Audio: 12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You

Today I will share with you an audiobook called 12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You by Tony Reinke.  The title is self-explanatory, but I wanted to share a little about the book here.

What effect is your phone having on your life?  The author shares a very insightful book that is very relevant to our culture.  There is a whole lot of information here about phones, social media, etc. and our responses to this.  It is really eye opening to think about how attached we are to our phones.

One thing that stuck out to me was how when we post pictures on social media we are looking for the approval of others.  How many likes will this get?  The author even shares stories of people who spend great deals of money getting the "perfect image" to share.  What he goes on to say is are we more concerned with getting the approval of men or of God?

I do not have a smart phone but do have an iPad so this was still relevant for me.  It has given me a lot to think about for myself.  This is a message that we all need to consider.  I highly recommend this book to you.

The book was read by Tom Parks. He was a great choice for this book in my opinion and very easy to listen to.

Find out more by visiting christianaudio.

 I received this book for my review from christianaudio Reviewers program. Thank you.

Have a day of blessings!
   Bethany

Do you like audio books?

Do you listen to audio books?  I love that our library has so many to choose from, both CDs and digital downloads. It has only been recently, probably last 5-6 years I guess, that I have listened to audio books.

The above picture shows a sampling of the audio books by Wanda E. Brunstetter at one of the local library branches (our neighboring town has three different locations around the city).

I have listened to most of these I believe.  The set at the end with the picture of the lady on the spine are from a series called The Discovery---A Lancaster County Saga. I really enjoyed that whole series.

Check out all of Wanda E. Brunstetter's books at her fun website.

Have a day of blessings!  
Bethany

Audio: Wreck My Life

Whoa! This is an amazing book!

About the book:
Inspiring Story of How Brokenness Leads to Bold Faith Jesus promises peace and trouble for his followers. But most of us accept the peace and are confused and angry when adversity comes our way. All-American soccer star Mo Isom knows the struggle firsthand. While her life seemed like a success, she was battling an eating disorder, the suicide of her father, and a horrific car accident. It wasn't until God wrecked her life that she discovered the glory of renewal through Jesus Christ and that wreckage can be sacred rather than scarring. Readers take the journey from broken to bold with her and learn to surrender their lives to the King who was wrecked on their behalf.

My thoughts:
I am not a sports fan and was not at all familiar with Mo Isom.  I usually enjoy autobiographies so I thought I'd give this one a try.  I'm so glad I did! I was so touched by her openness and honesty in how God changed her life amidst brokenness. She learned who God is through the "wreckage" of her life.  It is beautifully written and will touch your heart.  

The book is read by the author which made it all the more moving to me as I listened.

**There are parts of this book that are very intense regarding eating disorders and suicide.

Read more about this amazing autobiography at the christianaudio website.

I received the audio version of this book as part of the christianaudio reviewers program for my review.  Thank you.

Have a day of blessings!
  Bethany

Hope Unfolding

I recently finished listening to Hope Unfolding by Becky Thompson.  I had seen this book on several blogs and when I read the description I thought it would be a good book for me.  I had read some blog posts from the author's blog in the past so I was familiar with her writing.  You can visit her blog here.

This book is very encouraging to moms with stories filled with hope.  It reminded me that other moms feel the same way I do, experience the same highs and lows, face the same challenges, and that we are all loved by our amazing God.  The author shares many personal stories from her childhood, marriage, and motherhood that will help the reader relate to her.

The audio version is read by the author herself.  She does an outstanding job reading this text and I really appreciated that for this title it was read by its author.  It felt like she was right there talking to me, encouraging me through my day.

I cannot say enough good things about this book and highly recommend this book for moms.

This book was provided to me through the christianaudio reviewers program.  Thank  you.

Have a day of blessings!
 

Audio: Audacious by Beth Moore

About the book:
Thirty years in the making, Audacious is a deep dive into the message that has compelled Beth Moore to serve women around the globe. Glancing over the years of ministry behind her and strengthening her resolve to the call before her, she came to the realization that her vision for women was incomplete. It lacked something they were aching for. Something Jesus was longing for. Beth identifies that missing link by digging through Scripture, unearthing life experiences, and spotlighting a turning point with the capacity to infuse any life with holy passion and purpose. What was missing? Well, let's just say, it's audacious and it's for all of us. And it's the path to the life you were born to live.

My thoughts:
I have read several books by Beth Moore as well as done some of the Bible studies. To be honest, this one was hard for me to "get into" and follow (which is why it has taken me so long to complete this review).  I don't know if it was the time of year in which I was trying to listen or what, but it was just really hard for me to focus on it or understand the flow.

She makes some good points, but overall she seems to tell a bunch of stories about her life and relate them to the topic of each chapter.  I felt like I kept waiting for it all to connect, and it just didn't for me. I will say that the last chapter was beautiful and a really sweet reminder of the awesome God we serve.

This audio version was read by the author.  It does take a little bit to get used to hearing her voice. She does add emotion to the reading of the words though which makes it enjoyable.

I received this audio book as part of the christianaudio reviewers program.  Thank you.

Have a day of blessings!
 

Called for Life

I was so blessed to listen to this book, Called for Life by Kent and Amber Brantly and Dave Thomas. I closely followed the story of Dr. Kent Brantly last year when he had Ebola, listening to updates and praying for him and his family.

This book tells the Brantly's story--how they met, why they went to Liberia, and the details of his battle with Ebola. It is truly a remarkable story. This is a great read to hear things from his perspective instead of parts of the story we were told via the media.  I appreciated that his wife's story was included as well of her feelings as she tried to process the whole ordeal as she was was across the globe from her husband.

The narrators, Kaleo Griffin and Sarah Zimmerman, were a great fit for this book. I've heard Dr Brantly speak in person and felt the male narrator did a good job with his part. The female narrator was just as fitting in my opinion. I appreciated that two narrators were used.  

This is an excellent book, and it will touch your heart.  Find Called for Life here.

I received the audio version of this book as part of the christianaudio Reviewers program.  Thank you. (I should add that it ended up taking me a while to listen to this completely and get my review done due to some things happening at home.  Thank you for your patience.)

Have a day of blessings! 

 

Nobody's Cuter than You

About the book:
There is nothing as precious in life as a friend who knows you and loves you in spite of yourself. Yet over the last couple of decades, we’ve substituted the joy of real friendship with cheap imitations. We settle for “community” on Facebook and Twitter and a series of text messages that allow us to communicate with someone without the commitment. We like each other’s beautifully filtered photos on Instagram and delude ourselves into believing we have a community. But real friendship requires effort. It’s showing up, laughing loud, and crying hard. It’s forgiving and loving and giving the benefit of the doubt. It’s making a casserole, doing a carpool pickup, and making sure she knows those cute shoes are 50 percent off. Written in the same comedic style as the New York Times bestsellers Sparkly Green Earrings and The Antelope in the Living Room, Nobody’s Cuter than You is a laugh-out-loud look at the special bond that exists between friends and a poignant celebration of all the extraordinary people God had the good sense to bring into our lives at exactly the right moments.

 From the friendships we develop over a lifetime to the ones that wounded us and the ones that taught us to love better, Melanie Shankle reveals the influence our friends have on who we were, who we are, and who we will become. And on a day when our jeans feel too tight, our chins have decided to embrace hormone-related acne reminiscent of our teen years, and our kids have tested the limits of our sanity, they are the ones who will look at us and say, “Nobody’s cuter than you!”

My thoughts:
I am so glad I got to listen to this third book by Melanie Shankle. She's written one about motherhood and another about marriage. This one is about friendship.  It pretty much went through her life, sharing stories about the friendships she's had at different stages.   I enjoyed hearing her stories and could relate to so many of the feelings evoked by these various situations. I found myself thinking about my own friends and lessons I learned through the years because of the situations she shared about her friendships. Friends are important in all stages of life, and this book was a reminder of that to me.  We can learn from our friends and support each other through the happy and sad times of life.

This audiobook is read by the Melanie Shankle. I always seem to enjoy the books more when they are read by the author. She adds more emotion to the reading since they are her own words.

I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to you.

This book was provided by christianaudio reviewers program in exchange for my review.


Have a day of blessings!
 

What are you reading?

I had a couple books to share with you that I have finished. These were not received for my review; I just chose them from the library.

I listened to the audio version of Live Original.  I thought it was a good book with lots of good advice for young people as well as stories from Sadie and her family.  She seems to be a good role model for the youth of today.

Here is some information about the book from online:
Seventeen-year-old Sadie Robertson—star of A&E's Duck Dynasty and daughter of Willie and Korie Robertson—shares her outlook on life as she opens up about herself and the values that make her family what it is.
Sadie Robertson represents everything that a well-adjusted teenager should be, even while growing up in the spotlight on Duck Dynasty. She exhibits poise, respect for her family and friends, and a faith that influences her choices. Everyone wants to know how a family as eclectic as the Robertsons are raising such confident, fun, family-loving kids. With this book, Sadie sheds light on the values instilled by her family that make her the person she is.
Sadie lives by a simple list of principles that lead her to personal and spiritual growth and allow the relationships she has with her friends and family to flourish. These values include think happy, be happy; dream big; shake the hate; do something; and many more.

Living as a culturally relevant teen who loves God and her family, Sadie has become a role model for other teens and for parents who are eager to instill the same characteristics in their children.
---------------------------

Another book I have listened to is called The Struggle by Wanda E. Brunstetter.  This is the third book in the Kentucky Brothers series.  I had listened to the others in this series and was glad to find this one to listen to on Hoopla.  I have found this to be an enjoyable series with each book focusing on a different brother and his difficulties.  This book is the story of Timothy Fisher and his wife Hannah who have recently moved to Kentucky from Lancaster County.  Hannah does not want to be there.  Will the couple be pulled apart even more after a terrible tragedy or will they be able to come together?

The stories of the other brothers continue in this book too which I enjoyed. Check this out if you enjoy Amish fiction.

Have a day of blessings!
 

The Fringe Hours

I have seen this new book called The Fringe Hours by Jessica N. Turner mentioned on a few blogs.  I was glad to be able to listen to the audio version.

About the book:
Every woman has had this experience: you get to the end of the day and realize you did nothing for you. And if you go days, weeks, or even months in this cycle, you begin to feel like you have lost a bit of yourself.

While life is busy with a litany of must-dos--work, child-rearing, keeping house, grocery shopping, laundry and on and on--women do not have to push their own needs aside. Yet this is often what happens. There's just no time, right? Wrong.

In this practical and liberating book, Jessica Turner empowers women to take back pockets of time they already have in their day in order to practice self-care and do the things they love. Turner uses her own experiences and those of women across the country to teach readers how to balance their many responsibilities while still taking time to invest in themselves. She also addresses barriers to this lifestyle, such as comparison and guilt, and demonstrates how eliminating these feelings and making changes to one's schedule will make the reader a better wife, mother, and friend.

Perfect for any woman who is doing everything for everyone--except herself--The Fringe Hours is ideal for both individuals and small group use.

My thoughts:
When I read this book's description, I thought it sounded interesting so I would give it a try.  What I liked was this was a practical book of ways for women to take time for themselves.  Women are busy whether they are stay at home Moms or work outside the home, and it is vital for women to make time for themselves in all stages of life.  Women need to make it a priority to find time to do something they enjoy just for them.  There are many reasons we do not do this because of guilt and the pressures of comparison due to social media.  The author asks the reader to identify her passions and use those to find what you will enjoy doing during your "fringe hours." When we pursue our passions as women, we will end up being better wives, mothers, and friends.  Some scriptures are mentioned but not many.  I found this to be a useful book that would be beneficial to women no matter what stage of life they are experiencing.

Reading this book would be a good first step in making time for yourself as a woman!

This audio book was read by Carla Mercer-Meyer.  I did not enjoy her reading at first but got used to it as the book went on.

I received this book via the christianaudio Reviewers Program for my honest review.  Thank you.

Have a day of blessings!
 

Choose Love

I have listened to an audio book called Choose Love by Stormie Omartian.  Let me tell you a little bit about this book.  I have read other books by this author such as Power of a Praying Wife so I looked forward to another by this author.

About the book:

Stormie Omartian’s bestselling books on the power of prayer have touched millions of lives. Recent books have taken a closer look at the leading of the Holy Spirit and the call to be a prayer warrior for God. Now Stormie takes a fresh look at another powerful aspect of knowing our Creator…His amazing and great love for us.

We reflect God most clearly when we are motivated by the power of love in all we say and do. But first we have to understand the depth of God's love for us and receive it. Then we must learn how to effectively express our love for Him.

“One of the many ways we can show our love to God is to deliberately choose to show love to others and in every situation,” says Stormie. “We can only accomplish this with the guidance and enablement of the Holy Spirit. When we do that, God blesses us and transforms our lives in ways we cannot even imagine. And we will have a sense of God's pleasure toward us that is far more valuable than anything else we may desire. This book is about making that sometimes difficult choice and the rewards that follow.”

Transform your heart, your relationships, and your future as you press into God’s love and let the power of His life and character move through you.

My thoughts:  
I found this to be an insightful book about the many aspects of choosing to love.  It really is a choice we can make. This involves loving God, loving others including enemies, and even loving ourselves.  The author has a lot of valuable insight about love and shares her own stories throughout to effectively illustrate her points.

I really liked the chapter near the end of the book that pointed out what a lack of love for others is like...using the things in I Corinthians 13 that love is not.  These made me stop and think if these are in my own life.

Each chapter ends with a "prayer of love" and "words of love."

The author reads this book so it makes it feel more personal as you listen.  She has a soothing voice that fits with this topic. 

This audio version of this book was provided to me by the christianaudio Reviewers program for my honest review.

Have a day of blessings!
 

Love Not the World

About the book:Having every one of us been in bondage to sin, we readily believe that sinful things are Satanic; but do we believe equally that the things of the world are Satanic? Many of us, I think, are still in two minds about this. Yet how clearly Scripture affirms that "the whole world lieth in the evil one" (1 John 5:19). Satan well knows that, generally speaking, to try to ensnare real Christians through things that are positively sinful is vain and futile. They will usually sense the danger and elude him. So he had contrived instead an enticing network, the mesh of which is so skillfully woven as to entrap the most innocent of men. We flee sinful lusts, and with good reason, but when it comes to such seemingly innocuous things as science and art and education, how readily do we lose our sense of values and fall a prey to his enticements!

My thoughts:
I listened to the majority of this book as we were traveling on our vacation.  At times I had trouble following along and paying attention...I do not know if that is due to the fact I was tired or what. 

I am not familiar with Wathchman Nee. I found interesting that this book was from speeches done many years back.  The thoughts he presents will make you stop and think.  One chapter I liked was about being lights and what this means. 

The book was narrated by George W. Sarris.  He did fine with the narration.

I did not enjoy listening to this book overall so I did not give it more stars.  Maybe I would have enjoyed it more if I had read it myself and could focus more on the text.
I received this audio book from the christianaudio Reviewers Program for my review. 

Have a day of blessings!

Audio book: Hope Runs

I finished listening to an audiobook called Hope Runs.  It is by Claire Diaz-Ortiz and Sammy Ikua Gachagua.  The audio is read by Tavia Gilbert.

About the book:  Sammy Ikua Gachagua had lost his father to AIDS, his mother to abandonment, and his home to poverty. By age ten, he was living in a shack with seven other children and very little food. He entered Tumaini Children's Home seeing it as a miracle with three meals a day, a bed to sleep in, and clothes on his back.

When Claire Diaz-Ortiz arrived in Kenya at the end of an around-the-world journey, she decided to stay the night, climb Mt. Kenya, then head back home to Maine. She entered Tumaini Children's Home seeing it as little more than a free place to spend the night before her mountain trek.

God had other plans.

Hope Runs is the emotional story of an American tourist, a Kenyan orphan, and the day that would change the course of both of their lives forever. It's about what it means to live in the now when the world is falling down around you. It's about what it means to hope for the things you cannot see. Most of all, it's about how God can change your life in the blink of an eye.

My thoughts:

This was an enjoyable book. I thought it was well written and liked how it had the perspectives of both Sammy and Claire.  It made it enjoyable to me for the chapters to go back and forth between them to create their story.   What I got from this story was that one person can make a difference. Claire made a difference in the life of Sammy (and others at the children's home) who in turn has made a difference to many through his volunteer work.  Also, it is a reminder that God has plans for our lives that we can't always see or understand.  Sammy endured great hardship through his young life with the loss of his father and then being abandoned by his mother, yet he goes on to get an education and have a productive life. 

As the book ended I wondered what would be next for these two.     

The narrator, Tavia Gilbert, did a nice job. Her voice was pleasant and easy to listen to. Also, she made changes between the parts that were Sammy and Laura.  The audio ran smoothly.   

This book was provided to me for my review by christianaudio Reviewers Program. 

The Antelope in the Living Room

About the book:  Marriage is simultaneously the biggest blessing and the greatest challenge two people can ever take on. It is the joy of knowing there is someone to share in your joys and sorrows, and the challenge of living with someone who thinks it’s a good idea to hang a giant antelope head on your living room wall

My thoughts:I previously listened to Sparkly Green Earrings by Melanie Shankle (reviewed here) and was excited to be able to listen to The Antelope in the Living Room.  While that book is about motherhood, this book is about marriage. 

The author shares stories from her own marriage and how she and her husband have overcome challenges together.  The two are complete opposites in some ways, yet they are best friends and have a strong marriage based on what she shared in this book.  You will hear stories from their dating days on into their present marriage.  She shares both funny and serious stories and shows how it is all those little things built together that make for a meaningful marriage.

Any married person knows that marriage has its highs and lows. This book is a good reminder of the value of marriage in a world that has a throw away mentality about marriage.  It is a quick book to listen to because of the humor of the author and because the chapters are short and meaningful.  Melanie Shankle is the author of the Big Mama blog, and she writes this book with the same style as she writes her blog, including plenty of humor and sarcasm to make a point.    

This audio version was read by the author.  I was so glad to see she was narrating this one because it just makes a book of this type more personal. I did not have any problems with the quality of the audio and having the author read it made the book more enjoyable for me. 

A copy of this audio book was given to me as part of the christianaudio Reviewers program.  Thank you for providing this for my honest review. 

Have a day of blessings!

Audio book: Prepared for a Purpose

I have finished to listening to the book Prepared for a Purpose by Antoinette Tuff.  What an interesting story! 
About the book:

True Story of Courage and Compassion in a School Under Siege

As 870 children waited in fear, their elementary school rushed into lockdown mode. As the nation faced yet another Sandy Hook story of tragedy, one woman rewrote the ending.

Yet the story doesn't start with those first steps Michael Hill took into that Atlanta elementary school. It starts with Antoinette Tuff, a woman who faced her own pain, hurt, and rejection, yet held onto grace, faith, and hope. A hope that anchored her in the most high stakes of moments, a grace that allowed her to empathize with a hurting young man, and a faith that gave her the courage to love him back from the brink.

This is more than just the amazing account of tragedy averted. It's the evidence of what we can do when we allow ourselves to be used by God. And it's a story of how God uses all of our life experiences--the good and the bad--to prepare us for our own moment of divine purpose.

My thoughts:
What would you do if you were caught in a room with an intruder carrying a gun and lots of ammunition?  How would you handle such a terrifying experience? 

In this book, we learn what happened on a day in August 2013 when an intruder came into a school in Atlanta.  Antoinette Tuff is the woman who is filling in at the front desk when the intruder enters the building.  This book tells her side of the story.  It covers her own life from the pains of her childhood and then on to her marriage and birth of children.  She had a very hard life with lots of painful things happening from the time she was a little girl.  When she is faced with an experience no one ever wants to face, she feels that she was prepared for this day because of her life events. 

I really enjoyed listening to this book. It was very encouraging to me to be reminded that God has a purpose for the things that happen in our lives.  I appreciated the author's honesty in sharing the painful aspects of her past.  Also, this book shows the value of having a real relationship with God as she felt He gave her the words to say that day. 

This book was read by Robin Miles, and she did a great job reading it.  She was very pleasant to hear.

I received this audio book as part of the christianaudio Reviewers program for my honest opinion about the book.  Thank  you.

Have a day of blessings!

Grace Unplugged (audio book)

I'd seen a short preview of the "Grace Unplugged" movie and looked forward to the audio book version.

In this book by Melody Carlson, Grace lives with her parents and plays and sings at their church. Her Dad had a hit song called "Misunderstood" years ago, but he left the music world after that one hit. They have shared their love of music through the years and now Grace is hurt and confused when her Dad doesn't seem to understand her style and music preferences.  Grace considers her Dad to be way too overprotective and unrealistic in his expectations of her and her music.  She wants to make her own way and live her own life and chase her dreams.

I really enjoyed listening to this book. The characters were believable in how the responded to each other and interacted. There is plenty of parent-child conflict and also conflict between Grace and her friends because of her choices.  Grace's character and heart changes through the story, and it is interesting the other characters that are used to influence her in this process.  I think this positive message is one that can really touch lives and is one that this generation need to hear. 

This audio was read by Nora Hunter, and she was great for this book. She did a good job changing voices between the characters, and I enjoyed listening to her voice.
I received this audio book from christianaudio Reviewers Program for my honest review. 
Have a day of blessings!

Review: To Live Is Christ To Die Is Gain

I have finished listening to a book called To Live Is Christ To Die Is Gain by Matt Chandler and Jared C. Wilson and is read by David Cochran Heath.

About the book:
The short book of Philippians is one of the most quoted in the Bible, yet Paul wrote it not for the popular sound bites, but to paint a picture of a mature Christian faith. While many give their lives to Jesus, few then go on to live a life of truly vibrant faith.

In this disruptively inspiring book, Chandler offers tangible ways to develop a faith of pursuing, chasing, knowing, and loving Jesus. Because if we clean up our lives but don't get Jesus, we've lost! So let the goal be Him. To live is Christ, to die is gain—this is the message of the letter. Therefore, our lives should be lived to Him, through Him, for Him, with Him, about Him—everything should be about Jesus.

My thoughts:
I wasn't sure what to expect when I signed up to review this book.  At first it was hard for me to get into the book and follow along as I listened.  For this reason I would like to listen to the first couple of chapters again and see if I get anything new out of it. I did enjoy the book though the longer I listened and was encouraged as a Christian.  Philippians is one of my favorite books of the Bible and as the author says there are many well-quoted verses from this book.  What stuck out to me was to be reminded that these were not just nice little sayings.  To be reminded of what Paul was living and had endured was an encouragement to me.  I also liked how the author talked about early Christians in great detail.  This made these Christians seem more real to me than they have previously reading about them. 

The narrator David Cochran Heath did a good job reading and I enjoyed listening to him read.

I received this book for my review from the christianaudio Reviewers Program.

Have a day of blessings!

What Happens When Women Say Yes to God

I have finished listening to What Happens When Women Say Yes to God by Lysa TerKeurst. 

About this book:
Total obedience to Christ can transform an ordinary life into a remarkable journey. This is the hope found in the liberating message of Lysa TerKeurst--president of Proverbs 31 Ministries.

In What Happens When Women Say Yes to God, Lysa shares inspiring stories from her own life along with compelling biblical insights as she describes what it means to partner with God in all decisions and actions.
My thoughts:I am familiar with the author because of Proverbs 31 Ministries and also I have read some of her other books.  I enjoyed the message of this book and appreciated the examples shared from her own life of how God has blessed her for her obedience to Him.  I liked that she included examples of times when she did and other times when she did not obey.  She has a good message in this book to encourage women to radical obedience to God. 

I did not give this more stars because of the narrator I guess.  Several times I wondered if her tone and inflection was giving the message that the author intended.  It just felt like she was bragging or had an attitude or something in some parts regarding what she had done, the choices she had made, or the blessings she received.  I don't know if I would have felt that way if it had been read by the author or I had read the book version myself; however, at times I felt this voice distracted from the author's true intent and message.      

Thank you to christianaudio Reviewers Program for providing this audio book for my review.

Have a day of blessings!

Audio book: Sparkly Green Earrings

I had heard that Sparkly Green Earrings by Melanie Shankle (from Big Mama blog) was a good book so I was glad to see the audio version available for review.

In this memoir, author Melanie Shankle shares about marriage, miscarriage, friendship, pregnancy, and motherhood.

I enjoyed her style and felt she said aloud opinions I've often thought but not voiced. She shares her heart and the struggles she has faced and really we all face as women and mothers. She admits that she doesn't have it all figured out as a mother and is learning as she goes. 

I really enjoyed listening to this book and honestly didn't want it to end.  She had some great insight as a Mom, and I enjoyed the funny stories she shared.  I think women will really enjoy this book because they will be able to relate to her experiences. Her style is fun and you'll be laughing and nodding your head in agreement with her and maybe wiping away some tears too.

This book was read by the author which really added to the appeal for me.

Thank you to christianaudio Reviewers Program or providing the audio version for my review.

Have a day of blessings!

Comforts from Romans (audio book)

 

About the book:

Although we may go to bed at night believing the gospel, we wake up every morning needing to hear it again. Yet most of us don’t have time to dive into a lengthy commentary on the book of Romans—the book Paul wrote in order to showcase the glorious riches of the gospel.

 

Thankfully seasoned counselor and author Elyse Fitzpatrick makes the message of Romans readily accessible in 31 devotional-like chapters on what Martin Luther called “the very purest Gospel.” Perfect for even the busiest of us, Elyse helps us grasp the practicality of the gospel message and experience the deep comforts articulated in the book of Romans.

My thoughts:
This was a very enjoyable book.  I felt I learned more about the book of Romans and did get comfort from it (as the title says).  I liked that the chapters were short and focused on only a tiny piece of scripture.  It really helped me to think about what the verse was saying to break it up like this.  I recommend this book for you.  This serves as a great reminder to me of what Christ did for me.

Also, the narrator Tavia Gilbert was enjoyable to hear.  She had the right voice for this book I thought.

This book was provided to my by christianaudio Reviewers Program.

Have a day of blessings!

I Still Believe (audio book)

About the book:Christian recording artist Jeremy Camp has written songs that have touched millions of lives. His lyrics reveal a heart that’s been broken and a faith that has been tested and restored.

In I Still Believe, Jeremy shares, with unflinching candor and emotion, the extraordinary story behind his award-winning lyrics–from his impoverished childhood, rebellious teenage years, and spiritual awakening at Bible College, to the tragic loss of his first wife, Melissa, to cancer and the heart-wrenching spiritual journey that followed–a journey that reignited Jeremy’s faith, inspired some of his most beloved songs, and paved the way for a second chance at love with his second wife, Adrienne.

This memoir is a must-read for Jeremy Camp fans everywhere, and an inspiring, encouraging read for anyone who has ever experienced loss.

My thoughts:
This is a very thoughtful book.  I have heard Jeremy Camp's songs, but I had no idea of his story.  I touched by his example and faith.  I also enjoyed learning the meaning behind some of his most popular songs.  When you hear a song on the radio, you can often relate because of what you are going through in life.  It gives new meaning to me as a listener to find out why the artist wrote the song in the first place.  I felt he was honest about his life, the struggles he has experienced, and how everything has not been easy for him in his career. 

The audio version is read by Adam Verner, and he did a good job.  I had no problems listening to him or staying focused on the book. 

This book is well-written, and I feel it can benefit the listener by hearing his story and his example of faith during times of loss and heart break.  I am so glad I had the opportunity to listen to it.

This audio was provided to me by christianaudio Reviewers Program for my review. 

Have a day of blessings!