Tag Archives: book review

Wisdom for Life – Book Review

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Are you like me? We buy a book of devotionals that looks like it is exactly what we need and four or five days in we give up and find something new to read because it wasn’t what we thought it was. I found Wisdom for Life by Gail Purath to be exactly what I needed and wanted.

If you want to gain a deeper understanding of the Psalms and Proverbs this collection of 100, 1-Minute readings, gives direction on how to use Biblical principles to direct daily life.

If you’re dealing with discouragement, depression, or discontent you will find how the psalmist dealt with these tough issues. Are you wanting a more joy-filled, positive outlook? You’ll find some answers here. Have you wondered how to praise our God more effectively? She gives some excellent suggestions on how to give thanks in the mundane activities of daily life.

I love her style! When an issue is important to understand how the Holy Words apply to our life she wastes no time in explaining the errors in our thinking. Many of these very short, daily writings spoke to me about the people and this crazy world around me. Each devotion ends with a short section that helps us dig into the subject more deeply and use it more effectively in our own life situations.

This book will be available for you to read on February 21, 2023. You can pre-purchase it here (Wisdom for Life). It is definitely worth your time!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from B&H Publishing Group/Net Galley. 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 requirements, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Prince and the Prodigal – Book Review

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In this fictional retelling of the story of the sons of Jacob, Jill Eileen Smith gives a unique perspective of what life might have been like in approximately 1500 BCE. Using the well-known story and historical research she presents a fictional account that gives one new insight into the hearts and minds of Jacob and his children.

This delightful rendering of a part of Hebrew history gives some additional insight into how the coat of many colors came to be and what it might have been meant in the family… What life was like in the nomadic wanderings of the descendants of Abraham… How to become a slave and advance to a position second only to Pharoah… What Jacob, Judah, and Joseph might have really been thinking and feeling…

I highly recommend The Prince and the Prodigal. The age-old story of guilt, shame, and forgiveness comes alive in Jill Eileen Smith’s expert storytelling style.

Blessings to you and yours,

Marie

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell/Baker Publishing Group. 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 requirements, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Gospelbound – Book Review

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I had just spoken to one of my ESL students who said she has little or no hope for the world in which we live. Her vocal tone was almost a monotone and she rarely smiles. I am not sure how I can help this beautiful young woman. I want to help. I want everyone to understand that they were put on earth, at just this time and place, because God has a plan and purpose for their lives. Then I came across this book – Gospel Bound by Collin Hansen and Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra.

The authors of this book suggest that the key to living a hopeful and rewarding life is ‘to think big and small at the same time.’  What does that mean? Thinking big for me means trusting God for everything. Thinking small means helping others. Buy a loaf of bread and a gallon of milk and take it to the young mother who commented she didn’t have any. Call the friend who is making some tough decisions and simply listen to her talk. Giving what I can when I can is often just a little thing but it makes a God-sized difference in someone else’s life.

One of the problems in the US right now is that we do not understand or perhaps even recognize the amount of suffering that is going on around us. We have isolated our thoughts and actions to our own small group of people and rarely reach out to others. That’s not the way it’s supposed to be. The question becomes – is what I’m doing making any difference at all?  Gospel Bound suggests that it’s rare to be able to change someone else’s habits. But we must keep on helping others. Some will eventually see the Light. Others will go on as they always have. The Bible doesn’t say each endeavor will be successful, it just says do it! (Be obedient!) We are not asked to do miracles, that’s God’s job anyway, we’re asked to use what we have been given and get on with it.

How do we show God’s love in this topsy-turvy world? Here are a few examples from the book:

God’s Word is and must be our guide.

Live and work with integrity.

Give the best we have in all circumstances.

Show hospitality by sitting with newcomers in worship.

Volunteer in ways we never thought we could.

GET INVOLVED. Don’t just sit back when you see a need.

Be holy, godly, diligent, at peace (2 Peter 3:11,14).

Work while we wait because our minds are set on heaven.

Invest your love (of Jesus) in all your relationships. Take the focus off yourself.

Visit the lonely, feed the hungry, care for the sick.

Do what’s right even when you don’t want to. Even if no one notices. In other words, live with honor. Romans 12:17

Plant a church.

Pray through all your decisions and then stick with them.

Favorite Quote: “When billionaires like Bill Gates give away their fortunes to fight diseases and help the world’s poorest people, we recognize God’s provision, even if Gates does not recognize God.”

Although I recognized the value of this book I was a bit disturbed by some vulgar language and way too much explicit description of sexual activity. I simply want to warn you with this statement. I hope it doesn’t keep you from reading it.

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

This book will be published on April 6, 2021

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Net Galley/Walter Brook & Multnomah Press. 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.”

 

Roar-chestra

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Some of the best years of my life were spent as an Elementary Music Teacher. Of course, I was always on the look-out for new ways of teaching the basics of music. Wouldn’t you know I would find a very usable book for the classroom after I had moved on to another education career?

This delightful book is perfect for introducing some of the basic words used by the instrumentalists in the orchestra. It is cleverly devised to show different animals that match the action words. The author uses sleeping animals to show the concept of the word adagio and animals that can move swiftly to portray allegro. The illustrations are fun to look at and clearly show how the animal’s movements match the Italian word.

I highly recommend this delightful book for the classroom and home. Although recommended for ages 3 to 7, I think most Elementary students would enjoy it. After all, teachers, we never have enough books. Right?

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Net Galley/Kids Can Press. 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.”

The Powerful Purpose of Introverts – Book Review

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Yes, I am an introvert.  I certainly never thought I was until I read this definitive study of the subject.  I also took all the tests, answered the questions, did some research of my own, and discovered I’ve been denying parts of my personality.  What a difference!!!

I want to take a few moments of your time to share what I have learned and with that encourage you to read The Powerful Purpose of Introverts by Holley Gerth.

I am a creative person. I like to move furniture around, use color to enhance my home.  I like to sew, knit, crochet, cross-stitch, and design my own projects.  I like to read, write, and think in quiet places where I can totally focus. I love to teach, sing, and play the piano for God’s glory.   I like to share my work with others.  Trust me, I am not shy about it.  Now you might think, like I did for so long, that makes me an extrovert.  Not so!  All these things make me who I am.  Holley Gerth says, “When we become more aware of ourselves, we become more aware of others too.”

I used to think that people who want solitude, time alone, were some kind of weird.  I love being with people, talking with people, interacting with people, but it sometimes drains me.  All these things are not the opposite of solitude.  Allowing myself time ‘alone’ increases my creativity, deepens my Christian growth, and helps me focus on what is really important.

Through this book, I discovered to be the best me I can be I must take time to make and grow positive personal connections.  For me, this means listening well, being patient and persistent (always working on this one), and sharing the limelight.

I could almost hear myself talking at one point in my reading.  A loud noise of any kind is so deeply offensive to my sensibilities that I will choose not to involve myself in activities that have that potential.  Concerts of any kind, including the symphony, require me to always carry earplugs.  When Holley commented that she does too I was truly seeing myself.  I absolutely love music and good speakers, but they can be overwhelming for this introvert.

Holley Gerth writes about being an introvert with great passion, with the sensitivity of being an introvert, but most of all with the desire to help everyone understand both themselves and the people around them.

Oh, how I have grown through reading this book.  Read it!  You will grow too.

Blessings on blessings to you and yours!

Marie

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received an ebook copy of this book from Net Galley. 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.”