughts:
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and felt it was very eye opening to me as a mother.  We know that time goes quickly, and before we know it our children are grown.  When they are grown will we truly know them? 

The author realized she was missing out on things that mattered most in life because of her constant distractions and the ways she was over committed.  She offers honest, painful stories of things she realized through her journey.  She offers some amazing realizations that happened for her along the way and shares these through her creative writing style. 

I think the message of this book is one that needs to be heard by our society that is constantly attached to a phone or to-do list.  It's important to realize that becoming hands free wasn't something that happened overnight, it is a continuing process, and we can't live in guilt when we do mess up.         
I appreciated the ideas she shared on ways to help readers become hands free based on things that had happened on her own journey.   

I hope others will read this book and realize the need to pay attention to the most important part of life instead of letting life pass by without meaning and value. 

This is the Hands Free Mama website.  Be sure to check out this book. 

This book was provided to me through the BookSneeze reviewer program for my honest review.  Thank you.

Have a day of blessings!

Reviews of children's books

I have several new children's books reviewed over on my other blog recently.  Please check out these books.  Christmas is coming very soon, and there are several that would make nice gifts!   

Click here for review of Pirates on the Farm by Denette Fretz.

Click here for my review of Mary Engelbreit's Peace on Earth A Christmas Collection.

 

Click here for my review of The Berenstain Bears Thanksgiving Blessings.

Click here for my review of The Berenstain Bears Storybook Bible. 

Have a day of blessings!

Children's books

I have two new reviews of books from "The Beginner's Bible" series.  Click on the links below the titles to read about these new children's books.  I reviewed them on my children's book review blog.

A Queen Named Esther

David Battles Goliath

These were sent to me by the publisher for my honest review. 

Have a day of blessings!

Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing (book)

About the book:
Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing, an innovative devotional by bestselling author Sally Lloyd-Jones (The Jesus Storybook Bible), presents 101 insightful, biblical thoughts that build a reader's personal day-by-day relationship with Jesus and create a deeper understanding of faith. Through the text and beautiful art by Jago, discover God seeks to know us with an amazing and grace-filled love.

My thoughts:The illustrations in this devotional book are very pretty and a younger child would enjoy sitting and looking at them.  For older children I feel this would be a good book to read together with a parent and discuss the point the author is trying to get across.  I felt some of the thoughts might be a little complicated for some children to understand if they are just reading on their own. I think adults could get some positive encouragement for their life out of these devotional thoughts as well.  I know I did as I was reading. 

The devotionals are very short, less than a page of text each.  They make the reader stop and ponder God's love and concern for their lives.  They are not meant to be lengthy, rather just short thoughts to help the reader know a little more about Jesus.

This would make a nice gift for a family member or addition to your own family library.       

This book was provided to me by the publisher for my honest review.

Have a day of blessings!

Rock Solid Faith Study Bible for Teens

The Rock Solid Faith Study Bible for Teens is a NIV hardcover Bible. 

There are many special features in this Bible on most of the pages. These include short articles called Unshaken People and Unshaken God. Unshaken People is a little write up about characters from the Bible, and Unshaken God describes qualities of God as related to a particular text.  At the back are maps, a concordance, an index and a Bible reading guide.   The beginning of the books have a brief outline and introduction of the book which is helpful. Also I like how the names of the books are listed in large print vertically on the side of each page instead of horizontally across the top as you typically see in Bibles.  It is a nice size and the font is easy to read.   

This would make a nice Bible for teens. 

Thank you to Zondervan for providing a copy of this Bible for my review.

Have a day of blessings!

Sports Collection Bible

Today I'd like to share the Sports Collection Bible from Zondervan. 

This NIV Bible has a fun sports themed cover.  You can choose from football (which is what I received), soccer, or basketball (pictured below).  This Bible is just the text, no extra notes included.  It has a nice design with an easy to read font, very thin so it will be great to carry along, and lays flat when it is opened.  Jesus' words are printed in red as well.

I have enjoyed using this Bible and like the fun cover options available.  My son thought it was neat too with the football cover.   This will make a great choice for a Christmas gift for a sports lover in your house! 

  

Which would you choose? 

Click here for more information. 
This Bible was sent to me from the publisher for my honest review. 

Have a day of blessings!

Animal-Print Collection Bible

This is a basic NIV Bible with a fun print cover.  It doesn't have any special features, just the Bible text.  It is small in size which makes it great to carry in a purse or backpack. It lays flat too when it is opened.  The print is small so this is not a Bible for those who have trouble reading small print.  The words of Jesus are printed in red.  It also has an elastic strip to hold it closed. 

It would make a great gift for a teen girl.  There are several prints to choose from as well.  

I personally liked it because of its small size and how it lays flat while it is open.   

Here is another one of the print choices.  Aren't they fun!?

Have a day of blessings!

I received this from Zondervan for my honest review.

Reivew: Homeschool Mom's Bible

Today I would like to share with you the Homeschool Mom's Bible NIV published by Zondervan. 

There are 365 devotionals in this Bible as well as a topical index and a place for notes. The copy I reviewed was a hardback version.  I thought the cover was nice (although I did take off the paper cover to avoid tearing it) and the size is easy to hold and not too bulky. The print was easy to read.  

I found the devotionals in this Bible to be very encouraging to Mom's who are homeschooling their children.  They were written by an experienced homeschooling Mom so other Mom's will be able to relate to her stories, experiences, and difficulties.  Reading from someone who has been there will definitely encourage other young mothers who may be just beginning their homeschooling journey. 

I was hoping the devotionals would relate to specific Bible verses that they were placed near.  However, they were just put throughout the Bible in no particular order.  There is one for each day of the year and at the bottom of each page it tells you on which page the next date can be found.

Personally, I would have preferred all of the devotionals to just be together in one book instead of interspersed through a Bible because the Bible did not have any additional extra features for homeschooling Moms.  I can imagine though that as a busy homeschooling Mom it would be helpful to have the devotionals right there in the Bible instead of having a separate book.  I did not like flipping around to find the correct days devotional.  Also, since the devotionals take up a full page I found it harder to find passages without the verses on the top of each page as they are in a regular Bible. 

If you are a homeschooling Mom I would recommend this encouraging Bible to you.  The devotionals are well written and to the point.  Thank you to the BookSneeze review program.

Have a day of blessings!

The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through BookSneeze® program.

A Hopeful Heart

Book Description:
In A Hopeful Heart, the first novel of the new Hearts of the Lancaster Grand Hotel series from best-selling author Amy Clipston, Hannah finds herself at a crossroads in her life. Her community offers her love and support after the untimely death of her husband, but an Englisher offers her the chance of a new life after her unexpected tragedy. Wealthy businessman Trey Peterson is surprised by his attraction to the gentle Amish woman who works as a housekeeper in the Lancaster Grand Hotel. They share a common bond of loss and are able to offer each other comfort and support as they journey through their grief.

Joshua Glick wants nothing more than to offer his friendship and love to Hannah and her family. Not only is he her late husband’s brother and business partner, he has always been in love with Hannah.

A Hopeful Heart is filled with surprising twists as Hannah tries to balance her life in the Amish community and her growing love for an outsider.

My Thoughts:
I enjoyed reading this first book in this new series from Amy Clipston.  I have read her books in the past and enjoyed this one as well.  When I started I really wasn't sure what would happen between Hannah, Trey, and Joshua.  It is clear Joshua cares for his brother's widow and her three children.  He hopes they can be a family someday, yet Hannah does not share the same feelings.  Hannah is very torn though with what she should do with the rest of her life and trying to figure out what is best for her and her family.  She has feelings for Trey that she cannot deny but if she chooses him instead of Joshua, everything about her Amish way of life will have to change.  By the end of the book she makes a decision, and I wonder what the future will look like for her because of her choices. 

This is an interesting story and different than other Amish books I've read.  It made me wonder if something like this ever happens in "real life" for the Amish.  I look forward to the next book in the series so I can see how things turn out for Hannah and her kids.   

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com® book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Have a day of blessings!

The Wishing Tree

I was thrilled to receive The Wishing Tree by Marybeth Whalen before we left on our camping trip. 

I have reviewed her other books and have enjoyed them all.  Here are the links for those:  The Mailbox, She Makes It Look Easy,  The Guest Book

Ivy Marshall discovers her husband has cheated on her.  She goes home to Sunset Beach to escape her problems.  It works out conveniently for her to be home and help with her sister's wedding plans although she does not want her family to know the truth of her marriage.  And she does not really want to be with her family either after running away to get married  years ago.  She is put in charge of making a wishing tree.  This is a family tradition at weddings where guests send cards of wishes for the couple and the cards are attached to the tree as a decoration.  While working on this tree she has to face her own reality and consider what she has and what she wants in life.   

This is another wonderful one that I recommend to you.  It is a book about relationships, friendship, restoration, marriage, and family.   It would make a great book to add to your summer reading list. 

I received this book in the mail by signing up as an influencer with the author.  Thank you!

Have a day of blessings!

Book: What's Your Mark?

I have read a book called What's Your Mark? by Jeremy Cowart.

This book shares stories of 16 people who have left their mark on other lives.  These people are doing all sorts of things to touch others, some around the world in poverty stricken areas and others here in the USA. Between the stories about the people is the text of the book of Mark. 

The idea is to show that anyone can leave a mark and impact others for good.  What you do may not be known by people around the world but it is still touching lives and making a difference.  Each of us can leave a mark on those in our lives.

I enjoyed reading the stories of this book.  The layout was a bit distracting to me.  There were a couple pages of stories of a couple different people and then a section of Mark.  It was odd to me how it was randomly interspersed with no clear beginning or ending points (sometimes in the middle of sentences) or direction as to what page the text would continue.  I thought it would have been better if the text was divided by chapters with more pictures added to break it up a little bit. 

Thank you to B & B Media group for sending me this book for my review. 

 
Have a day of blessings!

Unglued Devotional

Are you familiar with Lysa TerKeurst?  She is the President of Proverbs 31 Ministries.  I read her other book Made to Crave.  I had heard about her new book Unglued but have not read it.  Today I'd like to share with you the Unglued Devotional.

About the book:
God gave us emotions to experience life, not destroy it!
Lysa TerKeurst admits that she, like most women, have experiences where others bump into her happy and she comes emotionally unglued. We stuff, we explode, or react somewhere in between.
What do we do with these raw emotions? Is it really possible to make emotions work for us instead of against us?

My thoughts:
This book has 60 devotionals that are a 2-3 pages each.  They are easy to read in a short amount of time and are extremely relevant for every day life.  I like the idea the author presents that we are not going to be perfect but that we can make "imperfect progress."  I recommend this book to you.  The devotionals here made me think about my own reactions to situations in our home and in relationships.  I also enjoyed how each devotional had a "thought for the day."  I hope you will check this out and be encouraged as I was. 

Thank you to Zondervan for providing this book for my honest review.

Have a day of blessings!