HIS WORD

 

Romans 12 (The Message)

 ^1-2 So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

The Word

"Forget about what's happened; don't keep going over old history.
Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand-new. It's bursting out! Don't you see it? There it is! I'm making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands. Isaiah 43:18-19 The Message

Thirty-One Days of Drawing Near to God

Resting Securely in His Delight

Written by Ruth Myers

About This Book

Draw near…
He’ll answer your deepest longings. 

Do you enjoy the soul-satisfying intimacy with God you were created for? In this heartfelt devotional, beloved author Ruth Myers invites you to a personal, daily encounter with your first, last, and best love.

Each brief but deeply satisfying reading explores the riches of God’s passion for you and your true identity as one in whom He delights. As you engage your heart with His, you’ll discover anew the joy of hearing Him speak to you individually, tenderly, in life-changing ways that will root you firmly in relationship with Him.

Experience lavish love, astounding mercy—and an intimacy more satisfying than you’d ever imagined possible. Draw near to God, and He’ll draw near to you.

My Review:
This is a book that I would normally not pick out but glad I did.The book is about the Lord being our "first love" and how much God loves us. It encourages us  to look to God to fill the places in our heart and life that we often look to others to fill. The author shares from her personal life experiences and how God filled the places of her life with His love through His Word to her. This book is more of a love story that we all can have with the Lord when we remember who are first love is and should remain being in our life, the Lord Jesus Himself.


I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream

By: David Platt

Multnomah Publishers, Inc / 2010 / Paperback

Publisher's Description

WHAT IS JESUS WORTH TO YOU?

It's easy for American Christians to forget how Jesus said his followers would actually live, what their new lifestyle would actually look like. They would, he said, leave behind security, money, convenience, even family for him. They would abandon everything for the gospel. They would take up their crosses daily...

BUT WHO DO YOU KNOW WHO LIVES LIKE THAT? DO YOU?

In Radical, David Platt challenges you to consider with an open heart how we have manipulated the gospel to fit our cultural preferences. He shows what Jesus actually said about being his disciple--then invites you to believe and obey what you have heard. And he tells the dramatic story of what is happening as a "successful" suburban church decides to get serious about the gospel according to Jesus.

Finally, he urges you to join in The Radical Experiment --a one-year journey in authentic discipleship that will transform how you live in a world that desperately needs the Good News Jesus came to bring.

My Review:
I found the book, “Radical” to be both inspiring and challenging. I had heard others mention the book and was wondering what the big deal is with this book. I had heard before, from friends that traveled and ministered in other countries that people in these countries viewed “us” Americans of having our own version of Christianity.
This book will make you think and challenge your own views of your personal faith. The book, “Radical” will make you asks the question,” Is this belief based on the bible or on an Americanized view of what the bible says.” We have seen how so many ministries today in the United States are so focused on money and desire things like the big houses, planes and building the biggest fancy church building they can, all of which has turn off the unbelievers. We need to consider what a true bible based Christian ministry really should be.
I would recommend this book for all Christians.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group as part of their blogging for books 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 225: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

SEE'S CANDY

I love See's Candy. Every year for Christmas my mom would buy a box of it from some organization selling it at Christmas time. That was long before the local Mall opened up with a See's Candy Shop. My sister and I would love stopping by the shop as we walked the Mall and would  buy a few pieces of the famous candy. Now, I live far away from a See's Candy Shop and can only dream of my favorite pieces of chocolate. If you haven't tried See's Candy give it a try.

A Time to Embrace Timeless Love Series

By Karen Kingsbury
Published by Thomas Nelson

from the publisher:
“A tragedy that could have ripped Abby and John apart just might bind them together for a lifetime.
After nearly divorcing, John and Abby Reynolds have renewed their vows and are feeling like newlyweds. Together they know they can handle the issues of their past, the questions from their children, and even the high school politics that drain the joy from John’s coaching career. But then tragedy strikes.
An accident tears at the hearts of their family and the depth of their existence. Fumbling for forgiveness and hoping for a miracle, John and Abby must remember what is important and cling to that above all else.
Together, they’re determined to move on with their lives. But is “together” enough for a future they never expected?”

My review: Kingsbury writes about real life situations. This is her second book about the characters John and Abby Reynolds. I read the first book, " A Time to Dance" and really enjoyed it. The neat thing is even if you haven't read the first book you can still read this one without feeling a bit confused, but I will warn you that after reading "A Time to Embrace", you will want to pick up "A Time to Dance."

The book "A Time to Embrace" speaks of love and commitment through good times and bad. It is about forgiveness from God, others and even ourselves. The author has us consider our faith and how it is tested during crisis.

I enjoyed this book very much and would recommend it to others.

The publisher provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through Booksneeze for the purpose of this review.

Thanksgiving

There is a lot to be Thankful for today. God is good! The past two years have been  difficult.  There has been times when I wondered if God was still there and if He had betrayed me, but through it all He was there holding me in His arms. I have to confess that at times I blamed Him and asked the question why. I still might not understand why but God's grace has been there and God has comforted me and held me in His arms. Today I am Thankful for many things but most of all for God's Love, Comfort and Grace.