Unglued Devotional by Lysa TerKeurst

Unglued Devotional by Lysa TerKeurst
   This book of 60 Devotionals is helpful, encouraging and uplifting.
She begins each devotional with a key verse from the Bible and a thought for the day.
   This simple verse helps you focus on what she is saying and it relates to the experiences she is about to share and how God's Word impacts and guides our thoughts and actions each day.
   I love how she writes about her life experiences. She makes what you are going through relatable. It is nice to read and now that you are not the only one going through these everyday struggles, some mundane, some horrible, some normal.

   Through her experiences, she brings it back to God. She brings it back to His Word, His Strength, His Love, His Guidance, His Sacrifice, His Forgiveness.
   She ends with a prayer, a prayer of thankfulness, a prayer of help, a prayer of request, a prayer of direction.
   This devotional also pairs with her book Unglued.  I have not read her book yet.  But if it is anything like her devotional, I am sure I will enjoy it.
   Lysa has a wonderful way of tying in her life's experiences to what God has taught us.  Life is not perfect and you are not perfect, but in God's perfectness and never-ending forgiveness allow us to forgive ourselves and realize that though we are not perfect, we are forgiven, we are loved and we can make the choice to change.  We may fall, but God is always there to pick us back up.


 Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Then Sings My Soul by Robert J. Morgan

Then Sings My Soul-Book 3 by Robert J. Morgan is a very encouraging devotional of hymns and the amazing stories behind them. 
I own both Book 1 and Book 3 and have enjoyed both immensely.
The first part breaks down the history of hymnody, from the ancient to German all the way to our contemporary.
Part Two chronologically goes through beautiful hymns from A.D. 100 to present day.
Inspirational stories from long ago, hymns that are not so familiar to ones we know by heart.
Beautifully covered and even includes the musical notes for every hymn, Then Sings My Soul-Book 3 is a beautiful addition to your inspirational library.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Daily Gifts of Grace

Daily Gifts of Grace from Women of Faith

This is a beautiful collection of devotions by the women of Women of Faith.
I jumped around reading the devotions and I love that you don't have to start on January 1st with this devotional.  You don't need to read it straight from the beginning and if you miss one, it doesn't affect the next one and you haven't lost any information.
It is in a very nice format, leading with a scripture, followed by a very transparent and open relative passage/writing by the women and ending with a simple yet pointed prayer.
These women have applied God's word to their lives, they have lived God's word  in their lives and they are expressing what they know in these wonderful devotions.
I have looked at and tried quite a few devotions, but this one seems to be very helpful and very well put together.
I would suggest this devotional to the many other women out there, single, married, widowed, divorced, young and old.  You will find nuggets of great wisdom from these women.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.comI was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Getting Unstuck!

STUCK
dvd based Bible Study by Jennie Allen

Stuck, stuck in our sin, stuck in our pride, stuck in what we want, just plain stuck.

This study is about getting unstuck from the things that bind us from God, from Christ.

It is an amazing study. Jennie Allen has provided many mediums to do different things in this study. The DVD is short, but direct. She has beautiful illustrations to go along with what she is talking about for that week. The conversation cards are engaging and thought provoking. The leader book gives good direction and guidance, even if you don't have an actual leader for your study.

I love the study guide. I love how Jennie shares her personal experiences with you. It helps knowing, especially that even though this person looks amazing, together and well-off, she still struggles like the rest of us.

I'm stuck and in so many different things. My past, present and I worry about my future. But I let so much of my past affect me. I know I'll never be perfect or fully ok, but in Christ I know that I am healed and daily He is there and forgiving and gracious. I do not want to abuse His grace, but I know I don't have to please everyone around me. I shouldn't be a people pleaser, but a God follower.

I am doing this study at home with family, and I hope to share it with my church and do this study with a group of fellow women.



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.”

Rosebud Blooming by Nancy Maggio



What a life! So much, so much to endure!  Though I am one-third her age, I understand and relate to the things/events/trials/pains/sufferings/joys she has gone through.  Nancy Maggio has a beautiful and artistic way of sharing the joys, struggles, pain, etc. in her life.  Being  into poetry myself, I truly appreciated her medium of expressing and writing.  It was very cool to share in her experiences in a similar way I share my hurts and joys/experiences.  She artistically combines her personal stories, struggles, joys and God's work in her life with her beautiful and creative poems.
Sometimes what you are going through in your life is or feels less painful when greater suffering is acknowledged. Or you're going through something similar and it helps to know how God is always and will always be there for you, no matter where you are at.  She has endured betrayal, fear, loss, emotional pain, physical pain and so much more, but most of all she has experienced and lives in the great joy of Jesus Christ.  She leans on Him and seeks Him, she asks Him why?  She asks Him for help, she rejoices in His sacrifice and comfort and guidance.
Thank you Ms. Maggio for sharing and putting your life out there to help others.

The Love & Respect Experience by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs

The Love & Respect Experience by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs
Reading through the devotional and especially selected excerpts, I have found very insightful and beneficial concepts and information by Dr. Eggerichs.  He made a very profound statement about devotions.  Devotions are not supposed to be about the two of us (as a couple) connecting as husband and wife emotionally and sexually.  Devotions is our time to spend in God's word, seeking Him and Christ.  Not spending time correcting or judging one another.  Seeking, learning and following God's word.  As he stated, devotions are not to be used to motivate your husband to better love you.  It's nice that Dr. Eggerichs understands the dynamics in the marriage, which we rarely talk about.  Women knowingly and unknowingly have a tendency  in certain areas to make a husband feel inadequate or have an "I know better or more" attitude. We have the more emotional personality, the more connected feelings, relationally.
Continuing on, we find more directions and Biblical teaching, as well as, Dr. Eggerichs personal insights and wisdom.  His 80/20 theory for example, is very awakening and eye opening, in marriage we tend to focus on the small empty part of the glass, versus the beautiful, almost full part.  We have so many good things/moments/parts of our lives that outweigh the negative parts and we tend to let that tiny negative looking glass affect all the positive points/parts.  These insights and more you will find in the Love & Respect Experience.  I believe it will help my marriage prayer life and I hope yours too.

God's Love Letters To You

God's Love Letters to You by Dr. Larry Crab

This 40 day devotional is inspirational and comforting.

It starts with a key verse, Dr. Larry Crab then writes a small segment pertaining to that verse and how it explains God's love for us from God's point of view.  He has a mall segment called, "Take a Moment to Reflet".  Here he gives you some readings, some thought provoking questions and questions of understanding God's love for us.  His last segment is, "Take a Moment to Pray." Here he provides a lead prayer for you to repeat, you can always talk to God more, but these prayers tend to help when you don't know what to say or if you need help getting started praying.

This book demonstrates God's love for us in many different ways, be it through his comfort, his understanding, his compassion, his mercy, his grace, his discipline, etc.  God loves us and wants the best for us.  This devotional points out in a brief straight forward manner, what those things are that he wants for us and shows us through the many paths of his love.

Take Action Bible, NKJV Together We Can Change the World

I have been going through the Take Action Bible, NKJV and I really enjoy the beautiful stories of people who have taken action in their lives.  The present it on wonderful full color pages throughout the Bible with places for you to write down "Action Notes" of your own and what you have done in your life.
It is laid out basically like a compact Bible, and it is a red-letter edition(everything that Christ says in the New Testament is in Red Letters).  
In the back of the Bible their are 52 action ideas for you to implement every week of your life.
As well as eight pages filled with maps of the times and places from the Old and New Testament in very colorful and great detail.
I would get this book for a recent high school or college graduate.  It is the perfect size and inspiration.

Same Life, New Story - Jan Silivious

Same Life, New Story by Jan Silivious is an excellent book for women.  It opens up your eyes to the women of the Bible.  It shows their stories in a much greater light than one has ever really thought about.  It gives us many examples on how these women in the Bible have gone through the same struggles, the same thoughts, the same paths we have.  It shows their rises and their falls.  It shows their heartaches and their joys.  Above all, it show that when faced with life changing and many times painful situations, that though they had their struggles and their falls, they leaned on God, they trusted Him and they followed, they came back to Him and it changed their lives completely.
I love the chapter about Leigh especially, because it puts my own life in perspective on how much I cling to the past to translate into how I walk through my every day life, blaming things on how I was raised or bad things that happened to me, even though those things happened, I can not let them dictate my life or I will be eaten up by my past.

I would suggest Same Life, New Story to every women out there.  It is a wake up call.

Voices of the Faithful -Book 2 - 1 Year Devotion Compiled by Beth Moore & Kim P. Davis

Voices of the Faithful, Book 2, compiled and written by Beth Moore & Kim P. Davis, is such an inspiring and amazing Devotional.

The stories of these missionaries are so awe inspiring.
The prayers at the end of each devotion are so right on and thought provoking.
A quote that has been inspiring my daily life is this:

A quote by Beth Moore, in the introduction says this, "I see an epidemic of boredom in the body of Christ. I am convinced that one issue is primarily to blame: we are protecting ourselves right out of our callings. Right out of our God-ordained destinies. We are comfort addicts...and we keep wondering why we never feel satisfied. I can't promise you that following Jesus wherever He leads will always be pleasant. I can't promise you that it won't eventually kill you. I'd have to insult the memory of countless martyrs to do so. But I promise you: this life is like a vapor. In what seems like a few short moments, we'll have come and gone, and all we'll have before us is this glorious, indescribable bliss. To fulfill our callings in the brief tenure we have on Planet Earth could conceivably prove the death of us -- for a very little while -- but to miss our callings out of fear is never to have lived at all. 'I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.' (John 10:10, NIV). Welcome, beloved, to the great adventure. I beckon you in Jesus' name to find your own ... if you haven't already."


Don't let yourselves become caught up in an epidemic of boredom.  Live an exciting life for Christ.
I challenge everyone to read this book.
It will truly give you a whole new perspective on a life living for Christ!

The Power of Respect - Deborah Norville

The Power of Respect is an amazing book.
Deborah explains from her own personal experiences and work environment, how crucial respect is.
Respect is something that has been lost to the generations.
Reading from Deborah Norville, you want to bring that respect back into your everyday life.
You want to give and get respect.

RESPECT --- It goes a long way!
I highly recommend this book to everybody, past and present generations.

The Author of "The Last of the Mohicans" - J. Fenimore Cooper

  Currently, I have picked up a classic writer, J. Fenimore Cooper.  Most know him as the author of "The Last of the Mohicans," if you know the author at all.  But I have set about to read the other four novels as well, that are all related to "The Last of the Mohicans."  In chronological order by read, they are: "The Deerslayer", "The Last of the Mohicans", "The Pathfinder", "The Pioneers", and "The Prairie".  I picked this book up at Barnes & Noble for a nice price of $3.  Check out theirs and Borders clearance sections, you will find plenty of good reads for less then $10. 

 Unknowingly, I started "The Pioneers" first, but I am going to stop and begin with "The Deerslayer".  They are called "The Leatherstocking Chronicles", detailing the life of "Natty" Bumppo, a.k.a., "Leatherstocking".

  The wtriting is so detailed and beautiful, you feel as if you are there in the East, the cold snow biting your cheeks, you can smell the powder from a freshly fired rifle, you can see the horses stamping impatiently in the cold.
    Well, you will just have to read it for yourself to see what I mean.
    This particular book contains the five novels in teeny tiny font written on over 1200 pages.  I am sure I will immensely enjoy this read.
    Keep reading my blog to hear the tales of "Natty" and the many other books and works I will be reading.

The Sweet By and By - Sara Evans

I was able to relate to Jade in this novel.  She didn't want to have anything to do with her past.  Her father was dead to her and her mother was for awhile a part of her past that she did not want to deal with.  Jade, a very talented and successful woman, is about to get married.  But when you get married you invite your family and in so doing with her, she had to deal with having her mother, someone who had not really been a participant in her life, come back into play.  It is a very well written novel about love and forgiveness.

I would definitely say this is a dramatic book, not in a bad way, but it helps you deal with the drama in your own life.  It helps you to think out, maybe I shouldn't be harboring so much anger and resentment towards this person.  Maybe I should be extending a Christ-like love which the Bible calls me to do.

I would definitely recommend this book to anybody out there. But I would especially recommend it to anyone going through issues of forgiveness and letting go of the past.
I will definitely read this novel over and over again.  I did not want to put it down the first time.

Book Review: She Still Calls Me Daddy by Robert Wolgemuth

She Still Calls Me Daddy by Robert Wolgemuth
Robert writes about being a father and a parent to your child, specifically your daughter after she is a married woman. He goes through the different aspects of that relationship, from giving advice to her to how as her parent's, the father and mother should be setting a godly example for her and her husband.

I LOVE THIS BOOK!!! I know this was written from a father's perspective to his daughter(s). I know this was written for fathers to read. But as a daughter who is married and has children of my own, it was a very informative and enlightening and inspirational book. Robert Wolgemuth brought in a very strong Biblical basis, while incorporating his own life experiences. I would definitely recommend this book to all parents out there with older children, little children, grandchildren. I would love to read his first book, "She Calls Me Daddy."

She Still Calls Me Daddy

I will be reviewing this first book as my beginning blogger reviewing.

So...How do you balance the 2?

I had my son back in June of 2006 and for his first year, save but for about a month, I was able to stay home with him. Being able to have that first year was quite a blessing.
Let me back up though and give a little history. I come from a one-income household. My father worked and my mother stayed home with my brother and I for 17 years. From the personal experience I had with this I have to say that I loved coming home to my mother being there after school, always there to help out, etc. Her staying home also proved a very great benefit when my parents decided to pull my brother and I out of school. We were homeschooled for just over three years; we both loved it. Now, my husband on the other hand comes from a tw0-incomes household. It is a very different environment. One major difference, obviously aside from the fact of himself and his siblings not having there parent home with them, was the monetary aspect. Monetarily, because both of his parents worked, they were able to provide in great monetary amounts for their children.
So how do you decide what is best for you?
Sometimes the decision is forced, you and your spouse do not make enough off of one income to even survive in this day and age; so both of you must work. It is not easy, I'll say that from the beginning. Being away from your child or children is one of the hardest things to do. I would like to say that if you are able to stay home with your child/children, I would do it. Children need that nurturing parent home with them. The mother has been placed on this earth as the nurturer, the husband has been placed on this earth as the provider(not to take away any part of his fatherhood and place as such).
The current position my husband and I are in, we both must work. But when given the opportunity, I would like to find a way to work less and be home with our son more.
The place of residence we are currently in is pretty unsuitable for the safety of our son, so for now, my mother watches him until we can find a safe and suitable daycare provider.
It is not easy to juggle job and child. For about a year I did so up north. I was blessed for the latter half of my work up north, to have a childcare provider that was absolutely amazing with our son. If I could replicate her and bring her down here, I would. Just a little note about my provider, which I will be looking for in the next person I give charge to taking care of my son. She had a motto: "Where manners are taught, and learning is fun." Most of her charges were 3 years old and younger. She worked very well with them; she had outside time, inside play time, they learned coloring, crafts, politeness, manners...I very much enjoyed the time and effort that she put forth to take care of the children with whom their parents had entrusted her with. She always made sure the children were safe and well taken care of. One key to working and taking care of your children is that you need to know and trust and have full confidence that the person who is taking care of your child is giving them the care that you would be giving your own child. It is not easy to find people who are very attentive to the children they are in charge of. But you have to be comfortable and know who you are sending your child to.
The necessity of having this environment for your child is that you do not want your child to be stressed out after a day at their daycare, you want to know they have been safe and well-fed and well taken care of.
Most people who work and have children, their day basically begins all over again when they pick their child up from daycare.

I will post more information later....