5 Minutes with Jesus - a book review

5 Minutes with Jesus is a new book by Sheila Walsh. This book has 50 short daily readings. Sheila is candid and hilarious. She's easy to relate to and doesn't shy away from using stories from her own life. Each reading is easy to finish in a few minutes each day. The stories serve a purpose and have a lesson to learn and take away in each one. Each reading comes with several Bible verses which relate to the story she has told. Scripture takes you beyond the story and into His Word .... Which is always the best thing to turn to. I believe this is a great gift book to give to friends. I wish it had more devotionals. 50 will get you through about a month and a half and then you will need another devotional. I would like to have seen this as a year long devotional. 

For The Love by Jen Hatmaker - A book review

I love Jen Hatmaker so when a new book came out for review by her I was so excited to get it and read it. She writes with such grace and humor. She makes me laugh out loud so much of the time. Kinda funny to see others faces as I read this book in public. Her stories are just laugh at loud funny. She writes from down in the trenches of life - not someone who lives above the clouds but as one who walks daily the live she writes about for others to walk out themselves.

In For the love she shares her heart on women in Haiti as well as those we encounter on a daily basis and can gather around our own tables. I read her book and I think about how we put so much pressure on ourselves to be and do and how simple comments from others (especially women) can put pressure on us to be someone we were never meant to be. 

Do you have a pinterest account? pin much or see what others pin? Do you live on FB and see only one side of life that everyone puts out there. There is a no facebook and a non pinterest life that isn't so neatly put together. This book will lead you to true freedom in Christ if you will allow yourself to rely only on Him to lead the way for you. Don't subscribe to the hype that you have to be something other than you are according to the manufactured life that so many portray. 

I have underlined this book so much that I won't be able to lend it to you but you will do yourself a favor to get it and read it. I know that it is one that I will read again and again. Maybe with a fresh book each time since mine is so fully of underlining :)

If you ever find yourself struggling with being a woman, mother, friend, Christian, or wife you'll find a beautiful path in the pages here.

Run out and grab a copy (or three) today! You will be glad you did!

Anything - a book review

Lately this blog has become a place where I review books that I've read. Originally, it was a place where I could share the craziness that was our family of 4 then 5 and now 6. It has slowly faded into a review place. But something is stirring in me so if you will hang tight with me ... maybe just maybe this will become a different place.

I was able to review the rerelease of Jennie Allen's book Anything. However, I didn't know it was a rerelease. I had read her book Restless before and in it she had hinted at Anything. I knew I didn't want to read it. Because I knew that praying "Anything" could mean and Honestly, I wasn't ready. So about a month ago I got the email of new books to chose from for review and a "new" book by Jennie Allen was on it. HA~ Good one God! God - 1 Heather -0. I mean that in the best way.

This book has challenged me ... I gave it a quick read so that I could do a review on it but I wound up not reading it as fast (but still fast) as I wanted to. I will have to go back with journal and pen in hand and a few friends to really chew through this book. The best thing about the rerelease is the study in the back. She has given an 8 week study guide to go through with friends. It's not mean to go through alone and she points that out right in the beginning. SO in all honesty, I haven't done the study yet. But I did read through it enough to be able to say, I want to dive into it. I want to find a few friends who want to chew through it together and see what God has to say to us. I believe this is a powerful addition to the book. Because praying "anything" is hard, it's tough and scary. But to walk through that with friends who will hold you accountable and hold you up when the days are long and the war is real .... that changes everything!

This book is one that will not tell you anything you don't already know BUT it does change the game a little. At least it did for me ... it allows you to sit and allow your heart to be sifted if you will, as you read through it. Hopefully, allowing the things that God has already placed in your heart to start to surface to the point of allowing yourself to take the risk, to jump and land where God would allow your feet to plant after such a jump.

Who are we really living for? For what have we gained wealth and passions? What will we do with the "yes" we prayed when we decided to follow Christ?

I urge you, if you haven't read this book and if you feel something in you stirring but you can't put a finger on what it is God is stirring inside of you - Gather a few friends and go through this book together. Friends who will really get into the dirt and dive deep with you. I believe the world would be a different place if those of us who say we love and follow God would tell him that everything we have is His and anything He wants us to do - we will!

Are you ready to pray "Anything"?

Up at Night - A book Review

Sometimes we all struggle with fear, panic, worry, or anxiety in one way or another. Pete Wilson in his new book What Keeps You Up At Night tackles the topic of fear. Pete looks at what fear does to us, how it affects every area of who we are - our hearts and relationships with others. He offers practical advice to move us past fear and worry to a place of peace where FAITH and trust takes over and leads us past fear, anxiety and worry. Pete teaches us that we simply cannot allow ourselves to be overcome by our fear. He teaches how God created us for far more than to live a life crippled by fear, panic, anxiety and worry. Pete constantly pushes us back to prayer and study of God's word to push us past our fear by knowing the God who created us with a plan and a purpose. (Jeremiah 29:11) 

Pete's words are not new and his method is not new. But he presents his message in a way that will resonate and make you feel like you are hearing it for the first time. I have read all of Pete's books and cannot recommend this one enough. Pete's style of writing is captivating and doesn't make you feel like you are being shamed. He lifts you up and pushes you to Jesus - the author and perfecter of our faith. 

If Fear, anxiety or panic hold you back from living the life God intended ... grab this book and let Pete take you back to a place, with God's help, where you are at peace and living a life of faith and trust in the one who made you and loves you.

Make it Happen ... A book review

I enjoy reading. In the past year and a half I have read many, many more books than normal for me. I've developed a deep desire to read more and more. Reviewing books is what this blog has come to lately. So much going on with 4 kids and two side businesses are keeping me crazy busy :) But, I still find time to read and so here comes another review :)

I got to read "make it happen" by Lara Casey ... I've never heard her name before but the title of the book caught my eye. "Surrender your Fear .. Take the Leap... Live on purpose." I LOVE that by line! What if we all would surrender our fear, take the leap and live on purpose? What a better world this place would be! Too many of us are held back by fears ... some legitimate but most not so much. Many of us live life each day and are not present in that day and we have forgotten as a society to live on purpose - to live a life that makes a difference in the life of another or that leaves a legacy. We live for numero uno instead ... not for the benefit of another.

I enjoyed this book. I found myself underlining and taking notes on the sides of the pages. The book resonated with me at a place I've been pondering for a while. I love how I felt her encouraging me to lay down my fears, take a leap and live on purpose! I hope that if you chose to read this book you will feel compelled to take the leap and live a life of purpose too! Pick it up and give it a read and let me know your thoughts ...

This book is divided into Four Parts:

Part one: Surrender your fear
1. stop chasing perfect
2. Meet your fear
2. End the extremes
4. find an anchor
5. decide you can
6. let it go

Part two: take the leap
7. leap into trust
8. take a leap of faith
9. leap into what matters

Part three: live on purpose
10. Follow the real success equation
11. make room for grace
12. follow him

Part Four: your guide to make it happen
step one: Evaluate your life
Step 2: clear the clutter
Step 3: set purposeful goals
Step 4: take action
step 5: encourage others

BOOK OVERVIEW: 

Make It Happen is the story of how I surrendered my fear, took the leap, and got a life. In my case, a perfectly imperfect, fulfilling life as a mama, a working woman, and a grateful wife. This is the story of how I chose to make "it"-- a greater purpose than mine--happen, and how you can too.

MAKE IT HAPPEN is for 

women who find themselves worried, anxious and completely overwhelmed by the constant chase for perfection

those seeking the courage to jump into a new venture

working woman who are struggling to "do it all"

weary wives and moms looking for relief from burning

the candle at both ends 

anyone who dreams of a life lived not by accident, but on purpose

This book, as it says, is truly for everyone. It's all about progress not perfection. 

I can Learn the Bible - A review

Last week I received this book to review. We have used it with our kids twice now and I've actually looked through the entire book.

This is a great way to help kids learn 52 verses in a year, Or 52 weeks depending on when you begin the book. My kids were so excited when the book came in. we have our nightly traditions and devotions have always been first in those readings.  The book is very easy to follow. Each week / verse comes with a devotional that will go along with it. It's great for younger kids and I believe this is how it was written for.

The only suggestion / con I have is that I would love for them to have more devotions to go along with each verse. To break down the verse more for older kids to help them with the verse and to develop a love for wanting to memorize it. Otherwise it is a fantastic resource and one that I know my kids will grow and benefit from.