100 WORDS OF AFFIRMATION YOUR WIFE NEEDS TO HEAR

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

100 WORDS OF AFFIRMATION
YOUR WIFE NEEDS TO HEAR
By Matt Jacobson

OVERVIEW: Matt Jacobson wants you to discover the powerful ways you can build up your wife in love with the words you choose to say every day—words every wife needs to hear. This book offers you 100 things to say to your wife that deeply encourage, affirm, and inspire her. Start speaking these words into her life and watch your wife—and your relationship—transform before your eyes. (From the back of the book.)

AUTHOR: Matt Jacobson was an executive in the publishing industry for twenty-five years and has been a teaching elder/pastor at Tumalo Bible Fellowship for the past sixteen years. Matt is also the founder and teacher at FaithfulMan. com. an online social media community focusing on the topics of marriage, parenting, and biblical teaching. He is the author of the bestselling 100 Ways to Love Your Wife. He lives with his wife, Lisa, in the Pacific Northwest, where they have raised their eight children.

MY REVIEW: 100 Words Of Affirmation Your Wife Needs To Hear is a companion volume to 100 Ways To Love Your Wife. Two special books every married man needs to read. Hopefully you are already affirming your wife in many ways. It's doubtful that you have been saying these same 100 words. And you don't need to be saying these same words in the same way Jacobson suggests. But you do need to be saying affirming words of your own. This book will help you find those words!

Jacobson's book is an excellent gift for a man to give to a friend. You will bless his life and the life of his wife. If a man has a troubled marriage, this book can help. If he has a good marriage, this book can make it better. Buy this book. Read it. Put it into practice. You will be blessed!

(I received this book from Revell a division of Baker Publishing Group for a fair and honest review.)

SHE PRAYS

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

SHE PRAYS
A 31-Day Journey 
To Confident
Conversations 
With God
by Debbie Lindell

OVERVIEW: In She Prays, Debbie Lindell invites you on a thirty-one-day journey to experience a confident and conversational relationship with your heavenly Father. She shows you how to replace the pressure to perform in prayer with a faith-filled expectation—trusting that God is delighted with every conversation and every word we whisper to him. Her desire is that your soul will be transformed as your confidence in prayer grows, and that your faith will be strengthened as you see God work through your prayers in ways you never imagined possible. (From the back of the book.)

AUTHOR: Debbie Lindell is the author of She Believes. She and her husband, John serve as lead pastors of James River Church in Springfield, Missouri. In 2003, Debbie launched the Designed for Life Women's Conference, which today draws ten thousand women annually from across the nation and around the world. This flourishing sisterhood reflects the passion of her heart—encompassing women from all walks of life who celebrate one another through life-giving and authentic connection. Find out more about Debbie and the Designed Sisterhood at LebbieLindell.com.

MY REVIEW: My book shelf holding books on prayer groans under the weight of so many books. All but one or two, written by men. When I saw the title She Prays. I said to myself, "You need that book." I come from a background that doesn't encourage women to pray in front of men. As a result I haven't heard many women pray. But when I have I have been moved by their heart felt sincerity. And believed that we were having a confident conversation with God.

I agree with author, Sheila Walsh, "If you have ever struggled to know how to pray or what to pray for, this book will be a gift and a guide." Debbie Lindell knows how to pray. What she shares in this book will bless your prayer life. The book is broken into four parts: She Prays With Understanding, She Prays With Knowledge, She Prays With Trust and She Prays With Power. This is a 31 day journey to confident conversations with God.

(I received this book from Revell a division of Baker Publishing Group for a fair and honest review.)

100 WAYS TO LOVE YOUR WIFE

Monday, October 07, 2019

100 WAYS TO LOVE YOUR WIFE
The Simple, Powerful Path To A
Loving Marriage
By Matt Jacobson

OVERVIEW: This book offers husbands practical, hands-on advice to start applying immediately. Maybe you are just entering into marriage and want to start off on the right foot. Maybe you have made some mistakes along the way and are struggling to connect. Or maybe you want your marriage to go from good to great. Where ever you currently are in in your relationship, let Matt Jacobson help you learn how to love your wife well. (From the back of the book)

AUTHOR: Matt Jacobson was an executive in the publishing industry for twenty-five years and has been a teaching elder/pastor at Tumalo Bible Fellowship for the past sixteen years. Matt is also founder and teacher at FaithfulMan.com, an outline social media community focusing on the topics of marriage, parenting, and biblical teaching. He is the author of 100 Words of Affirmation Your Wife Needs to Hear. He lives with his wife, Lisa, in the Pacific Northwest, where they have raised their eight children.

MY REVIEW: This is a small but powerful book. It can be life changing—if followed. Jacobson lists the different ways for a man to love his wife and then he makes brief comments about each way. When I say, "brief" I mean it! Very brief. In fact, I find it difficult to call this a book. And yet it is. It's a collection of wise ways to a loving marriage.

Out of the 100 ways that Jacobson gives to love your wife, I found only two or three that I may not have already thought of. But for most of us it isn't really the inability to think of these things. It's having the motivation to DO THEM. I'm eight-five years old and have been married for over sixty years. I knew 100 ways to love my wife before reading this book. I just didn't do them. Or at least, not consistently. Jacobson's book has woke me up and I feel motivated.

Young men or those recently married would be wise to run out and buy this book. Read it. And then follow it. By all means—do it! This book provides a simple, powerful path to a loving marriage.

(I received this book from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group for a fair and honest review.)

THE JOY OF DISCOVERING WHO YOU ARE

Monday, August 19, 2019

THE JOY OF DISCOVERING WHO YOU ARE

In his excellent book, SOUL PRINT, Mark Batterson tells the story of Corrie ten Boom traveling the world sharing her story of the atrocities she experienced at the hands of the Nazis. After a speech she would hold up a needlepoint she had been working on. The backside was a jumble of colors and threads with no discernible pattern. And she'd say, "That's how we see our lives. Sometimes it makes no sense." Then she'd turn the needlepoint over to reveal the finished side. And Corrie would conclude by saying, "This is how God views your life, and someday we will have the privilege of seeing it from His point of view."

Who are you? Who am I? There has never been and never will be anyone else like you. The same is true of all of us. We all should be on a journey to be all that God made us to be. Our moments of life are important. Moment by moment. Everything that has and will happen to us is shaping us to be who we are. I want to be me. I want to be who God intended for me to be!

I truly believe with all of my heart that God intended for me to be a preacher. I look back over my life and I see many of the moments meant to shape me into being ME. Of course I do not recognize them all. But I do recognize many that to my mind, point me in the right direction.

Don't take life for granted. Thank God for His providence. He is leading. Follow Him into the joy of you BEING YOU! Nobody else can be. Just you. Press on with Joy.

Corrie ten Boom often concluded her talks with the following poem:

                                 My life is but a weaving between my God and me,
                                 I do not choose the colors, He works so steadily,
                                 Oft times He weaves in sorrow, and I in foolish pride,
                                 Forget He sees the upper, and I the underside
                                 Not till the loom is silent, and the shuttles cease to fly
                                 Will God unroll the canvas and explain the reason why,
                                 The dark threads are as needful in the Weaver's skillful
                                        hand
                                 As the threads of gold and silver in the pattern He has
                                       planned.

CHURCH REFORMED

Thursday, August 01, 2019

CHURCH REFORMED
By Tim Bayly

OVERVIEW: In this book, Pastor Tim Bayly exposes lies the American evangelical church has believed and calls us to a simple, humble pattern of church that is clearly rooted in the Bible. It is a call to reform—a call to repent of the ways we have left God's design for the church, and a call to embrace what we see modeled for us in the Bible and in those places in church history where our fathers in the faith have been careful to show us what the Bible teaches. (From the back of the book)

AUTHOR: Tim Bayly was ordained a pastor in 1983. Since 1996, he has served as senior pastor of Trinity Reformed Church in Bloomington, Indiana. He is the author of Daddy Tried and co-author of The Grace of Shame. Tim and his wife Mary Lee have five children and twenty-some grandchildren.

MY REVIEW: This is a book about the church. The Scriptures make it plain that Christ is the head of the church which is His body. Christ loves the church and we should too. Those who are baptized are added to the church—His body. Tim Bayly has done an excellent job in this book of showing that in today's culture we have messed up God's plan for the church. He calls for reform!

Church Reformed points out what the church should be, what it should do, and why it matters. Tim Bayly writes clearly about how the church has gone away from God's pattern found in the Scriptures. He then takes what he calls the pattern and breaks it down piece by piece: the teaching of the Apostles, fellowship, the breaking of bread and prayer. I was a senior pastor for forty-seven years. I agree with Bayly that the early Christians set a marvelous example for us and that we need to follow that example.  I do not agree with everything that he says about baptism, the breaking of bread, etc. However, that does not take away from my favorable opinion of the need for this book. Tim Bayly loves the church and wants all Christians to love the church and be faithful to God's plans for the church as found in the Scriptures. I highly recommend this book.

(I received this book free from The Barnabus Agency for a fair and honest review.)

CALLED TO FORGIVE

Saturday, July 13, 2019

CALLED TO FORGIVE
By Anthony B. Thompson
With Denise George

OVERVIEW: This book is the account of pastor Anthony Batiste Thompson's wife's murder, the grief he experienced, and the radical choice to forgive the killer. But beyond that, pastor Thompson casts a compelling vision of the power of the forgiveness to transform our lives—personally, in our communities, and even in our nation.

AUTHORS: Anthony Batiste Thompson is the pastor of Holy Trinity Reformed Episcopal Church of Charleston. He was married to the late Myra Thompson. They have three children and six grandchildren. Denise George is the author/coauthor of thirty-one books. She is married to Dr. Timothy George. They have two grown children and one toddler grandson. George has served as founding director of LifeWay's Women's Ministry program and adjunct instructor at Beeson Divinity School.

MY REVIEW: Amazing. Absolutely amazing. This is a powerful story of forgiveness. While reading the book and now having read it, the same thought keeps coming to my mind, "How in the world could he do it? How could he forgive a man who killed his wife?" I too am a minister. I preached for forty-seven years. I preached many sermons on forgiveness. Still I wonder—could I forgive someone who murdered my beloved wife?

Pastor Thompson and his coauthor, Denise George tell the story of how on June 17, 2015, Dylann Roof, a young white man, attended the Wednesday evening Bible study at the predominantly black Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina. An hour later, Roof pulled a concealed weapon and killed nine African-Americans as they prayed, including Myra Thompson, the wife of pastor Anthony Thompson. Myras' murder devastated Anthony, yet he chose to privately and publicly forgive the shooter.

The story is told in ten chapters. From the first chapter, The Unthinkable Tragedy to the last chapter, The Path to Healing and peace. It is hard to read because it is so sad but compelling and uplifting as you see Thompson's beautiful heart of forgiveness. There is added value in the Epilogue, the Bible study questions and the five appendixes.

(I received this book from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group for a fair and honest review)

ACCESSING THE RICHES OF HEAVEN

Saturday, June 01, 2019

ACCESSING THE RICHES OF HEAVEN
Keys To Experiencing God's Lavish Provision
By Patricia King

OVERVIEW: Patricia King believes that God has given us access to the riches of heaven here on earth? She dives into Scripture and answers questions like: Do I have to wait to experience God's goodness? What kinds of riches are in heaven? What impedes my access to this heavenly abundance? How can I receive my spiritual inheritance? Does God bestow different kinds of riches on different people.

AUTHOR: Patricia King is a respected apostolic leader, evangelist, author, television host, media producer and sought-after speaker who has given her life for the advancement of God's kingdom. She is founder of Patricia King ministries and Women in Ministries Network and co-founder of XPmedia.com. Patricia and her husband, Ron, have two adult sons and three grandchildren and live in Maricopa, Arizona.

MY REVIEW: If you are part of the charismatic movement, this book will be a blessing to you and build your faith. If you are not part of charismatic Christianity, this book can still be a blessing to you if you are open minded and always interested in studying the Scriptures. Patricia King uses many Scriptures to back up her beliefs. I do not always interpret the Scriptures she uses in the same way she does but I am always searching for truth anywhere I find it. I want to know what she believes. I want all of what God has for me. Hopefully you do too and will find this book interesting and challenging.

Patricia King wrote: "I received divine revelation, but when I acted on it, I experienced divine, heavenly encounters—angelic appearances, open visions and miracles." I have been a Christian for almost seventy years and I have never experienced these things. I do not believe in any special revelation beyond the Scriptures. But I remain open and continue to pray and search the Scriptures. As I said before, this is a book that many will be blessed by. Those who believe as Patricia does and even those who don't.

(I received this book from Chosen, a division of Baker Publishing Group, for a fair and honest review.)

ALWAYS NEAR

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

ALWAYS NEAR
10 Ways To Delight In The 
Closeness Of God
By Robert J. Morgan

OVERVIEW: In Always Near, Pastor Rob Morgan shares a lasting message: God wants an intimate relationship with you, and He has gone to great lengths to make it possible. In our chaotic world, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and isolated, far from our Lord. That's when we most need a reminder that God is in the room. He is here, in this place.

AUTHOR: Robert J. Morgan is a writer and speaker who serves as the teaching pastor at The Donelson Fellowship in Nashville. He is the author of several books with more than 4.5 million copies in circulation. He is available to speak at conferences and conventions. He and his wife Katrina, have three daughters and sixteen grandchildren. Contact him at www.robertjmorgan.com.

MY REVIEW: Always Near is a lovely little book that would be a splendid gift, a lovely coffee table book, and a blessing to have by your bedside. We all need ways to delight in the closeness of God. Always Near provides 10 ways.

The book begins with an uplifting, encouraging introduction and then part one is Delight in Jesus. It's always a good thing to begin with Jesus. Part two is Delight in Listening to God and that's good—that's very good. There are ten different parts and they are all good.

Robert Morgan writes in a clear, interesting and encouraging way. He uses several illustrations and stories in each individual message. This is a book that will help you feel the nearness of Jesus, just when you need Him.

(I received this book from Book Look Bloggers for a fair and honest review.)

40 VERSES TO IGNITE YOUR FAITH

Monday, April 22, 2019

40 VERSES TO IGNITE
YOUR FAITH
By Laurie Polich Short

OVERVIEW: In this powerful, accessible new book, author and speaker Laurie Short mines the Scriptures, revealing insights and promises from 40 verses we often overlook. Digging into these "in-between" verses, she unearths fresh wisdom, guidance, and encouragement that will help you seek and experience God in new, dynamic ways. From trusting God's timing, to not worrying about the future, to holding on to faith when things look dark, the deeper understanding gleaned from these verses will help you navigate the challenges that cross your path, breathe new life into your weary soul, and ignite your faith once again. (From the back of the book.)

AUTHOR: Laurie Polich Short is a popular speaker and author. She speaks at conferences, colleges, churches, and denominational events around the country and has been featured on PBS, Focus on the Family, World magazine, and more. Find out more at www.laurieshort.com.

MY REVIEW: The 40 verses That Laurie Polich Short writes about in this splendid book are lesser-known Scripture verses. But she unearths fresh wisdom and encouragement from each of them. I have been busy highlighting and underscoring these verses and making notes in the margins of my Bible. Before retiring I preached, taught Bible classes for the church and taught extension courses in Bible for Pepperdine University. In all that time, I didn't spend much time with these 40 verses. Laurie Polich Short has helped me to see what I missed. These verses and her insights have been a blessing to me.

I agree with comedian Kerri Pomarolli who wrote: "Laurie Polich Short has a way of making every reader feel as if they are having an intimate one-on-one chat with a friend. She writes with clear messages and thought-provoking questions that make us think and ponder biblical truths in a new, enlightening way."

You can look these verses up in Bible commentaries and be blessed by what theologians think about them. And I have done that with most of them. But I feel I have received a double blessing by having these insights from Laurie. I like what pastor and author, John Burke said, "Laurie's life experience gives her great wisdom in bringing insight to life from Scripture verses we often miss, and these insights will deeply encourage your walk of faith."

(I received this book from Bethany House for a fair and honest review.)

WHAT IF IT'S TRUE?

Friday, March 29, 2019

WHAT IF IT'S TRUE?
A Storyteller's Journey With Jesus
Charles Martin

OVERVIEW:
With the same depth, sensitivity, and emotion that has made his novels beloved to millions, Charles Martin helps us engage the fundamental principles of our faith in new and inspiring ways.

Years ago, Martin cracked open his Bible and began wrestling with a few fundamental questions. He asked, “What if every single word of Scripture is absolutely true and I can trust it? How do I respond? Something in me should change, but what? How?” This book is the result of that exploration.

Writing as our guide, he uses a storyteller’s imagination to illuminate key moments from the Scriptures, primarily from the life and ministry of Jesus. In addition, Martin shares key moments from his own journey as a disciple—and bondservant—of Christ and a mentor to others. The result is a striking exploration of truth that helps us not just think differently, but live differently. Today.

AUTHOR: Charles Martin is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of twelve novels, including, The Mountain Between Us and Send Down the Rain. Charles and his wife, Christy live in Jacksonville, Florida. Learn more about him at charlesmartinbooks.com.

MY REVIEW: Excellent. Moving. True. I rarely if ever, begin a review this way. But this book is the exception. Did I say, "I like it"? I do. I like it a lot. Do I agree with everything Martin has to say in this book? No. But I agree with almost all of it and I think you will too.

However, if you do not enjoy reading Scripture do not buy this book. It is filled with the Word of God. Martin confesses that he is not a theologian. He is a writer. In my opinion, he is a writer with a good knowledge of Scripture. He uses a storyteller's imagination to illuminate key moments from the Scriptures, primarily from the life and ministry of Jesus. He also shares key moments from his life to help us live more like Jesus.

I agree with Ryan Britt, "Inside these pages, you will find the compassion of Jesus, the Father heart of God, and the endearing call of the Holy Spirit. Each chapter is a journey in and of itself, each prayer a healing balm to the wounded or wandering heart."

(I received this book from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for a fair and honest review.)

DECODING YOUR DREAMS

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

DECODING YOUR DREAMS
What the Lord May Be Saying to You
While You Sleep
By Jennifer LeClaire

OVERVIEW: In Decoding Your Dreams, Jennifer LeClaire demonstrates how God does indeed speak through dreams and why it is so important to understand what He's saying. Jennifer begins with biblical stories of mothers and fathers of the faith who experienced God through dreams at some of the most critical junctures of their lives. Jennifer is convinced God is still doing the same today, if we will only listen. Decoding Your Dreams teaches how to recognize the way God speaks through dreams by *showing how heroes of the Bible acknowledged dreams, *revealing the true source of dreams, *explaining dream classifications, and *pointing to scriptural and cultural dream codes.
(Taken from the back of the book.)

AUTHOR: Jennifer LeClaire is an internationally recognized conference speaker and prophetic voice. She is the senior leader of several prayer networks, including Awakening House of Prayer. Jennifer is a former editor of Charisma magazine and has authored more than twenty-five books, including Mornings with the Holy Spirit. She lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and is active online at www.Jenniferleclaire.org.

MY REVIEW: Let me begin by saying Decoding Your Dreams is well written and easy to read. Jennifer LeClaire knows a lot about dreams and what she thinks they mean. I wanted to read and review this book because I do not know anything about how to interpret dreams. I would love to know more and I was hoping this book would help. It didn't. I'm sorry to say that. I like to give positive book reviews and most of the time I am happy to say that I can and do. I did enjoy this book and I think others will also. And others may gain a better understanding of how to interpret dreams by reading this book. More so than I did.

The part of the book I found most useful was: Conclusion: 20 Answers to Questions Every Dreamer Wants to Know. I think most readers will find this part of the book interesting because most of us have these same questions. I'm not going to tell you that LeClaire does a great and satisfying job of answering these questions. I simply don't know. I will keep this book on hand and I am sure I will refer to it again when puzzled by a dream.

So, if you like me, would like to know what the Lord may be saying to you while you sleep, you may want to check out Decoding Your Dreams. Just because I'm still "in a fog" on this subject it doesn't mean you will be. This book may be a great blessing for you.

(I received this book from Book Look Bloggers for a fair and honest review.)

HOLY ROAR

Monday, January 07, 2019

HOLY ROAR
7 Words That Will Change
The Way You Worship
By Chris Tomlin and Darren Whitehead

OVERVIEW: In Holy Roar, Chris Tomlin and Darren Whitehead share a fresh perspective from the worship practices of the ancient world. Grow in your understanding of praise as Darren offers unique insights. be inspired as Chris shares how those insights take shape in the stories behind some of your favorite worship songs, including "How Great is Our God," "We Fall Down," and "Good Good Father."

AUTHORS: Chris Tomlin has 12 albums, 16 #1 radio singles, a Grammy award, 21 Dove awards, and two platinum and five gold albums to his credit. He is among the most well-known and influential artists in music. It is estimated that each week 20-30 million people sing one of Tomlin's songs in worship. More than anything, Chris loves being a husband to Lauren and a dad to Ashlyn and Madison. Darren Whitehead is originally from Australia. He founded Church of the City in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2013. Each weekend around 6,000 people worship at one of the five locations across the metro area. Darren holds both his masters and doctorate degrees in ministry, with his dissertation research focusing on Millennial engagement in the Western Church. He lives with his wife, Brandy, and their three daughters, Sydney, Scarlett, and Violet in Nashville, Tennessee.

MY REVIEW: Holy Roar is a well written and easy to read book that will provide insight and encouragement to deepen your practice of praise. Being eighty-four years of age and having been a pastor for forty-seven years I feel I know quite a bit about praise. I agree with Louie Giglio who said, "I can't think of two more powerful voices to call us to a vibrant life of worship than Chris Tomlin and Darren Whitehead." However, I also feel that their book appeals more to Millennials than to those in my age group.

This is a small book with seven encouraging and uplifting chapters. Max Lucado wrote, "Chris and Darren have written an inspiring, insightful, and practical book on worship." After you read Holy Roar you will want to worship God with everything you have. This is an important book and one that needs to be read by every worshipper.

( I received this book from Book Look Bloggers in exchange for a fair and honest review.)