David and Goliath

"David and Goliath is a book about what happens when ordinary people confront giants. By "giants," I mean powerful opponents of all kinds - from armies and mighty warriors to disability, misfortune and oppression. Each chapter tells the story of a different person - famous an unknown, ordinary or brilliant - who has faced an outsize challenge and been forced to respond. Should I play by the rules or follow my own instincts? Shall I persevere or give up? Should I strike back or forgive?

Through these stories, author Malcolm Gladwell, explores two ideas in his book David and Goliath. The first is that much of what we consider valuable in our world arises out of these kind of lopsided conflicts, because the act of facing overwhelming odds produces greatness and beauty. And second, that we consistently get these kinds of conflicts wrong. We misread them. We misinterpret them. Giants are not what we think they are. The same qualities that appear to give them strength are often the sources of great weakness. And th fact of being an underdog can change people in ways that we often fail to appreciate: it can open doors and create opportunities and educate and enlighten and make possible what might otherwise have seemed unthinkable. We need a better guide to facing giants - and there is no better place to start that journey than with the epic confrontation between David and Goliath three thousand years ago in the Valley of Elah." (pg 5-6)

In this surprising book the reader is challenged to change their perception of how they view any situation they encounter in life, and take a different look at things through the eyes of the underdog. In reviewing the situation of David and Goliath's seemingly miraculous battle, we see things we haven't noticed before in simply getting to the end of the story. Things we overlook in the text of what was said to each of the opponents, to what they wore and how they approached the battle. Through analyzing this is great detail from a war strategy to one of confidence, you begin to see that your own personal storms in life offer a different perspective than what you thought. I simply LOVE every single story that Malcolm used to illustrate what looked like an easy victory and showed how simply changing our perspective can offer us a small window of winning against all odds.

I received David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell compliments of Little Brown and Company and B and B Media Group for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This is such a refreshing breath of fresh air when you look at the people Malcolm uses to illustrated the points in his book, from a basketball team of twelve year old girls who were the complete underdogs and how their coach used a completely different approach to use their disadvantages to their advantage and subsequently winning the national championships. It really does change how you will begin to dissect your situations, storms, or even adversity to life to see things the way God has designed you to see them. He challenges the reader to how we think about obstacles and disadvantages, offering new interpretation of what it means to be discriminated against, or cope with a disability, or lose a parent, or attend a mediocre school, or suffer from any number of setbacks. This is a MUST READ and MUST HAVE for anyone who has had to deal with any challenge in life. I personally give this one a perfect 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about David and Goliath, Malcolm Gladwell, or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell

You can also find Malcolm Gladwell on Facebook to stay up to date on all his books.

To read more reviews on David and Goliath check out B and B Media's Website.

Bound To A Promise

"Never in a million years did I think I would be feeling so apprehensive about a trip to Jethou, but then I never thought my parents would be murdered either. Life is so uncertain, and that is why what Kimberly's mom, Shirley, said to me the day I got "the call" keeps me from fearing what tomorrow may bring. She said, "Bonnie, I know this has shocked you and shaken you to the core, but honey, this did not take God by surprise."

Couple that with Pastor Johnson saying, "God, could have prevented this, but He didn't, and He doesn't make mistakes," and you've got a certain God in an uncertain world.

It is not God who makes our lives uncertain, it it those who choose to sin. God knew my phone would ring that fateful morning, and in His sovereignty He orchestrated His angels to watch over me, and He sent my brothers and sisters in Christ to come alongside me. Therefore, I rest in my faith, knowing that God can and will see me through anything." (pg 89).

In the book, Bound to A Promise by Bonnie Floyd, she chronicles the true story of the murders of her father William Norman Clever, his wife Kathleen and two crew man aboard the yacht Challenger, Thomas Williams, and Ian (Criddy) Cridland. It was the phone call no one ever wants to get and one that would consume years waiting for the suspects to be arrested and the trial to begin. But more than that, this book is about what redemption and salvation looks like for the believer that has to deal with a situation no one ever wants to deal with and how it looks to come out of it on the other side.

It show cases how prayer and faith in God got both Bonnie and her husband Don along with their family and friends through the darkest of times. It is a book based on the true story of those murders but more than that it is a store of restoration of lost souls and finding compassion instead of bitterness as the reader takes a walk back in time in Bonnie's shoes through this entire nightmare. Her faith in God remains evident on every single page and I am so glad I got the opportunity to read this.

I received Bound to a Promise by Bonnie Floyd compliments of B and B Media Group for my honest review and received no monetary compensation for a favorable one. The opinions contained in this review are strictly my own. This is such a great testimony not only of Bonnie's life of faith but also how God answers in some of the darkest moments of our life. The road is not one that is easily traveled but when you consider the alternative fork in the road, you can see the results of this endeavor once she emerges on the other side stronger in her faith than ever before. God never left her or her parents and He gives her confirmation of that through several ways. I rate this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars and highly recommend this to anyone struggling with faith in why God allows bad things to happen. It is life changing.

For more information about Bound to a Promise, Bonnie Floyd or where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Bound to a Promise by Bonnie Floyd

You can find Bonnie Floyd on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest books and information with her ministry.

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Creative Enterprises Studio; 1ST edition (2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 098905215X
• ISBN-13: 978-0989052153
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds

Our God Comes

They say when you are having a really difficult day, when it feels as if the world is against you and your struggling to find peace in your life, listen to some praise and worship music and see if it doesn't change your perspective. It's hard to remain down when you are lifting up songs of worship and praise to God along with all the cares and worries you are dealing with.

The Antioch Movement, which began more than 20 years ago, is dedicated to seeing the local church reproduce the Kingdom of God through prayer, evangelism, and discipleship throughout the United States and around the world. We are a people passionate for Jesus and His purposes in the earth. It is from these values that we worship Jesus with all our hearts and lives. This music is part of the soundtrack of our journey in Our God Comes.

This wonderful CD filled with songs of worship and praise consists of 14 songs and you are definitely bound to find something you love that lifts your mood and your soul. I've often times wished I could have my own CD of praise and worship songs from my own church to help me during long commutes, traffic jams and just rough days with turbulent storms that seem to want to drown me. This music had debuted on Itunes

The worship music and lyrics on OUR GOD COMES expresses the heart cry, prayers and joy of the worship team, songwriters and musicians from Antioch, led by James Mark Gulley. From the opening strains of audience approval, joyous praise and worship floods the listeners’ ears and ageless unchanging truths find a new sound for today! The savvy musical arrangements and gifted song writing flow from “Come” to “Our God Comes”, and the glorious experience is documented from the choruses of “Wonderful Counselor”, “How Much More” and “Savior Forever”. Clear Day Media Groupcreates products to help people see God clearly and impact the world through Christ-centered content. The 72-minute, live recording was produced by James Mark Gulley and assistant Owen Wible, recorded by Randy Adams and mastered at Marcussen Mastering in Hollywood, CA by Stephen Marcussen. Featuring songwriters James Mark Gulley, Stephen Gulley, Brandon Seibert, Thomas Wilson and Johanna Six, OUR GOD COMES also features worship leaders James Mark Gulley, Stephen Gulley, Johanna Six and Clare Berlinsky.

The full track listing for OUR GOD COMES is as follows: Come God And King Wonderful Counselor God Who Saves How Much More I Will Raise …Response Light Me Up Awaken Us One Hundred Three …Return Savior Forever …Selah Our God Comes

I received Our God Comes compliments of Clear Day Media and B and B Media Group for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own. There is such a variety of amazing music to enhance your soul and spirit that everyone can find something that suits them. I'd rate this CD a 4.5 out of 5 stars and hope that you'll pick this up to add to your Christian music collection.

For more information about Our God Comes, Clear Day Media  or where to pick up a copy of this CD today, please click on the links below:

Our God Comes by Antioch Live

You can find Antioch Community Church on their website.

Unlimited

Think of the possibilities of wasted energy being able to be collected and harnessed in such a way that it would provide unlimited energy with minimal costs. In fact such wasted energy does exist in the world of quantum physics as Simon Orwell has discovered while attending college at MIT and working with a colleague and fellow Professor Vasquez to uncover how to tap into that with an electronic device that would generate unlimited power. When Simon receives an urgent email from Professor Vasquez from Mexico, he only agrees to go in hopes of apologizing in person for something he has carried with him for years. Something that can only be done in person and Simon won't be set free from his internal prison until he comes face to face with Professor Vasquez.

Only once Simon crosses the Mexican border, things are about to take an unexpected turn for the worse. He is soon hunted by what he believes are drug cartels who are looking for the device that Simon has with him. While attempting to flee, he runs over a spike strip in the middle of an isolated road, that cripples his car and leaves Simon on foot to make a run for it. Now if he can only hide the black canvas bag with all his critical data in it along with a now damaged device somewhere in the middle of nowhere before he is found.

In the latest science fiction suspense novel from best selling author Davis Bunn, he takes the reader on an unexpected journey like never before. Soon to be released on the big screen, the novel sets the stage for a new war in Mexico, one that will not only involve gangs and drugs but a new source of revenue, power in the form of electricity. The cost per kilowatt in Mexico is now the highest in the world and new political enemies want their hands on Simon's device. He's not even sure that with the right funding that the device will even work as Professor Vasquez and himself believe it can. If they can only discover how to tap into the frequencies and particles to make them work in harmony.

Simon's only safe haven is an orphanage being funded through private donations and a pension from owner Harold Finch, who walked away from a lucrative career with NASA and consulting Fortune 500 companies to serve a higher cause. He has offered Simon a place to find more than safety here and in doing so many in fact put the children who live there in danger unless Simon can find a way to make the device work as planned. In due time, he will discover secrets to both the world-changing device and his own unlimited potential.

I received Unlimited by Davis Bunn compliments of B and B Media Group and B and H Publishing Group for my honest review. This one honestly took me awhile to get into the story. It takes its time establishing the background before the reader understands just what is being sought after and what the potential is. However like all great books perseverance ultimately pays off. For those that love a good science fiction with a suspenseful twist, then you will definitely want to check this one out. I'd rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars in my personal opinion.

For more information on Unlimited, Davis Bunn or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Unlimited by Davis Bunn

You can also follow Davis Bunn on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest novels.

B&H Publishing

Release Date: September 1, 2013

ISBN-13: 978-1-4336-7940-7

Retail Price: $14.99

BISAC: FIC042060 FICTION/Christian/Suspense

When God Makes Lemonade

When hard times strike, and they always do, it helps to share them with friends and family. Sometimes it provides wisdom when the answers we seek fail to come; sometimes it's a shoulder to cry on when grief and loss are too much for one pair of shoulders to bare the burden alone; other times it's to provide hope when the situation in front of us is simply too much for us to deal with. In the latest inspirational book that is slated to be part of an ongoing series, author Don Jacobson, is compiling those stories that show what happens When God Makes Lemonade from the lemons life deals us. These short stories written by real people teach us all and encourage us that even though we can't always see the good in our storms, God brings about life changing experiences so we might encourage and help others out along the way.

Don Jacobson begins the book with his own personal story of just how God walked with him when his life literally hung in the balance. Picking up his shotgun and taking a spare moment to venture off into the woods to try it out, Don was more than amazed when his gun malfunctioned and he ended up shooting himself. Failing to leave word behind to his wife of his intentions, his only companion was his dog, Big Boy. Not knowing how bad things really were, he heard the voice of God guiding him along the way. What happens next is something you'll have to pick up the book and read for yourself.

"The stories in When God Makes Lemonade are from everyday people who are surprised by unexpected sweetness in the midst of sour life circumstances. Why true stories? Because they give us hope, and in these difficult times, most of us don't need to be told to work harder - we're already working as hard as we can! What we need most is to be reminded that God is here working all things together for good.

So if you're struggling beneath the weight of unemployment, depression, broken relationships, an unexpected death, or any of life's other difficulties, don't give up!

Though the settings, names and outcomes are unique in each lemonade story, they all say the same thing - you're not alone!

Yes, stuff happens in life, but so does lemonade, and when it does, it's as refreshing as a cold drink on a hot August day. May you find that kind of refreshment in the stories you read in this heartwarming book, and may God bless you with the courage you need to hold on." (Pg 18.)

I received When God Makes Lemonade by Don Jacobson compliments of B and B Media Group and Thomas Nelson Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review. The best part about this book is that each story is unique and each one provides the reader an opportunity to walk in the shoes of each author and see what the long term result was. Too often we think that no one understands just what we're going through, but this book provides friendship in knowing we are not alone in our personal struggles. Sometimes it gives us perspective that others have it worse than what we are dealing with. The best part is the opportunity to share your own story on When God Makes Lemonade's website. Who knows maybe you're story will be published in the next book and the struggles you deal with now, will be used to help someone else who reads them find the light at the end of their own dark tunnel again. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars!

For more information about When God Makes Lemonade, Don Jacobson, or where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

When God Makes Lemonade by Don Jacobson

You can also find Don Jacobson on Facebook to learn more about this incredible mission of hope and encouragement.

To find out more information about how you can share your own personal story, please click here to visit When God Makes Lemonade's website. 

House of Mercy

The Blazing B was a 6500 acre cattle ranch that was created when Abel Borzoi and Dr. Roy Davis merged their professional passions of ranching and psychiatry and expands Blazing B's purpose. It became and outreach to functional but wounded men who needed a home and a job, like Wally, who had been at the ranch for three years, since a stroke left his body unaffected but struck his brain with a short-term memory disorder. It was called anterograde amnesia, a forgetfulness of experiences but not skills.

Those who know her, call her the horse whisperer, but those who don't know her as Beth Borzoi, Abel's daughter. Now studying to gain her veterinarian's license she works at understanding the spirits of the animals she works with, something her father feels she has a true calling for. It doesn't help that she is still suffering from a crush on her father's partner's son, Jacob who also works on the ranch. He's been the Blazing B's general operations manager for more than 5 years.

While working late doing a favor for a friend, Phil who worked on the Kandinsky's ranch raising thoroughbreds and Morgans, she attempted to work on his horse's inflamed eye. After realizing this infection had gone on too long, she called for the Blazing B's vet. While waiting, she was offered a ride on one of the most prized Thoroughbred, Java, Java, Go Joe! Even though it was late, she knew that the horse could see far better than she did and when she gave him full and complete control of the reins, he raced faster than she ever dreamed possible, until she sensed a change in Joe's demeanor. Beth soon realizes that the horse is now running for his life and just out of the corner of her eye, she spots it, a gray wolf.

Before she knows it the wolf has anticipated her moves and launches at her from the front, knocking her from the horse and taking down the Thoroughbred as well. Luckily for Beth, the horse missed landing on her but her arm is pinned beneath him. Now she awaits for the wolf's final attack on them both.

WOW is all I can say as this novel, House of Mercy by Erin Healy opens up on some exciting action just within the first couple of chapters and already has the reader breathless on the edge of their seat, you just know it's only going to intensify. I love it when a novel engages me so much that I find myself literally holding my breath waiting for the outcome and this one has plenty to suit those who crave suspense and action! But how will this outcome now affect what Beth wanted for her life? Will she be able to continue to pursue her dream of caring for animals as a veterinarian or will the accident claim the life she dreamed of in ways she couldn't imagine?

You'll have to pick up House of Mercy by Erin Healy to find out. I received this novel compliments of B & B Media Group for my honest opinion and LOVED every minute of it. It was engaging and taught the lessons of what happens when God's mercy is poured out on own lives even though we feel we don't deserve it. It also teaches us that no matter how long we find ourselves in the valley of the shadow of death, we will rise to the mountaintop someday and the view will be worth the wait. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars!

For more information on House of Mercy, Erin Healy or where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

House of Mercy by Erin Healy

You can also find Erin Healy on Facebook and sign up to win free books.

Globequake

In today's news, we are bombarded with stories of unrest, joblessness, health care concerns, the state of our country, and it seems as if we have lost hope. We are searching for something more than the current state of the country and wondering to ourselves just when will it end? How bad will things get? Will it ever get any better?

When the offer came to me to review Wallace Henley's book, Globequake and reading the synopsis of what it was about, I had to read it. Too often I find myself wondering if we are on the threshold of something bad just about to happen before Christ, himself, returns and puts an end to all this unrest. Christians still remain the most persecuted people in the world and why is that, when all the other religions of the world remain virtually untouched. Is there some piece of wisdom to glean from it all when you look back at the course of history from the time of Christ's birth?

Wallace Henley believes there is and offers insight into the signs that seem to overlap one another whenever chaos seems to reign out of control and how to offer hope to the Christian during such trials. While the book is difficult to get into, there are moments of clarity where you find information that creates an "Ah-ha" moment for the reader throughout. I love where he takes a look at seemingly difficult situations but shows that with great leadership most of them can be overcome and hope is assured. Using examples from George Washington and Winston Churchill that had to endure difficult wars where people need a strong leader to rise, remain calm and instill in the people they led that it will get better.

History has proved that when chaos is intense and doom is certain, there must be an immovable center. Right at the core there must be a point so sturdy that those hurtling through terrifying change can lock on and find safety, sanity, and stability. He provides amazing scriptural references to all his ideas and using Hebrews 11, shows us that God often uses the most flawed people to bring about His biggest changes.

For any believer, we need to hold on to our spiritual beliefs, have faith and remember that nothing that happens in this world, doesn't happen without God's knowledge. We need to be diligent in our prayers even when uncertainty is right in front of us. God will provide the strength to endure it all and no matter how bad things get, we have to remember God is in control.

I received Globequake by Wallace Henley compliments of B & B Media Group for my honest review and think that it's a great book for anyone who needs that reminder of just how a Christian needs to view the world when things seem like they are falling apart. I rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars due to having a difficult time remaining focused on reading through this one, but like I stated before, there is wisdom in perseverance in reading it through!

For more information on Globequake, Wallace Henley and where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Globequake: Living in the Unshakeable Kingdom While the World Falls Apart by Wallace Henley

You can also find Wallace Henley on Facebook by clicking here.

Blood Sugar Solution

Diabesity? What is that and what does that mean for you? Are we eating our way to sickness?

Diabesity is the newest term that combines diabetes and obesity and shows the new trend the world is heading to regarding our eating habits and lifestyle choices that will literally be killing us. This term refers to the continuum of health problems ranging from mild insulin resistance and overweight to obesity and diabetes, is the single biggest global threat of our time. It is the leading causes of heart disease, dementia, cancer, and premature death in the world and is almost entirely caused by environmental and lifestyle factors. This means that is is almost 100 percent preventable and curable. The interesting fact is that in the year 2020, 1 in 2 American's affected, 90 percent of who will not be diagnosed.

Gaining just 11-16 pounds doubles the risk of type 2 diabetes, while gaining 17-24 pounds triples the risk. We are becoming the United States of Diabetes. But there is great news, there is a solution available, one that is accessible and scalable, one that is available to everyone and prevents, treats, and reverses diabesity at a fraction of the cost. The book, Blood Sugar Solution by Mark Hyman, M.D., provides the solution for individuals, communities, and nations and each of us has the power to transform this problem.



In this book, Dr. Hyman introduces the reader to understanding the new epidemic across the globe, and why our current approaches to the problem don't work. He dispels the medical myths that prevent us from effectively addressing the epidemic such as type 2 diabetes is not reversible. He explores new research on the biology of food addiction and why food cravings and overeating are not your fault. He explores how Big Food, Big Farming and Big Pharma fuel the epidemic of obesity, diabetes, and chronic disease across the blog and explains what we collectively can do about it.

He teaches you the Seven Steps to Treating Diabesity by finding out which problems you have through quizzes and personalizing your approach toward healing. You will also learn how to prepare your mind, body and kitchen for the six week program which is a practical six-step, six-week program you can do on your own or with your health care provider. He also discusses the environmental toxins we expose our bodies to and how to reduce our exposure.

I received The Blood Sugar Solution by Mark Hyman, M.D. compliments of B & B Media Group for my honest review. I've always been a huge believer in natural foods and eliminating the exposure to environmental toxins and ingredients because I believe we are eating our way to sickness if we don't. This is a great resource to formulate a plan to get healthy, learn what is making you sick and take control of your health again. I will plan on using the information in this book to help me and my family make smarter choices when it comes to eating, cleaning and staying fit in order to live longer lives. I would easily rate this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars and think it's a perfect resource for anyone looking to get back to a healthier version of you!

For more information on this book, the author and where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

The Blood Sugar Solution by Mark Hyman, MD

You can also find Dr. Mark Hyman on Facebook and stay up to date on all the latest by clicking here.

Everybody's Daughter

I love it when I can find a unique take on a great historical novel and I found one hidden in the pages of Michael John Sullivan's latest novel, Everybody's Daughter. This is a unique blend of Science Fiction and Biblical Historical Romantic Suspense Fiction, so there is bound to be something for just about every book lover's genre!

In this wonderful novel, Michael Stewart and his daughter Elizabeth have the uncanny ability to be able to travel back in time through a tunnel beneath the old church he volunteers at to the days of when Jesus was still alive. He begins to live almost a double life, falling in love with a woman named Leah in Jerusalem, while struggling to raise his daughter Elizabeth in the current time frame. The interesting part of the story is how this novel opens with a last minute escape from a Roman soldier who was after both Michael and Elizabeth as they slipped back in time to the present day. While they remained safe, they left Leah behind who is now faced with dealing with Marcus, the Roman soldier who wanted to marry Elizabeth, even though she is only 14.

Michael is haunted by not knowing Leah's outcome and if she is still alive after they were able to escape. He's tried numerous times to pass back through the tunnel but it has remained closed, leaving him to wonder what has happened since he left. When Michael is asked to retrieve some items from the basement of the old church, he is immediately drawn into the tunnel once more and whisked back to Jerusalem. Only he has no control over how far back into the future he has traveled, he merely just shows up. When he arrives, it is farther back in time than when he met Leah, before her husband was viciously murdered but also back when Jesus was still alive.

Michael gets a rare moment while trying to find Leah's husband who is traveling to locate the Rabbi or teacher, the man we know as Jesus. Michael is able to hear Jesus speak to the multitudes on a hillside and afterwards has a most unusual encounter with Jesus in a cave where he learns just what his purpose is in being able to travel through time.

Now Elizabeth has realized that her father has traveled back in time without her and seeks out to find him. When she does, she finds herself in a different period of parallel time than her father and her life is now in danger. Will Michael be able to locate Elizabeth or will they be separated by the parallel periods of time in which they are able to travel back and forth in?

I received this novel, Everybody's Daughter by Michael John Sullivan compliments of B & B Media Group for my honest review and LOVED it. It's almost like a Historical version of the Time Traveler's Wife in which this one revolves around going back into the year of Christ and dealing with the people and events of that time period, meeting with Jesus, the disciples, and even witnessing the crucifixion of Jesus. Along the way however they soon find that the local pastor of the church holds the secrets of reuniting them both with a mysterious journal containing the tales of miracles within the walls of the old church itself. For me, this one rated a 5 out of 5 stars and a must read for book lovers of Biblical History and Suspense Fiction.

Everybody's Daughter is the sequel to Necessary Heartbreak which The Library Journal named one of the best books in 2010 in the Christian Fiction category. So you know I will definitely be picking this one up to see where it all began!

For more information about this book, the author and where to pick up a copy of this book today, click on the links below:

Everybody's Daughter by Michael John Sullivan

You can also find more about Michael John Sullivan on his Facebook page by clicking here.

Need You Now

It seems like at some point in our lives, we'll blame God for something that hasn't gone right in our lives. Perhaps it's the death of a child we didn't seem coming, or trouble with finances or an affair within our marriage. Yet often times God will place someone in our path when we struggle with the answers why to help us deal with this situation in ways they can verbalize and help us understand when God's ways can seem to overwhelming to comprehend.

In Need You Now by Beth Wiseman, The Henderson family is about to face the biggest challenge of their lives and their faith in God will be tested in ways like they never could imagine. Just when their lives seem to be settling down after moving from Houston to a rural small town of Round Top, Texas, the begin to see the facade that each of them have painted for one another.

With their youngest daughter Grace, just fifteen-years-old, she struggles with being labeled as the perfect child neither of their parents needs to worry about. Yet besides dealing with a boyfriend she left behind when they moved and trying to find new friends at her school, Grace has to find new ways of dealing with her out-of-control emotions. She turns to cutting, to release the emotions that are building up inside and a way to maintain control. Only thing is no one knows except a Goth girl at school named Skylar. Will she be able to stop in time before her family finds out?

Darlene Henderson has been the picture perfect role model of wife and mom, and now that her kids don't need her for anything else but a hot meal, she finds solace in getting a job helping special needs children. When Dave Schroeder, the father of the autistic girl she's been working with, begins to develop a much stronger interest in her that he could have imagined since his wife died, he begins to find new ways to come and see Darlene. Will she be willing to walk away from her own marriage to her husband Brad, even if he is seeing someone from work?

I received Need You Now compliments of B & B Media Group for my honest review and think that Beth Wiseman has done an incredible job at identifying the signs of both affairs and teenage cutting in this remarkable fictional book. Even though the characters are fiction based, this could very well be the story of any family we know. I applaud her for informing her readers through this powerful story and show how often pray is our last resort to our problems when it should be our first line of defense. I highly recommend this book and rate it a 5 out of 5 stars!

For more information on Need You Now, Beth Wiseman and where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Need You Now by Beth Wiseman

You can also find Beth Wiseman on Facebook by clicking here.

NIV Faithgirlz Bible

What more could a girls love than a pink Bible designed with her unique needs in mind? Zondervan Publishing has created a beautiful Bible with girls 9-13 in mind. Every girl wants to know that she's totally unique and special, and contributor Nancy Rue helps them do just that in the revised edition of the NIV Faithgirlz Bible. As a leading tween expert, Rue teaches girls that the Bible is real and relevant and, best of all, that the story of God and His people is also their story. Girls can now grow closer to God as they discover the journey of a lifetime, in their language, for their world.

The new Faithgirlz! Bible was developed especially for girls ages 9 to 12. Everything in it is written with a tween girl’s experience in mind, and it features the most popular Bible translation in the world, the New International Version. The features explain hard-to-understand things in the Bible and guide girls to put the Scripture to work in their own lives. The Faithgirlz! Bible focuses on sharing faith with friends and gives real ways for girls to do that.

Each book of the Bible has activities that make God’s Word more relevant than ever. And, of course, because it was developed for Faithgirlz! readers, they can expect to find it jam-packed with customized content and artwork that really makes the Bible stand out. Girls will love the cool design, the interactive features and the feeling of knowing that God’s Word is there for them whenever they need it. Some of the features included are:

• Book Introductions—Girls will read the who, when, where and what of each book of the Bible.

• Dream Girl—Girls will use their imaginations to put themselves in the story.

• Is There a Little (Eve, Ruth, Isaiah) in You?—Girls will see for themselves what they have in common with women of the Bible.

• Words to Live By—Girls will discover great Bible verses for memorizing.

• Oh, I Get It!—Girls will find answers to Bible questions they’ve wondered about.

Nancy Rue says, “I hope the Faithgirlz! Bible will help girls grow a friendship with the Bible, their own relationship. It asks questions, asks them to think and challenges them to apply what they’re learning. That’s how they’ll find a deep, personal relationship with God, rather than just by following rules or saying what they’ve been told without really thinking about it. Rules are important, of course, but they only make sense when they really believe the message of the Scriptures. That’s what this Bible is about.” The Faithgirlz! Bible is the perfect Bible to support girls in their journey into the “beauty of believing.”

I received the Faithgirlz Bible compliments of B & B Media Group for my honest review and the minute it came in the mail, my teenage daughter immediately snapped this up. A great sign that just the cover alone speaks volumes to her. Not only that, she asked if she got to keep it and I said yes, to much squeals of delight. Now this is part of our morning devotionals and she can't wait to share some of the insights that are included inside. It makes for a great conversation between mother and daughter while understanding and learning more about God's Word especially in the life of our daughters. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and highly recommend it if your looking for a beautiful Teen Bible for your daughter!

For more information about this Bible, Nancy Rue or where you can pick up this today for a special girl in your life, please click on the links below:

NIV Faithgirlz Bible by Zondervan Publishing and Nancy Rue

You can also learn more by visiting Nancy's website for Faithgirlz by clicking here.

Reasons for Hope in The Mosaic of Your Life

Sometimes the broken pieces of each our lives is there for a purpose. If would could share with people that times that God had used those circumstances to come into our life and make us better individuals and help us grow through our spiritual trials, we should be share those with people we come into contact with daily. Using those times of brokenness to connect with what God has done for each of us in our life.

This is what God had in mind for all those storms and trials in our lives. Those of us that weather through them can honestly say, we know what its like and we've been there and made it out the other side. Not only that, but here is what I personally learned by going through it. In the book, Reasons for Hope: In the Mosaic of Your Life by Carl Kerby, he shows people how we can get through life through sharing our trials with others. It helps show people what God's purpose is in our lives and how we can use that as a way to bring others to God. I received this book compliments of B & B Media Group for my honest opinion and think the author creates a fresh perspective on just how can witness to others through our personal pain. He shares his own struggles of being a son of professional wrestler and then trying to find his own way in life when so many doors seem to close. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion and find his stories very related to what we encounter in life.

"Life is not always picture-perfect, and sometimes it is difficult to see God’s plan or purpose—especially during difficult times. Reasons for Hope: In the Mosaic of Your Life, by sought-after speaker Carl Kerby, researches the many aspects of faith that will encourage everyone looking for hope in today’s troubling times. With humor and passion, Carl answers questions about suffering, evolution, relativism, faith and more, strengthening his readers and equipping them to offer true hope to a broken world.

“In a mosaic, the artist arranges pieces of cut or broken stones or tiles to create a decorative pattern. We may struggle to grasp the overall design of a mosaic when we’re looking at the individual pieces up close, because what we see looks like a piece of junk, broken and useless. But when we step back far enough to view the entire mosaic, we get a new perspective, and we see the intricate beauty of the finished masterpiece. That enables us to grasp the original intent of the artist,” explains Carl Kerby. Reasons for Hope chronicles Carl’s rocky start as the son of a professional wrestler and takes readers from his difficult teen years and his military career to his stressful responsibility as an air-traffic controller at one of the nation’s busiest airports and ultimately to his ministry calling as a speaker. Carl reveals how God has created a beautiful mosaic from the broken pieces of his life, held together by the saving grace of the cross of Jesus Christ. As readers join in Carl’s journey, they will come to understand how the bigger picture of their own lives reveals a unique and beautiful mosaic.

Using his dynamic and infectious passion, Carl reveals God’s hand throughout his life, from childhood to adulthood, from unbelief to belief. No matter what the circumstances, God gathers up the broken pieces of life and forms them into something beautiful, all according to His purpose and plan. Carl’s story will not only give reasons for hope but will also encourage readers to share their only true hope, Jesus Christ. Readers will walk away knowing that the broken pieces of their lives are used by God to make beautiful and useful vessels for His work."

About The Author:

Carl Kerby is president and founder of Reasons for Hope (rforh.com), founded in 2011 as a response to a calling from God to proclaim the authority and authenticity of the Bible. He was previously a founding board member at Answers in Genesis for ten years and served there for over fifteen years. Before that he worked as an air-traffic controller at O’Hare International Airport. Kerby’s love for Jesus fuels a passion to engage the minds and hearts of youth and adults so that they can know the truth of God’s Word. He is a sought-after speaker both in the United States and abroad. Yet his most cherished accomplishment is his 29-year marriage to his wife, Masami, and his roles as father to his children, Alisa and Carl, Jr., and as grandfather to Trey.

For more information on this book, the author, and where to pick up a copy of this book, please click on the links below:

Reasons for Hope: In the Mosaic of Your Life by Carl Kerby

Not In The Heart

What would you do to save the life of your child? For most of us parents, the answer is an easy one. There isn't anything we wouldn't do. However for a man like Truman Wiley that answer has been a struggle. A difficult internal struggle at that. Being married to Ellen and having two children, Aiden and Abigail, he has spent his whole life trying to measure up to what he believes they expect and want from a husband and father. When he comes up short, he turns to his only addiction, gambling. Whether it's online or visiting a local casino or horsetrack, Truman finds that when he wins, he feels like he's on top of the world, able to meet the obligations to his family he feels they are owed, but when he loses as is often the case, he turns and runs. Runs away from the very thing he swore to protect and love, his family. This is where we find Truman as Not In The Heart begins by Chris Fabry.

Truman Wiley was once at the top of his game in journalism, over turning rocks to bring to light the slime of the world's worst whether they were in politics or in the lime light. He felt it was his true talent to not be afraid of the truth and be willing to report it, no matter how often his life was threatened. Until no one wanted to work or hire Truman any longer. Then he found that gambling provided the control he needed to maintain in his life. His personal life was a wreck.

His only son Aiden since he was young was diagnosed with a heart defect that would place their family under enormous financial and physical pressure. Not knowing from one day to the next if this was in fact their last time with Aiden, they lived on the edge. Ellen maintained the burden of caring for the children and family while Truman tried to find a way to make ends meet. When he failed, he ran. Ran away from the family that needed a husband and father more than a paycheck, but he couldn't see past that. He felt like a failure and until he could rise above once again, he would stay away. Better to do that than show himself to be a failure to those whose opinions mattered the most.

When Truman learns that there might be a way to save Aiden through an heart transplant of a man waiting on death row, he is curious how he could possibly help. When Ellen explains the wife, Helen Wright has one request that he write her husband's story of transformation from murder to reformed man since finding God in his life and is willing to pay him to do it, Truman takes the bait. What he learns in working through the evidence on the case, is that an innocent man may in fact be put to death. How can he is good conscience report the truth if it means his son may die if he doesn't get this heart transplant?

I received Not In The Heart by Chris Fabry compliments of B & B Media Group for my honest review and found it difficult not to relate to the characters Chris brings to life within the pages of his novel. From the internal struggle happening within Truman, it's easy to see how a man can judge his worth by what he brings to the table and how often he finds it's easier to give up rather than push forward when the challenge becomes to hard. Truman is forced to come to terms with all his past mistakes and it's hard to watch how often he will turn away from his family to work towards the goal of saving his son, but in the process is missing opportunity to connect with him while he wants to spend time with his dad.

I have known my own Truman in my personal life, with addictions to jobs. I can see how easy it would be to justify working long hours and missing personal time with your family for the reward of a paycheck because you think it justifies the time being away. It has taken me years to see that in life, there is a cost to everything, and not everything is worth the cost it takes on your personal life and family, we just need to see it. For this reason, this book will speak to hearts everywhere and shine the light of truth inside us all and for that, I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars. Chris Fabry's writing style will touch your heart in ways you never thought imaginable and I can't wait to read the next one!

For more information on this book, the author and where to purchase a copy of this book, please click on the links below:

Not In My Heart by Chris Fabry

You can also find Chris on Facebook by clicking here.

The Accidental Bride

If you've never read a Big Sky Romance novel by Denise Hunter, you are truly missing out. Denise writes her characters so well, you can't help but feel as though they are truly real people. In her latest, The Accidental Bride, Shay Brandenberger has experienced a life time of pain. First, her childhood love, left her standing at the altar when fear got the best of him and he simply headed west. Promising herself to never fall for another man again, Shay did the unthinkable and fell hard again.

Maybe as a way to prove to herself and the town of Moose Creek, Montana, that she wasn't hopeless failure after all, she married Garrett, against her common sense. Now the mother of a new daughter, Olivia, Shay realizes that she never loved Garret and that he doesn't fit into her ideal dream of a cowboy running a busy family ranch, now in her care. Divorced and a single mom, Shay vows to commit her life to simply raising her daughter as best as she can, and try to find a way to keep Yellowstone River, her family ranch from being foreclosed on by the bank.

When she volunteer's to play the part of the bride in a wedding reenactment in a Founder's Day ceremony, she is hoping to finally put all the past behind her. Only when she arrives at the altar, Shay is more than surprised and shocked to see the man she almost married, Travis McCoy is the groom. Can she pull her emotions together to get through the ceremony or will she once again be the talk of the town?

I received The Accidental Bride by Denise Hunter compliments of Thomas Nelson Publishers and B and B Media for my honest review and LOVED IT! Once again, Denise captivated my heart and emotions as I truly felt for both Shay and Travis in their relationship. Trying to find a way to deal with their feelings and the pain of getting hurt, they both decide to trust God to handle things and the gossip and rumors that any small town is bound to have. This one rates a perfect 5 out of 5 stars in my book and can't wait to pick up all the Big Sky Romances!

For more information on this book, the author and where to purchase a copy of this book, please click on the links below:

The Accidental Bride by Denise Hunter

You can also find Denise on Facebook by clicking here.

Triple Dog Dare: One Year Dynamic Devotions for Boys

Boys want action. They don’t want to sit around and talk—that’s for grown-ups and girls. They engage life and relationships by doing something: skateboarding, playing games or re-creating favorite movie scenes. So why should faith be any different? That’s why Jeremy V. Jones created Triple Dog Dare: One Year of Dynamic Devotions for Boys—to provide the action boys need in order to grow their faith.

The Bible is full of action. Remember how David slew Goliath, Daniel faced those lions, Paul survived a shipwreck and Jesus stood up for a woman about to be killed? God made boys to take His truth and do something with it, to man up and change the world. These action-packed devotions for boys ages 9 to 12 are filled with godly truth and bold spiritual challenges that transform time with God into the adventure of the day.

Triple Dog Dare connects God’s Word to boys’ hearts and hands with real-life scenarios and activities. Each day is filled with short Scriptures, concise biblical truth and a daily dare, all challenging them to put their faith into practice. Scripture readings from every book of the Bible open up the action-packed Word of God. Whether it’s drawing comic strips of biblical battles, dreaming up a life list of goals, making snack packs for the homeless or producing Bible-based movies, boys will go on daily dynamic experiences with God, taking faith off the page and setting it into motion.

Themes cover the daily realities of pre-teen males, including bullying, peer pressure, girls, sibling rivalry, honesty and more.These exciting devotions will inspire boys’ hearts toward godly characteristics such as integrity, generosity and kindness. Parents will appreciate watching Christ-like traits emerge as each dare is undertaken. It is a manual that will deepen boys’ friendships with Jesus as they look forward to spending time with Him every day. So if you know a boy who is up for the challenge, triple dog dare him!

About the Author:

Jeremy V. Jones is an award-winning journalist who has served as senior associate editor of Breakaway magazine. He has authored several books, including Toward the Goal: The Kaka Story and The Keeper: The Tim Hoard Story. He also writes for magazines such as Clubhouse and Christianity Today. He resides with his wife and two children in Colorado.



My Review:

Even though I don't have any boys, I found this devotional geared for boys to be just as challenging for my girls. At times my girls have more interests in what boys are doing than in dolls, beauty, clothes and shopping any day of the week, so I wanted to explore this with them to see what differences there are.

Contained within this devotional are a continual use typeset, meaning that it doesn't correspond to specific dates but days of the week instead so you can jump right in at any time. You don't have to wait for the beginning of the year to start. Every weekday you get...

• One Bible verse or passage

• some short thoughts about a real-life situation or connection to God.

• three Triple Dog Dares - ideas to put the theme into action.(example: Who really bugs you? Do a kind deed toward them.)
  

• two Mission Accomplished questions so you can write down your results from yesterday's dares.

Each weekend you get something a little different: Make Triple Dog Tracks sections give ideas to make something cool, like a movie, comic strip, life list, or Noah's Ark out of Legos' From The Triple Dog Pound sections deliver short stories about guys in the Bible who accomplished God's Triple Dog Dares - plus ideas of how you can do the same.

There is even sections in the book for them to reflect or doodle on areas they want to work on, which is a great tool, to use at the end of the year to see how far they have worked on their goals during the years.

I received Triple Dog Dare: One Year of Dynamic Devotions for Boys by Jeremy V. Jones compliments of B & B Media Group for my honest review and can see how this would benefit growing young men who are faced with unique challenges that girls are not from peer pressure to bullying. This is a MUST read for anyone dealing with preteen and teenage boys and rate this a 5 out of 5 stars!

For more information on this book, the author or where to purchase a copy of this, please click on the links below:

Triple Dog Dare: One Year Dynamic Devotions for Boys by Jeremy V. Jones

Truth and Dare: One Year of Dynamic Devotionals for Girls

Is your pre-teen daughter ready for more—more excitement, more adventure, more joy? Then dare her to discover the secret to a life that sparkles for God. Show her she’s got what it takes to make an impact on the world. Ann Margret Hovsepian’s newest book, Truth and Dare: One Year of Dynamic Devotions for Girls, is designed for girls 9 to 12 and filled with powerful wisdom on everything from godly friendships to worshiping God.

It can be easy for young girls to neglect their Bible reading. Perhaps they feel Scripture doesn’t directly relate to them. Maybe they may lack encouragement or accountability, or they may just have too many distractions in their everyday lives. This lack of spiritual food can stunt girls’ spiritual growth and make them vulnerable to the temptations and ungodly influences around them. It can also prevent them from developing a love for Scripture early in life, making it even harder to get into God’s Word when they get older.

Truth and Dare encourages tween girls to discover how exciting God’s Word can be. They will see it make a difference in their daily lives and experience the blessings that come from doing it and not just hearing it. Daily challenges (dares) based on Scripture (truth) will provide opportunities for them to make their faith come alive as they learn to serve others, build character and make a difference.

Scripture will be transformed from something learned to something lived. Girls will delight in discovering how God’s Word can become real in whole new ways as they learn to apply it with each day’s dare. It ideally suits anyone looking to inspire a young girl to boldly live out her faith. So encourage the tween girl in your life to take the dare and discover the truth! It’s her time to shine as a girl who knows what it means to live a fierce and fearless life of faith.

About the Author: Ann Margret Hovsepian is a published author, freelance writer and editor and amateur artist. She has published more than 210 articles for dozens of Canadian and U.S. print periodicals and has become a sought-after author of pre-teen girls’ devotional books. She has published Blossom: The Complete New Testament for Girls(Thomas Nelson, 2006) andThe One Year Designer Genes Devo (Tyndale, 2007). She speaks at conferences and events and is actively involved on the board of Canadian Baptist Women of Ontario and Quebec, Canada. Hovsepian resides in Montreal, Canada.

My Review:

Being a busy mom with an 18-year-old and 12-year-old girls, I knew I wanted to pick this one up! The devotional is geared not just as a Bible Study for each day but it also provides an opportunity for my daughters to capture their thoughts on what they learned and what really spoke to their hearts during that day's devotion. There are even some challenges for them to complete and it provides a chance for parents to really talk to their girls about what is going on in their lives at that moment. For example, "Imagine for a moment what your life would be like if your parents (or parent, if you live with only one) suddenly disappeared. Write down some ways your life would change." Then at the conclusion it takes the teen into a prayer to reflect on thanking God for their parents and asking Him to help them give them the honor and respect they deserve. Try and find some ways to show your parents how much they mean to you.

This is perfect for preteen and teenage girls (9 through 14) in my opinion. There is so much to do in this one year devotional it will really provide them with a chance to see how much they have grown at the end. Because this devotional isn't geared to specific dates, you can jump in at any point and make it work. That's always a plus especially if you have multiple age girls! I received this book compliments of B & B Media Group for my honest opinion and highly recommend this to anyone who deals with preteen or teen age girls even if you aren't a parent. Hands down a 5 out of 5 star devotional.

For more information on this product, the author or where to purchase this devotional, please click on the links below:

Truth and Dare: One Year of Dynamic Devotions for Girls by Ann-Margret Hovsepian

The Stranger In Your House

We all know that as teens grow and mature, they become different then the children we have seen growing up beside us through the years of watching them grow into adults. But how do you know what is normal and what should cause you some concern as a parent of teens, whether your own or simply teens you may be involved with. When does a parent need to intervene and possibly seek professional help?

In the latest book, When Your Teenager Becomes...The Stranger In Your House by Gregory L. Jantz, Phd, along with Ann McMurray, and being a parent of both an 18 year old and a 12 year old, I knew I had to pick this one up. There is such insight into parenting for teens and preteens alike I had never considered and keeping the thoughts of "well, I remember when I was a teen..." just don't cut it raising them today.

In today's generation of teens, there is so much more influencing them than ever before and that's why we can't parent them the same as we think they should be if we expect them to grow into the adults we hope to be proud of. Some of the topics you will find handy include the following:

Why does my teenager seem to need me some days and hate me other days?

How do hormones affect my teen's behavior - and what can I do about it?

Is this "just a phase," or is it clinical depression?

How can I get help when I see the warning signs of suicidal thoughts?

How can I be a source of peace in my child's life, especially when I feel stormy too?

This book will help you as a parent to see beyond the closed-room years of adolescence and open the door to hope.

My favorite chapter was on what's called shedding skin. When a snake or lizard sheds its skin, the new growing skin cells separate from the old established skin cells, causing a marked change of appearance and producing an irritability that can result in increased snapping and hissing. Of course, reptiles shed their skin relatively quickly, so the analogy doesn't carry too far. Still, I think it's fairly parallel. Your teenager's nascent adult is separating from the confinement of childhood, causing a marked change in appearance and producing an irritability that can result in increased snapping and hissing. I think it's why teens often feel like their skin in crawling and fight against a sensation of being confined, wanting to burst free. And it's why parents often look at their teens as though they're something that just crawled out from under a rock. It even gives the reader what signs to look for and what to be concerned with.

I received this book compliments of B & B Media Group and David C. Cook publishers for my honest review and really think that anyone who interacts with teens or has teens as a parent, need to pick up this wonderful and insightful resource. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and will be referring to this one often as a reminder, I am not crazy and these things are normal. It also stands as a resource to know when to look further into situations that my kids are involved with when it comes to their friends as well.

For more information on this book, the author and where to pick up a copy of this book, please click on the links below:

The Stranger In Your House by Gregory L. Jantz, PhD with Ann McMurray

You can also visit a Place of Hope for other teen issues.

Cherished

Sometimes the mistakes we make in our life can act as road blocks. They can prevent us from ever seeing our true potential and pursuing the dreams we were meant to fulfill. I read the most amazing book that sets out to show you through fictional characters just how those road blocks can prevent us from finding our purpose in life and what God wants for us to become.

In the book, Cherished by Kim Cash Tate, we find ourselves in the second book of the Women of Faith series. The three characters whose lives we will follow are that of Kelli London, Heather Anderson and Brian Howard.

Kelli London has always dreamed of becoming a songwriter and glorifying God with her songs of praise. But after falling into sin, she walks away from her dreams. Heather Anderson's life has spun out of control - first an affair with a married man and then a one-night stand with the drummer of a popular Christian band. Broken and alone, she discovers the only one who can save her. Brian Howard grew up as a science geek. But after making the worst mistake of his life after high school, he finds forgiveness in Christ and is being led down a completely different path. Now he must choose whether to continue pursuing his PhD in biochemistry or become a full time Christian rapper.

This novel shows readers that God can still use them in spite of their worst choices. He doesn't just forgive them, they are truly cherished. We can be embraced by the same great love when we learn that true forgiveness for ALL of our sins is right before us. Through these characters we see how they struggle to resolve their own personal conflicts and find a way to finally forgive themselves. I think this book is very relevant to our times because so often we feel like a choice we may have made so long ago, is the very thing we can't be forgiven for. But there is nothing, NOTHING, you can do, that God will not forgive you for if you just ask and believe that you are valuable in His eyes.

When we do that, we can see what God's future is for us and how we can move forward with nothing holding us back. I received this book compliments of B & B Media Group for my honest review and think this is a MUST READ! Especially in today's world, we find our value in the wrong things, be it a job, a title, the things we own, what we do, who are friends are, and most of all what we think of ourselves if often times so wrong. Self Esteem issues for women is at an all time high, with teen suicides, bulimia, anorexia and eating disorders dictating what is acceptable for society. I would rate this book at 4.5 out of 5 stars. For more information about this book, the author and where to purchase a copy of this book, please click on the links below:

Cherished by Kim Cash Tate

Passion To Action

Some people spend their whole lives in the quest to have enough money, to live comfortably and to be able to provide for their families whatever they need. The Loecken family finally after long and difficult struggles achieved what most would call the pinnacle of success. They now owned a 4500 square foot home, had two cars paid off, just finished decorating and upgrading their home and were in the process of purchasing a boat. Life for them was so good they even compiled a list of wants that would estimate to cost about 40,000 and over time were able to cross them off one by one, paid for in cash.

They had family vacations and finally could breathe a whole lot easier. Yet despite all Jay's long hours as a mortgage broker, money couldn't satisfy like it did before. Soon he was giving up spending time with his family in lieu of more hours at the job to provide more money to buy more stuff to fill their huge home. Beth had the luxury of being able to stay at home and raise the kids but deep within her past lay very deep, dark secrets that would thrust her into a deep depression that would almost claim her life.

That was the proverbial straw that needed to be broken, that would change how the Loecken family would view their lives and circumstances from here on out and completely change the world view of success in one's life. Taking a mission's trip to Africa was just what they needed. Jay and Beth, took their three oldest children with them and left their youngest son, Noah at home. Spending two weeks in Africa completely changed each of them in different ways.

Now Jay and Beth wanted more than money could buy. They spent the last two weeks serving the needs of others while right in their own backyard, there were people hurting every day they could help. Jay and Beth did the extreme. Without the support of most of their friends and family, they sold it all, and bought an RV. They would spend their time traveling and serving wherever they could, from cleaning used books in Portland, Oregon, to crushing cans in a Senior Center in McCall, Idaho, they would recreate what they saw on the other side of the world: purpose, joy, simplicity, and service.

In the book, Passion To Action, Jay and Beth Loecken share their inspiration and story along with that of their family on what brought them to this decision and how it has impacted them today. Along with their personal stories, there are challenges for all of us to find out what our passion is and how we can move from the dream stage to making it a reality. This book will inspire you to change that dream inside us all.

I received this book compliments of B & B Media Group for my honest review and can't think of a better way to begin to incorporate this into small Bible Group studies into a much larger church, community movement. This will provide you with the head start you need. It takes the fear we all face during our moments of making dreams come to life, and moves fear out of the way, so we can learn to take risks towards making it a reality. I know for me it has dramatically changed my own personal fears of finding a way to serve by putting those fears on the back burner where they belong, and avoid keeping them as roadblocks in front of me. This one rates a perfect 5 out of 5 stars and can't wait for you all to pick up this book and begin your own movement today.

For more information on this book, the authors and even where to find out more about Passion To Action, click on the links below:

Passion To Action by Jay and Beth Loecken with Laura Morton

Sifted

A Biblical encounter that will first challenge you, then comfort you, then leave you changed.

Discouraged by life's difficulties - both the life-shifting catastrophes and the drip-drip-drip of your daily troubles? Dissatisfied with the same old pat answers about God's role in our hard times? Rick Lawrence takes you on a surprising - even dangerous - journey into the deepest recesses of God's heart toward us. To get there, he drills deep into the single Scripture snapshot (Luke 22:31-32). Jesus tells Peter he's about to be "sifted like wheat" - shaken hard, beaten, and pitched into despair until he's separated from the person he always thought he was.

Satan's going to do it. And Jesus is going to allow it. But why? Jesus makes no mistakes with His metaphors, and sifting offers a brutally honest picture of God's goodness at work on behalf of our freedom. Sifted is a rigorously honest, deeply challenging, yet powerful redemptive exploration of the trials that beat us down, the good God who allows them, and the incredible beauty sifting can reveal in us.

I received the book, Sifted by Rick Lawrence, compliments of B & B Media Group for my honest review and for some reason, came at just the right opportunity for our family to use this as a study into what is meant by being sifted, what the purpose is in our life and how we can become better Christians in spite of the process.

Rick Lawrence uses many real life examples to illustrate how the sifting process works. One such example is the death of Steve Curtis Chapman's daughter, who was killed in an accident by one of his sons backing out of the driveway and hitting the small girl. In the midst of this time, the Chapmans underwent their own "sifting process" and what came out the other side has not only helped them in their grieving process but also helped others by watching how they weathered that storm.

This helps us to explain the question "why" even though during the process we can't always see the benefits of what things happen to us but this book helps the reader weather the time that passes and enables them to help others through life's "sifting" process of their own. I rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars and think everyone should have a copy in their home.

For more information on this book, the author and where to pick up a copy of this book, please click on the link below:

Sifted by Rick Lawrence