AT PEACE IN THE STORM

Monday, March 31, 2014

AT PEACE IN THE STORM
Experiencing the Savior's Presence
When You Need Him Most
By Ken Gire

OVERVIEW: Bestselling author Ken Gire weaves together stories from the Bible, history, and his own life to reveal how we can find strength and encouragement through the storms of life. Experience the joy of knowing the God who is always there to reach out a hand and pull you out of the waves. (From the back of the book.)

AUTHOR: Ken Gire (ThM.Dallas Theological Seminary) is the author of twenty-four books, including the bestselling Moments With The Savior Series and Windows of the Soul. He has won two ECPA Gold Medallion Awards, and two of his titles were selected as C.S. Lewis Honor Books. Ken teaches weekend seminars on writing throughout the country. He lives in Baltimore, Maryland.

MY REVIEW: Ken Gire is one of my favorite writers. So I was not surprised by how good and helpful this book is. He has done it again. I have a huge library and of all the books on the shelves, Ken's books are among my favorites. His Windows of the Soul may be my favorite book. And now this book has touched my heart and helped to calm my soul.

So many are looking for peace. Ken has written thirteen chapters that will help you experience the Savior's presence when you need him most.  An old song, one that I don't much like, but that we sang often when I was young, says "Troublesome times are here, filling each heart with fear... ."
I may not have liked singing this song, but it was true then and it is true now―troublesome times are here, filling each heart with fear.

Ken Gire says, "This miracle of the inner variety, this inexplicable and supernatural calm in the storm, is the greatest miracle you'll ever experience." Looking at the chapter titles like, "Peace Through Deep Rest," Peace in and Through Music," Peace Through the Body of Christ," I think to myself, that's just common sense. And it is! But there's not a lot of that around these days. And when we are in the midst of a terrible storm and we cry out to God thinking that all hope is gone and seemly out of nowhere we are swept up in peace―we say "Thank you God for this miracle. This kind of peace could only come from you." You don't want to call it a miracle? Okay. That's alright. But if storms are all around and your peace is gone, get this book. After you read it share it with someone else. You will not have to look far to find someone that needs it.

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

THE QUESTION THAT NEVER GOES AWAY― WHY

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

THE QUESTION THAT NEVER GOES AWAY WHY
By Philip Yancy

OVERVIEW: In his classic book Where Is God When it Hurts?, Philip Yancey gave us permission to doubt, reasons not to abandon faith, and practical ways to reach out to hurting people. And now, thirty-five years after writing his first book, Yancey revisits our cry of "Why, God?" in three places stunned into silence by the calamities that have devastated them. At some point all of us will face the challenges to faith Yancey writes about and look for the comfort and hope he describes. There are reasons to ask, once again, the question that never goes away: Where is God when we suffer? And Yancey, once again, leads us to find faith when it is most severely put to the test. (From the back of the book.)

AUTHOR: Philip Yancey serves as editor-at-large for Christianity Today magazine. He has written thirteen Gold Medallion Award-winning books and won two ECPA Book of the Year awards for What's So Amazing About Grace? and The Jesus I Never Knew. Four of his books have sold over one million copies.

MY REVIEW: He has done it again! Philip Yancy has written an outstanding book on one of life's most difficult problems--human suffering. I continue to be amazed by his excellent writing. But I don't know why I am. He never disappoints.

This is a small but powerful book. It provides real and practical help for those in desperate need. We often want to know where God is and why terrible things are happening to us and others. Yancy explores suffering in places all over the world. He recounts his own personal experiences of suffering and tells the stories of suffering people all over the world. By doing this he will help you to respond to your own suffering in a way you never thought possible. You will move closer to God by reading this good book. I predict that before you finish reading the book you will think of someone you just have to share it with.

(I received this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for a fair and honest review.)