Get Your Hopes Up

"Evaluating our hearts is an important exercise as we begin this journey of hope together, because hope in God and positive expectation are very closely related to faith. For the sake of discussion, we can easily say that the level of your expectation is the level of your faith. Show me a person with low expectations, and I'll show you a person using very little faith. But show me a person with big expectations, and I'll show you a person acting with bold faith." (pg 7).

In her latest book, Get Your Hopes Up, Joyce Meyer tackles the issue of hope. Finding it, understanding what it is, how to keep it and what does the Bible say about it. Like all good Joyce Meyer's book. Mama Joyce gives readers the bold and honest truth. Not something sugar coated to make you feel good, she preaches like the best of them. I love the many aspects of hope you will find in this book and perhaps my favorite is that of what Joyce called spiritual possums. Whenever a difficulty or storm comes into their life, they play possum. They stop moving as if they have hit an impenetrable wall and their faith and hope go right out the window.

Rather than getting active, they get passive. When times get tough, when they're dealing with pain or disappointment, they freeze. They just stop moving. Does this sound familiar? Have you ever found yourself in a holding pattern because of an unexpected trial or a crushing disappointment? I want to encourage you in the midst of your pain that sometimes the very best thing you can do is just keep moving. You may not have all the answers yet. You may still be shocked by the circumstances around you. You may even feel like the world is caving in around you. In the midst of those difficulties, if you'll just keep moving, it will help you not to become hopeless." (pg 87).

There is so much great advice to counter all the negative self talk we've become accustom to and the one huge take away for me, was that hope is a powerful thing, but it doesn't thrive in an atmosphere of can't! Joyce uses her own personal stories and that of others to help draw us to the conclusion that we can find hope in any situation if we are but willing to look and trust God to help us as our first resource not our last one as we are prone to do.

I received Get Your Hopes Up by Joyce Meyer compliments of Faith Words, a division of Hachette Book Groups for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside from a free copy of this book in exchange for my personal and honest evaluation. Like all of Joyce's books that are in my personal library, this will be a book I will consult quite often when I need a good dose of reality. Friends and family can mean well but often times, they don't make us feel any better when we need the God's honest truth, to get us back into the game of life again. Joyce's book does just that. For anyone facing a difficult time or situation, this is the perfect book to help them move past the situation for now and see what God has in store for them today. Well worth all of the 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about Get Your Hopes Up, Joyce Meyer or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Get Your Hopes Up by Joyce Meyer

You can find Joyce Meyer on Facebook to stay up to date on all of her books and resources.

To read more reviews on Get Your Hopes Up, please visit Faith Word's website. 

Available in hardcover, paperback, audible and eBook formats at your favorite retailer. ISBN: 9781455588718, pages 208. 

  

Simple Pleasures

"Amish novels, Amish tourist sites, and television shows offer second and third hand accounts of Amish, Mennonite, and Hutterite life. Some of these messages are sensitive and accurate. Some are not. Most are flat-out wrong.

Now readers can listen directly to the voices of these Anabaptists through Plainspoken. In the book in this series, readers get to hear Amish, Mennonite and Hutterite writers talk about the texture of their daily lives: how they spend their time, what they value, what makes them laugh, and how they summon strength from their Christian faith and community." (Introduction, Author's Note)

In Simple Pleasures by Marianne Jantzi, readers get to read from the journal writings of a family of four Amish to gain an inside and true-life memories of what one woman captured and began a column in the Collection, an Amish-Mennonite newspaper. If you are looking for well-writing fiction, you will not find it in this book. These are moment by moment memories of what one woman captures in her life as a Canadian Amish woman working in her own business and home with her family and community. From how she deals with being stuck inside on very cold days and wishing it was warm out, to having an appreciation for where you're at in life. How they occupy their time, and how their house isn't as organized as they would like when company comes calling. To dealing with their children who want pets, to sometimes dealing with the hardships when death comes to early.

Here is a sample of what you'll find inside.

I was reading an article about baking bread; the writer mentioned that her husband carved her a bread spoon. I read on, intrigued. A bread spoon? Who ever heard of such a thing, and what could its purpose be? The husband had carved it from a piece of soft maple a little over twelve inches long. It gently curved outward to an almost-flat bowl a little more than three inches wide, somewhat like a paddle. Its shape worked very well in beating together bread ingredients. So that's what it was! That 'odd-shaped wooden spoon we received as a wedding gift." It's always what I grab to mix buns, rolls and the occasional donuts. A bread paddle, no less! No wonder it works so well. Then again, maybe it's not. Maybe I'm guessing wrong. I've done that before."  (pg. 75).

I received Simple Pleasures by Marianne Jantzi compliments of Litfuse Publicity and Herald Press for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside from a free copy of this book, in exchange for my honest review. I absolutely loved the simplicity of what you'll find inside. Just like opening an Amish journal and who would have ever guessed that there are Amish in Canada? I love getting an honest look at how wonderful these communities are and how they aren't as put together as some fiction books might have you believe. They are just as real as you and I without all the modern conveniences. For me this one rated a 4 out of 5 stars in my opinion. There are even some great recipes tucked inside I can't wait to try! This is the fourth book in the Plainspoken Series of books.

For more information about Simple Pleasures or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Simple Pleasures by Marianne Jantzi

You can find MennoMedia on Facebook to learn more about the Amish and Mennonite products.

To read more reviews on Simple Pleasures, please visit Litfuse Publicity Book Tour Page.

The Duck Commander Devotional for Couples

I don't know of anyone who hasn't heard of Duck Dynasty or the Robertson Family. The one thing that may be surprising is that you may not be aware of just how strong faith is in their family and how it is the central core and foundation in all of their lives. For most of the family, it didn't always start out that way and faith became something that they found later in life that truly changed their lives for the better such as Al and Lisa Robertson, the authors of The Duck Commander Devotional for Couples.

Since 2016 had just begun, I was looking for something that my husband and I could incorporate into our devotional time to supplement our Bible Study time and hopefully strengthen both our marriage and our faith and thus, was offered this to review which sounded just like what I had been looking for. Most devotionals are devoted to either a man's point of view or woman's depending on who was writing it and it guides the devotion at times to be one sided at times. This is the first devotional that both my husband and I absolutely loved. While it is written to be done weekly, we wanted to begin to use it daily and it is designed for however you and your spouse want to incorporate your devotional time. Yet it is so much more than a simple devotional coupled with a scripture verse.

Since it is co-written by Al and Lisa Robertson, you get both of their view points on the topic they are discussing, such as what makes you unique as a couple, what are your fears, issues of trust, what love is and isn't, forgiveness, faithfulness, leaving a lasting legacy, dealing with in-laws, being content, working on building intimacy, having a positive attitude, unity, appreciation, anger issues, parenting, humility, submission and respect and so much more all divided into 52 devotional sections. The main point is to work together through it as a couple and I can tell you it has truly made our marriage more stronger, built our faith in ways we could never imagine and our communication with one another has improved as well as our prayer life as a couple. No devotional has ever done that for me before in such a profound and remarkable way, I would never want to go back or stop.

Included in each devotional section is a little bit about each topic as if you were sitting down with Al and Lisa having a heart to heart talk along with a scripture reference from the Bible on the topic at hand which is called God's Blueprint. In the next section called Home Improvement, there are between 3-5 questions to provoke a conversation between the two of you about the topic at hand. These were so eye opening to both of us and the part we loved the most. It even comes with space for you both to record your thoughts or things you plan on working on to follow up with later to see how God has worked in your life. The section concludes with Team Building where you both spend time praying for your relationship and asking for God to help you both improve on it. Sample prayers are included by both Al and Lisa as a guide to what you might want to include. All of this is included in a hardcover book that I truly believe you both will enjoy.

I received The Duck Commander Devotional for Couples by Al and Lisa Robertson compliments of Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside from a free copy of this book in exchange for my personal and honest evaluation. For me, this is a must have for every married couple or couples who are engaged to incorporate into your relationship early on. It is by far, the best couples devotional that my husband and I have read and we both encourage you to pick this up and give it a try. It might seem awkward at first, but like I stated before, the Home Improvement part of us, gave us such insight into the communication portion of our marriage that we found ourselves really talking about more than simply our kids, jobs or life in general. This is what makes it truly something unique and strengthened our own marriage and thus worthy of all 5 out of 5 stars in our opinion.

For more information about The Duck Commander Devotional for Couples, Al and Lisa Robertson or where you can pick up a copy of this devotional today, please click on the links below:

The Duck Commander Devotional for Couples by Al and Lisa Robertson 

You can find Al and Lisa Robertson of Facebook to stay up to date with their latest projects.

To read more reviews on The Duck Commander Devotional for Couples, please visit Howard Book's website. 

The 40 Day Prayer Challenge

As believers we understand the importance and power of prayer even when it seems at times that God is silent or He is preoccupied but we know He isn't. It is the greatest weapon any believer in Jesus Christ possesses and the one we often times fail to utilize until it becomes a last resort or with less than heartfelt pleas included. We often times get disillusioned with waiting on answers as if we believe we are owed an immediate and positive response time from God. The one thing that really hit home for me while dealing with multiple crises at the same time, it that waiting is the hardest thing to do but we must not give up on prayer. In the Bible, Daniel waited on an answer for prayer which was dispatched from heaven immediately but due to a spiritual war that was happening that Daniel knew nothing about, he received his answer 21 days later, even though it was answered immediately from heaven.

That is not to say that all answers of prayer are impacted in the spiritual realm, but it is a reminder that waiting may be required in some cases. In others, the answers are immediate and to our liking and in yet others, the answer is not what we had hoped and we find ourselves much like Job, wondering where it all went belly up. But the greatest hope and weapon we have is prayer, constant, consistent and with a partner. This can be with your family members, your spouse, friends or an entire body of believers. When we partner in prayer, the Bible reminds us that we stand in the presence of God at that moment even though we can not see it. It is the most powerful prayer we can use in any situation and nothing is too great or too small for a prayer.

In the book, the 40 Day Prayer Challenge by authors and husband and wife, SQuire Rushnell and Louise DuArt, they are reminding us about the true value and life changing things that can happen when we partner in prayer for simple 5 minutes a day for 40 days. They are sharing the results through an online survey with Baylor University's Institute for the Study of Religion to see what happens during the 40 days challenge. I know for my husband and I that began this as a couple, we didn't see much happen at first, but then we noticed that we drew closer in a way that is hard to explain other than to say we are much more spiritually stronger, pray more over everything and have seen first hands the results on answered prayer and the strong of our faith and marriage grow since doing this.

I received The 40 Day Prayer Challenge by SQuire Rushnell and Louise DuArt compliments of Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation, aside from a free copy of this book, in exchange for my personal and honest evaluation. The book is broken down to help readers partner in different ways from married couples, singles with friends, family members praying together, and even small church groups or Bible study classes. There is such great resources available from Scripture references and even sample prayers to help get people started on their 40 day journey. The best part is the true life stories of how prayer has impacted the lives of those that have incorporated prayer into the lives and some have been brought back from the verge of death to be given a second chance. This is a perfect resource for those looking at how to incorporate prayer into their lives more and highlights the results of what can happen over 40 days. I know you'll be more than surprised at the results in your own life as we were in our own and for that reason this one gains all 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about The 40 Day Prayer Challenge, SQuire Rushnell, Louise DuArt or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

The 40 Day Prayer Challenge by SQuire Rushnell and Louise DuArt

You can find SQuire Rushnell on Facebook to stay up to date on all his latest projects.

You can find Louise DuArt on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest projects.

To read more reviews on the 40 Day Prayer Challenge, please visit Howard Book's website.

The Forgotten Way - Meditations

Ted Dekker is by far a house hold name for most Christians! Besides being a well known and best selling author, Ted Dekker's novels take the reader into places they never expected to go and always come away with a sense of having experienced something a bit more than most readers do after a great novel. Their lives are changed. It is more than to say its a sense of bewilderment, but I would call it an awakening instead. Its like we have known this all along and have to be reawakened to remember who we really are.

Whether it is through a novel surrounding any variety of genre's, Dekker awakens the soul in all of us. In The Forgotten Way, it is a book that is much deeper than anything he has ever written. Almost prophetic in nature, you feel as if the words he writes are from someone much older and with that sage like wisdom and mystery about them. This is a book of meditations geared to take the reader on the path of Yeshua for power and peace in this life. Often throughout this book he utilizes the analogy of Clark Kent who forgets that he has the ability and power of Superman and so spends a vast part of his life living in the darkness of who he could be.

Much like us as believers we find ourselves trapped into getting so immersed in the world and what is going on that we forget that as believers in Yeshus, we are merely passing through hoping to make this world a better place and remind other of His love. This isn't getting all caught up in religious dogmas of various religions but in understand who we are as sons and daughters of Yeshua and what power we have once we realize that. We don't have to be bound by the standards of the world. When we learn to let go of the worldly and embrace our spiritual awareness we can be free to love as Yeshua loved even his enemies. It is why most people don't understand the very nature of who Jesus was and the life He lived when he was with us. This book helps believers to understand that somethings what happens in this life, is not what God sees. We need to change our spiritual perspective in order to deal with life here on earth. Perhaps my favorite quote in the entire book is simply, "Remember, what you believe about yourself never defines you' only what your Father believes about you truly defines you. Your beliefs and perceptions, however, do define the experience you have in this world."

I received The Forgotten Way by Ted Dekker as a self purchase and was not required to give a favorable review. However being such a fan of his literary works and how much novels like A.D. 30 and A.D. 33 along with the Outlaw Chronicles series like Hacker, Identity and Water Walker, have created a spiritual awakening, I knew I wanted more. It's like getting inside a brilliant man's mind to see what makes it tick and you might be surprised at what you'll find when you do. For me the journey is just begin but now I am wide awake, with eyes wide open and aware of whom I am in Yeshua. Can't wait to go back now and reread not only the Forgotten Way but these other books I've mentioned. Great minds when synced up think alike not only spiritually but on a different conscious level and this the reason I'd rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars. Currently this book is not available for sale at this time but may become available at a later date.

For more information about The Forgotten Way, Ted Dekker or where you can join a Facebook study group, please click on the links below:

The Forgotten Way by Ted Dekker

You can find Ted Dekker on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest novels and projects.

The Forgotten Way on Facebook to join in the conversation about the book. 

Illustrated Life of Paul

Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could find a Bible that was illustrated in such a way that it gave you a sense not only of what life may have been like, but what it looked like as well? We read of some many towns and cities in the Bible but unless you have a Bible map and a modern day map, it is hard to trace where the locations of those cities or towns might have been. The Illustrated Life of Paul by Charles L. Quarles does just that utilizing the letters that the apostle Paul wrote to many of the churches of the New Testament from the towns of Corinth, to Thessalonica, to even the cities of Ephesus and Smyrna.

Except for the Lord Jesus Christ himself, no person has been more influential in the history of the church than Saul of Tarsus who would later be renamed Paul. Paul's influence upon the early church's most cherished convictions is so clear and powerful that scholars debate whether Paul is a mere follower of Jesus or the actual founder of Christianity. Paul himself settled that debate when he described Jesus Christ as the cornerstone of the church and the head of the church. Paul insisted that Jesus has preeminence in all things, in both the church he founded by his death and resurrection and the creation he fashioned by his indescribable power.

Approximately sixteen chapters of the book of Acts focus on Paul's persecution of the church, his conversion, his missionary labors, and his arrest and imprisonment. Paul laid more bricks in the foundation of the church than any other apostle. He wrote thirteen of the twenty-seven books of the New Testament. Nearly half of the New Testament documents bear his name. Although some of Paul's letters are brief compared to other New Testament books, his epistles comprise approximately 1/4 of the total volume of the New Testament. Paul's influence on the development of Christianity is without parallel. He was a highly effective Christian missionary and church planter and is a key interpreter of Jesus' life, death, resurrection and return. Except for Jesus of Nazareth, no man's life has been more fascinating. It truly does provide the reader more background detail about the cultures, the cities and towns as well as people surrounding the ministry of Paul along with some amazing photos throughout the books as each chapter is dedicated to a portion of Paul's life and travels along the way.

I received Illustrated Life of Paul by Charles L. Quarles compliments of B and H Publishing Group for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside of a free copy of the book in exchange for my personal and honest evaluation. I love being able to take this book side by side with the Bible and get a truly visual perspective of what is happening either through the book of Acts or even in the time of one of Paul's letters. We know that there is more than went on and this background is key along with the photos to give the reader a broader view of the urgency of the letters for example or what was happening in the day as the church began to grow and at times get divisive. For me this makes a wonderful visual commentary to aid me in my daily Bible reading in regards to the life and ministry of Paul and thus rates a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion. I would love to see these for all the books of the Bible!!! It makes it truly come to life in a more powerful way.

For more information about Illustrated Life of Paul, Charles L. Quarles or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Illustrated Life of Paul by Charles L Quarles

You can find Charles Quarles on Facebook to stay up to date on all his latest books.

You can pick up a copy of this book at your local Christian retailer or through Amazon.

Sky Lantern

"We never know if this time we say "I love you" will be our last, or the last time we will say it in quite that way. In the next few days I would hear from people all over the world, telling me their stories of their own fathers, of fathers who loved them but couldn't quite say it, or who loved them and had passed away and had been unable to say it for many years. Or, for some, fathers who never showed any sign of love, or even showed evidence of the opposite.

I couldn't have known any of those things, either. Who knows how far a simply love letter will travel? Who knows how far a sky lantern, with a simply phrase of love scrawled on the side, will fly? None of us have any idea.

So we have to keep singing it, keep saying it, keep writing it, keep showing it.

We have to send our live out into the world so others will find it." (pg 49).

In the book Sky Lantern by Matt Mikalatos, a seemingly ordinary event of picking up trash that had blown into his yard, turned into a life changing event when he discovers a sky lantern in his yard with a heart felt love letter inscribed on it by someone only known as Steph. Matt takes readers into the journey of his search to find Steph and convey to her what he believes any father would say to his daughter if he could. Along the way, Matt discovers something about his own love for his three daughters, an unexpected friendship with Steph and more importantly how we can all make an impact in our own world to make things better for someone each day.

"I was sitting at my gate an hour later, thinking about my trip, which had come to an end much faster than I had expected. I had a new friend who lived halfway across the country. Someone I would have never met, would have never known, if not for that lantern crashing in my yard. I had driven through her city many times. She had come to visit Portland, even staying ten miles from my house. It was strange to think that all the so-called strangers around me might be one small act of kindness away from becoming good friends. We have so much in common, all of us. We have lost our loved ones or we will. We have lived, fought, loved, and wanted to be loved. We have cried and laughed, struggled in relationships. We have lit in the darkness with our small flames. It that not enough to build a friendship around?

What if Steph wasn't some amazing friend I had found through a series of inconceivable coincidences or generous providence? What if, instead, it was that every place was full of these potential friends, crowded around us, but we were unable to see them? Could it be that every person sitting around me could be someone who would be my friend, if only I took a few moments? If only I paid attention and gave them my full attention?" (pg 136).

I received Sky Lantern by Matt Mikalatos compliments of Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation, aside from a free copy of this book, in exchange for my honest review. This is a book I believe we all need to read because there is some nugget of wisdom for all of us to glean something different from this book. Perhaps its validation that you are worthy, that you have something to offer the world, that you are loved, and most of all to take the time to tell others they are loved, to write letters if you are unable to, or to make a friend in the most unlikeliest of places through divine appointments in your own life. For me this one was well worth a 4.5 out of 5 stars and as you can see, I have shared with you some of those nuggets of wisdom I gleaned to share with you.

For more information about Sky Lantern, Matt Mikalatos or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Sky Lantern by Matt Mikalatos

You can find Matt Mikalatos on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest books.

To read more reviews on Sky Lantern, please visit Howard Book's website. 

Wake The Bride

Hard to believe that I've been studying the Book of Revelation for almost 30 years now and until recently never understood what I had been missing for quite some time. It took an in-depth, verse by verse, study of it to finally have that "A-ha!" moment where it clicked. Now I can honestly say that when I pick up books written on the Book of Revelation, I can view it with a biblical view instead of merely another book on Bible Prophecy.

Wake the Bride from author Jeff Kinley, conveys the beauty of what awaits believers and non believers alike one day in the not so distant future using the Book of Revelation and breaking it down in a simplified manner. This is NOT an extensive look into the last prophetic book of the Bible, but a wake up call that we are called to be ready when Jesus returns in the rapture, an event the Bible highlights must happen before the ushering in of the Tribulation Period, those 7 years of God's judgment and final call to those who dwell on the earth, to choose Him or perish forever in everlasting judgment being cast into the lake of fire.

While many would argue why such a loving God would offer this as our final destination, we must realize that God does not desire for any to spend an eternity in everlasting torment, but it is our choice that decides our own fate. We ourselves choose and thus the urgency for many to stop waiting and get right with God now, before they simply miss out and have to endure the Tribulation period foretold in Revelation, Daniel, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, Isaiah and other books of the Bible. This book calls us to search within our own lives as to just how ready are we? The letters to the seven churches in the Bible applied to the regional churches of Asia Minor in that day but is also a modern day look at evaluating the life of a believer even today. Jeff details one of those letters, the Church of Laodicea, which I believe we are seeing all over the world today, as churches put their Bible doctrine on the shelf in lieu of accepting all forms of religion and bypassing the less than desirable portions of the Bible out of fear of offending anyone.

He also takes readers into the heart of the Tribulation that is to come, the seven seals, the trumpets and bowl judgments and how that will impact the world possibly. One chapter I really enjoyed was the recent rise to such "heavenly" movies where people and children have claimed to have visited heaven but all their views are inconsistent with what the Bible describes heaven will be like and all their stories conflict with one another. Are we being set up for a great deception that will take us away from the truth of the Bible and the Jesus we need to know for our salvation?

I received Wake the Bride by Jeff Kinley compliments of Harvest House Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review, aside from a free copy of the book for my honest opinion. At little over 200 pages this will give readers a brief overview of the Bible Prophecy events from the Bible and I believe will encourage the reader to take their own personal journey through the Bible along the way as they research the various scripture references and other notable resources discussed in this book. For me, I rate it a 4 out of 5 stars, but I LOVE a book that really digs in deep to books like Revelation and Daniel. For those looking for a overview of what's to come and what we should be prepared for and focused on, this will definitely be worth it.

For more information about Wake the Bride, Jeff Kinley or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Wake the Bride by Jeff Kinley

You can also find Jeff Kinley on Facebook to stay up to date on all his latest books.

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (October 1, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0736965165
• ISBN-13: 978-0736965163

The Babylon Code

"There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact. ~ Sherlock Holmes, The Bascombe Mystery.

You just don't know how very true the statement is. When you look at the sorry state our world seems to falling into rapidly, you begin to wonder if there isn't a reason why all of this is happening. Are we headed rapidly towards a convergence of some kind? I believe we are and so do most people who are surveyed in the world. However the outcomes are too very different ones. Some believe we are heading towards the culmination of a one world government while the others believe we are simply living in the final days of Bible prophecy. Which everyone one you believe, it is apparent something is happening and it doesn't look like it's going to get any better.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the United Nations General Assembly that 'biblical prophecies are being realized. Franklin Graham says the world is in the 'last hours' before Christ return and Pope Francis believes mankind is in the beginning stages of a piecemeal, "Third World War." All of these remarks are coming on the heels at a time of plummeting morality, spiritual apathy, exploding national debts, severe economic turmoil, political uncertainty, a spate of historic natural disasters, worsening worldwide drought, record-breaking extreme weather, the growing risk of a nuclear conflagration and other daunting challenges. Have the biblical end-times finally arrived?

We have had the September11th, terrorists attacks, Hurricane Katrina, the 2008 financial meltdown, the Fukushima nuclear disaster and the increasingly unstable situation in the Middle East with the rise of ISIS and Iran's suspected development of nuclear weapons. There appears to be no end to the bad news. We have the killings of Christians by Muslims from Indonesia to Bangladesh to Pakistan, China tearing down church buildings. Christians tortured, beheaded, and crucified in Iraq, with villages burned and churches destroyed, and much the same in Syria. You can't help but wonder if we are in the last hours before Jesus returns.

Many intuitively sense that the world has entered one of the most dangerous times in all of human history. Society is caught in a maelstrom of converging forces - the growing threat of thermonuclear war, worsening drought and famine and intensifying calls for a new internal order and global authority to address the mounting array of international crises. Experts are alarmed by the continued spread of weapons of mass destruction and threats by Iran, North Korea and ISIS to bring about "Armageddon" in the West. Meanwhile, fears of a economic collapse are growing as nations continue to amass unprecedented levels of debt.

But are all these things merely coincidences or is there something larger at work. Some believe that God has removed His hand of protection and America is being to reap what it has sown by such things as legal abortions, the redefinition of traditional marriage to include same sex couples and now the persecution of Christians within our own bodies if any stand on religious freedoms. Others believe that we are all merely pawns being used by those in the Illuminati, the Freemasons, or the Rothschilds or other secret organizations that have been planning for such a time as this where a one world government, one world economy and a one world religion can be culminated like never before. Is now that time? Are these organizations really at work playing people like master puppeteers? A closer look and an indepth research is required.

In the book, The Babylon Code from Paul McGuire and Troy Anderson, they take a look back into both situations to see how close any of these theories are to becoming a reality. While I can appreciate their interpretations of the Bible from the use of Daniel, Ezekiel, Revelation and more, I see that most of this book is redundant. In fact, I believe you could scale this down to half of what is included and still gain the point behind that they intended. I lost count how many times, the reiterated the story of Nimrod and it's correlation to both the Bible and the world views. I felt like I read a book that had been written in various stages or chapters and then assembled together. I was sincerely hoping for so much more than what this book promises and for me, comes a bit short on delivering what I believe the reader is hoping to gain from reading it. It needs someone to read through it and reorganize the information in a more concise manner to make this what I believe the authors were hoping for. I received The Babylon Code by Paul McGuire and Troy Anderson compliments of Faith Words for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside from a free copy of this book to review for my honest opinion. For me this one had promise but failed to deliver in the way I believe they intended and thus the reason for my 3.5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about The Babylon Code, Paul McGuire, Troy Anderson or where you can preorder a copy of this book today which is due out in October of 2015, please click on the links below:

The Babylon Code by Paul McGuire and Troy Anderson

You can also find The Babylon Code on Facebook to get more information about the details discussed in this book.

For more reviews on The Babylon Code, please visit Faith Words website. 

Fervent

Looking for a great book on the strategies of battle worthy prayer for women? Something like industrial grade survival gear to face off against the enemy instead of taking on friendly fire, or being defeated in yet another daily spiritual battle? How many more times we will risk falling victim to the enemies schemes to cause division in our homes, families, marriages, relationships and just about every area of our life, while he simply seems to get better at it? If you are ready to get serious about prayer, free from whatever is keeping you held down and held back, wanting to reach our destiny and experience God's promises in our lives, than I would encourage you to pick up Fervent: A Woman's Battle Plan for Serious, Specific and Strategic Prayer by Priscilla Shirer.

Inspired by the upcoming movie the War Room, Priscilla takes us deep into the heart of the very ploys that Satan designs us to fail in specific areas of our life and shows us exactly how he plans on doing that. It creates an eye opening look to what his plans are, what the symptoms look like, and how we can pray more boldly for victory each time an attack comes. She even designed tear out cards you can create to put in the place you pray most often so you can use that specific prayer when facing a particular attack in that area.

As long as prayer remains an afterthought, no matter how badly we may want it, without the confidence, meaning, clarity, and vitality needed in our prayers, we simply waste years doing a whole lot of other things. Things that thoroughly exhaust us but ultimately don't work. We end up, for all our trying, missing the point on what God intended, missing the whole heart of what really matters. This book is designed to help you create, plan and pray specifically and strategically with precision in areas like passion, focus, identity, family, our past, our fears, our purity, pressures, hurts and relationships. It will teach you that when you pray about the places where we seriously suspect the enemy is at work - that is how we keep our prayers focused, not only on particular situations, but on biblical truths that are consistent with maintaining victory in the midst of them.

I received Fervent by Priscilla Shirer compliments of Icon Media Group and B and H Publishing Group for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review aside from a free copy of this book, and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. Priscilla Shirer is not only a best-selling author, but she is also taking part in acting in the upcoming movie the War Room. This book is so great at helping you format specific and powerful prayers in certain areas in your life, because it is the one weapon that truly works in those spiritual areas of our life that are impacting us daily. For me, this was a must read because my prayer life could use a revitalizing and I got exactly that through my reading of this book. I would easily rate this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars in my opinion and looking forward to seeing the movie when it comes out this month.

For more information about Fervent, Priscilla Shirer, or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Fervent by Priscilla Shirer

You can find Priscilla Shirer on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest books.

To read more reviews on Fervent please visit B and H Publishing Group. 

The Old Fashioned Way Devotional and Book Novelization - Review and Package Giveaway

 I love it when I have such an incredible giveaway opportunity it simply makes me want to share it with the world, especially when looking for great alternatives to dating and keeping things in a biblical perspective when it comes to relationship. Falling in the line with Old Fashioned the Movie and subsequent DVD, there is also a novelization based on the movie and a companion devotional in reclaiming the lost art of romance inspired as well by the motion picture Old Fashioned.

I believe more than ever, this is practical advice that provides the proper perspective both men and women need in regards to the alternatives to dating and relationships, and that is understanding the ideals and principles from both the Bible and from old fashioned courtships that keep purity and boundaries in place until marriage happens. It is something I feel women are searching for as they strive to find romance in often times the wrong places, wrong people and wrong relationships, because they are willing to give up and compromise on their personal beliefs for love.

In the novelization of Old Fashioned by Rene Gutteridge and based on the screenplay by Rik Swartzwelder, we follow the stories of Clay Walsh and Amber Hewson who have made some mistakes in their past which has moved them into their current situations on how they each view relationships from vastly different perspectives, in this case polar opposites. Clay was your stereotypical frat boy who found women were just part of the college experience and didn't care for feelings or emotions as he went through his experiences with women. Amber was severely abused physically, emotionally and mentally for not living up to the standards of the last guy she dated and now has a different view of what love looks like. Now they both are struggling to find something that works and in Clay's case a complete 180 degree of relationships when he forms boundaries that Amber sees as old fashioned in a contemporary world.

The devotional, The Old Fashioned Way, reclaiming the lost art of romance by Ginger Kolbaba is perfect in allowing readers to gain an idea of what it means to court others in lieu of dating them and opens up different perspectives I have never considered because often times we only look at our own wants and needs and remain indifferent to those of someone we might be interested in. Each chapter takes into consideration very different ideas explored both from the movie, Old Fashioned, but other world views as well and gives you some amazing biblical insight that is guaranteed to spark some very different conversations in your own relationships and that of raising morally conscience children.

I received Old Fashioned  the novelization by Rene Gutteridge and The Old Fashioned Way devotional by Ginger Kolbaba compliments of Propeller LLC and Tyndale House Publishers for my honest review of these wonderful books. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review outside of a free copy of each book for my honest opinion. These are must haves for anyone considering dating, parenting and relationships from a Christian and biblical perspective. They offer an alternative to what the world would view offers society today and in keeping with the biblical and moral standards found in the Bible. For me, these both are well worth all 5 out of 5 stars especially when parents are looking for an alternative way to keeping purity before marriage and a biblical view on relationships and courtship! Chivalry is definitely not dead!!

For more information about The Old Fashioned Way Devotional, Old Fashioned the novelization, Rene Gutteridge, Ginger Kolbaba or where you can pick these up today, please click on the links below:

The Old Fashioned Way Devotional by Ginger Kolbaba

The Old Fashioned Novel by Rene Gutteridge

You can find Rene Gutteridge on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest books.

You can find Ginger Kolbaba on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest books.

Learn more about Old Fashioned the Motion Picture on Facebook.

Now for the most incredible giveaway offer ever!!! I am offering an Old Fashioned DVD, The Old Fashioned Way Devotional and Old Fashioned The Novel to one lucky follower of my blog Reviews From The Heart. Here's what you need to do to enter:

1. "Like" Old Fashioned's Facebook page.

2. Be a follower of my blog Reviews From The Heart.

3. Be a resident of the US or Canada. Please No P.O. Boxes.

4. Leave a comment below telling me why you'd love to win the Old Fashioned Giveaway Package and how you plan on using it. Don't forget to include your email address. Without it, I can't contact you if you're the lucky winner. You can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols.

The giveaway will end on July 6th so be sure to make sure to enter and tell your friends and family about it as well. I will notify the winner by email so be sure to include it with your comments.


If you have been a winner of any Propeller or FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days you will be ineligible to participate in this giveaway to give everyone a fair chance at winning.

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”):Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Only one entrant and per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win.If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

Unselfish

I've taken some advice before that has truly helped when you're feeling down or depressed about something in your life, and that is simply take your eyes off of you and do something for someone else. I think that is the problem with most of us today, we live in a world of self gratification and less in a world of being a servant for someone else or simply exhibiting random acts of kindness to others.

Paul D. Parkinson has compiled a group of 99 vastly different true life stories of what it means to truly do something for someone else. From a cop who offered advice and a small token of helping a young man out before being shot and killed. His random act of kindness was captured on video tape. It showcases random ministry opportunities sprouting up from making coats for those in need, to supplying shoes or even wheelchairs through fund raising efforts.

In a world where the latest breaking news is something negative, these untold stories show us that there is still plenty of goodness happening all around us and even how we can get involved through incorporating our own ideas into fund raising or charitable contributions or even how one act of kindness simply created a lasting ripple throughout life. Each of these stories is straight and to the point without all the fluff, how someone got an idea, implemented it and the outcome of how that idea is gaining momentum.

From building houses for those who will never be able to avoid them, to digging wells for clean water, or simply making houses for the homeless with what you find on the streets, these stories are inspirational and truly uplifting. It creates a lasting legacy in the hearts of those that are touched by their generous efforts.

I received Unselfish: Love Thy Neighbor as Thy Selfie by Paul. D. Parkinson compliments of Believer's Trust for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are my own personal opinions. There is simply something in this wonderful hardcover book for everyone. From grandmother's offering love within the wall of prison ministry to children giving up their toys to help less fortunate kids in return. To love one's neighbor doesn't require words, it simply requires love in action to make all the difference in the world. In my opinion, this one hits a homerun and scores 5 out of 5 stars! A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each copy of Unselfish is being donated to the Cambodian Children's Fund

For more information about Unselfish: Love Thy Neighbor as Thy Selfie, Paul D. Parkinson or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Unselfish: Love Thy Neighbor as Thy Selfie by Paul D. Parkinson

You can find Unselfish on Facebook and learn more about people making a difference in the world.

To donate or learn more about the Cambodian Children's Fund, please click here.

Countdown to the Apocalypse

Have you noticed the signs all around you, in the news that can only point to the fact we might be living the final days before Jesus Christ comes for his church? The Bible predicts it with such accuracy, you can't help but believe what is happening all around us with what Jesus told his disciples what would happen in the last days in Matthew 24 when they asked for signs that would foretell his coming.

There are five very specific signs that Jesus told His believers that we should be looking for. (1) Spiritual Deception, (2) International Conflict, (3)Natural Disasters, (4)Fierce Persecution, and (5) Widespread Apostasy. There are those that would argue that these things have happened as far back in history after the crucifixion and don't mean Jesus is coming back any time soon. Yet the Bible does warn that these signs will be like birth pains for a mother with child. They will begin to happen more frequently and with stronger intensity as a expectant mother nears the birth of her child. We can definitely see that these very things are happening right before our eyes.

Pastor Robert Jeffress is a pastor first to his church in Dallas and also a Fox News contributor who has written his book, Countdown to the Apocalypse. It provides readers with a biblical message that can't be ignored in light of the things happening in this country today, from widespread drought in California which will impact our agricultural food supply, to ISIS threats and beheadings of Christians all over the world, to the impact of diseases like Ebola. Now that our nation is on the verge of negotiating a nuclear agreement with Iran, and turning its back on Israel, we are unwittingly setting the stage for the fulfillment of a war against Israel by those nations the seek to wipe her off the face of the earth. While the timeline is slowly moving forward, this book highlights those passages of scripture that show us quite clearly that Bible prophecy is being fulfilled more this century than at any other time in history. The end result is one you don't want to miss.

I received Countdown to the Apocalypse by Robert Jeffress compliments of Faith Words, a division of Hachette Book Groups for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. I've been a huge Bible prophecy fan since becoming a believer and now more than ever, I believe more people need to be concerned with the rapid number of events that are all happening simultaneously that they can not be ignored. From extreme weather to the fall of our own economy, God told us to watch for signs that would be as apparent as a fig tree beginning to bloom that points towards summer. It will be that obvious for those that know what to look for. Trust me, you want to be prepared for what is coming and that is why I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about Countdown to the Apocalypse, Robert Jeffress or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Countdown to the Apocalypse by Robert Jeffress

You can find Robert Jeffress on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest books.

To read more reviews on Countdown to the Apocalypse, please visit Faith Words website. 

The Next World War

For those of you that follow my book reviews, you know I am a huge fan of anything relating to Bible Prophecy. In fact, that is how I became a Christian by wanting to know about End Times, the Rapture, and the Apocalypse. I was very interested when I read the back cover of Grant R. Jeffrey's book, The Next World War. "The escalating terrorist attacks in the Middle East and in major cities in the West are not isolated acts of extremism. They are the first warning shots fired in a coming world war."

In this book I wanted to know how the events that have been happening around the world and more importantly what has been happening in America have to do with getting the stage set for a third World War. From the events of 9/11 to the recent outbreaks with ISIS, I was hoping to find some connection with the Bible. This is a great resource for understanding the Muslims and the religion of Islam, including the motivation of Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein. Since the book was released in 2006, it is a bit dated and doesn't include things that have happened since then. I believed this was a more current book on events happening in the Middle East.

It does detail the events from 9/11 but I was a bit disappointed to the extent in which it covered Islam and how people are taking the text from the Koran (Anglican translated) which I believe should be Qu'ran. I was hoping for more of a Biblical reference but instead found lots of references from the Koran instead. There were references to the prophecies of Ezekiel and Daniel but for the most part it dealt heavily on the history and rise of Islam and how it is impacting the world.

The last few chapters deal with the Biblical implications about where the world is headed along the path of prophecy with the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem and the organization of the Sanhedrin which will be responsible for the Temple duties. I think this would make a great reference for those wishing to understand the possible motivation of extreme Islam and how it could affect the world if it goes undeterred.

I received The Next World War by Grant R. Jeffrey compliments of WaterBrook Multnomah Publishers for my honest review. In exchange for a free copy of the book, I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions are my own unless otherwise noted. There are some references to the Old Testament and why there is such conflict between Israel and the Middle East, along with cross references between Old Testament names of ancient cities to their modern day possible countries which help readers unlock some of the mystery surrounding Ezekiel 37 and 38. For the most part however, for me, it remains a book dealing with understanding the Muslims and their Islamic religion, its origins, and how it might impact the world. For me, this one rates a 4 out of 5 stars.

For more information about The Next World War, Grant R. Jeffrey, or where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

The Next World War by Grant R. Jeffrey

To read more reviews on The Next World War, please visit WaterBrook Multnomah's website. 

The Sacred Year

How could staring at an apple for over an hour help you to change your focus? How could digging a grave help give you a deeper understanding of what our own mortality means? How long could you sit in a room in utter silence until you had to do something or engage in another activity? How can you learn to appreciate all that life has to offer when you can't seem to find hope and happiness anymore?

I found some amazing insights into one man's spiritual walk, Michael Yankoski during one year he entitled in his book, The Sacred Year. In meeting with a man known as Father Solomon, he engaged Michael to take his own spiritual journey to find deeper nourishment, deeper encouragement, and deeper hope in a book that follows, through the ups and downs of one honest questioner's year of spiritual practice. There are simply so many amazing things that my poor copy of this book is more dog-eared than not. From outstanding quotes that open each chapter to the insights Michael discovered in so many profound ways, causes the reader to stop and pause at their own life, and realize how much we are truly missing. From learning to appreciate a great meal simply by fasting for 24 hours gives you a greater sense of the food you are eating. A good meal is never more appreciated than when you have gone without food for a few days. How too often we simply give up appreciating the abundance of food and flavors we have available to us simply by walking into a grocery store.

How when challenged to learn how to reclaim items that too often we simply discard not because we can't use them any longer but because we don't want them anymore. "We humans throw away such an astonishing amount of stuff every year, especially in the developed world. Resources are scarce, clean air and water and land are precious, and perhaps one of the ways of protecting what remains includes reclaiming what we might throw away, like lumber scraps, clothing or furniture. If we truly don't want them, and they are perfectly good, why not consider donating them instead? Michael actually spent time dumpster diving to see just what we so often throw away that still has value left in it.

How learning what is really important instead of the stronger overtaking the weaker, building something bigger, better and bolder, when you consider what is the point of it all anyway? "Is everything we build just destined to become rubble in another's ambition? For all the power and wealth here, for all the cultural influence and clout these culture-makers possess with their red carpets and private jets, they will all - we will all - one day be six feet under." (pg 111). He gains an insight into his own mortality digging a grave by hand. "The fact that I'm going to be down there someday. That we're all going to be down there someday. And the whole world will just keep on going about its business above us, like we were never even here."(pg 114).

He uncovers how God views us all not as a harsh judge looking for the moment to wipe us off the planet but in discovering through a close friend who is dying of cancer, how God views sin in our life like as a father views cancer taking the life of his daughter. The father hates cancer with an absolute, burning passion. So sin is like cancer, eating us alive, diminishing what we're made to be. It's a cancer of the mind, a cancer of the heart, a cancer of the soul. And it has spread out like a tumor throughout our whole selves. And, like the Bible says, "the wages of sin," are like the effects of untreated cancer, "is death." "And God like the father of the child with cancer, hates sin, hates the cancer that is eating us alive. He loves us and so he hates whatever it is that is killing us. He doesn't hate us, though, He loves us. He loves us and hates cancer, hates cancer because He loves us. God desires for us to live, to flourish, to thrive. That is why He made us. That is why God keeps us in existence from moment to moment." (pg 131).

I received The Sacred Year by Michael Yankoski compliments of Thomas Nelson Publishers and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own unless otherwise notated. There is simply so much to be gleaned from Michael's book and in his own year long search for something more than simply making it through this life doing the best we can with what God has given us. For those of you looking for a little bit more insight as the world grows at an exponential rate leaving us as debris in its wake, you just might uncover a true diamond in the rough tucked between the covers of this book.. I easily give this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars and can't wait to begin my own journey!

For more information about The Sacred Year, Michael Yankoski, or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

The Sacred Year by Michael Yankoski

You can also find Michael Yankoski on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest books.

To read more reviews on The Sacred Year, please visit Litfuse Publicity's book tour page.


God is at work everywhere. And every-when. We only need to open our eyes and take the time to notice.

Michael Yankoski became jaded and disillusioned with his life as a Christian motivational speaker, feeling as though he was another act in the “Christian Carnival.” Religion started to become a façade instead of a deep, nourished, lived experience of faith. He knew he needed to stop talking about his faith and begin living and practicing it. In a sort of desperation, Michael dedicated the next year to engaging various spiritual practices, and The Sacred Year is a firsthand account of the downs and ups, the failures and successes of an honest search for answers to the human yearning for life, love, and God. It’s time to stop talking about your faith and begin living and experiencing it.

Join Michael and #EmbraceTheSacred—seek out God at work in the mundane and attend to what God is doing in your life. Share those moments on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and make sure to use the tag #EmbraceTheSacred.

As a thank-you for ordering The Sacred Year, Michael is giving away a free ebook! Email your proof of purchase of The Sacred Year to TheSacredYear@gmail.com, and you will receive A Straightforward Guide to Three Essential Spiritual Practices ebook for FREE! Learn more here.

 

You Can Begin Again

Too often in life, we wait til the end, to reflect back on all the chances we had to do things differently. Then we wonder why we are suddenly filled with regret for the choices we didn't act upon or roads we didn't take. Too often we fail to follow through with choices because we are being held back by the beliefs it's simply too late and we accept the hand in life we are dealt, instead of taking a step of faith and choosing something different. An opportunity to begin again before it's too late.

Best selling author Joyce Meyers invites us all to simply begin again in her latest book You Can Begin Again. Using real life examples of people who have faced challenges that would cause most of us to dig a hole and crawl into, these people chose to begin their lives again with the challenges they each faced. To a man who believed he want to learn to play the piano and did all he could to learn to play his best, who ultimately freezes when he faces his first competition; to a young model who had everything in life going her way, walks unexpectedly into the propeller of an airplane and leaves her with facing a life unlike any she ever had expected if she lived; to a sculpture who was given a gift through a dream that would forever change what he would do with his life after facing a life with no future in it.

Joyce couples each of these with biblical examples of people who too, have had to face insurmountable odds stacked against them. How using stories like Jonah and Job we can see that when choosing to follow what God has in store often times leads to blessings beyond our wildest dreams but more importantly how we can chose every day to take one simple action that will lead us in a path for a brighter future instead of falling down and staying down. There is simply too many examples to share with you but know that my copy of her book is filled with passages that I have highlighted to help me when I find myself overwhelmed by the circumstances life hands me unexpectedly.

We can learn that despite how we feel we can chose to live a life we dream instead of simply waiting to the end of our lives and wishing we had taken the opportunity to do it sooner rather than not at all. There is simply something in this book for everyone to gain some insight into what you are facing. Do you find yourself struggling with weight loss, finding a job, struggling with loss, health issues, perhaps just finding a reason to get out of bed each morning? Or perhaps you know someone who could use a bit of a motivational push in the right direction? Then pick up this book today and realize that it's simply never too late to begin again!

I received You Can Begin Again by Joyce Meyers compliments of Faith Words, a division of Hachette Book Groups for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. I have loved listening to Joyce's messages for years now and reading her motivational and truly life changing books because she gives it too you straight and doesn't sugar coat anything. She encourages you to leave your pity party of one and take a different path, to live your dream and make it a reality. To rise above the difficulty of life and embrace the blessings God has in store for you. You just never know, the life that you have always wanted, stands right in front of you, if you are willing to simply take a step in the right direction! I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars!

For more information about You Can Begin Again, Joyce Meyers or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

You Can Begin Again by Joyce Meyers

You can also find Joyce Meyers on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest books and her ministry.

To read more reviews on You Can Begin Again, please visit Faith Word's website. 

Bounce Back

"In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity." ~ Albert Einstein

Most women desire to be women of faith, with spiritual depth and maturity, but how can you do that when dealing with pain, anger, sadness, discouragement, hopelessness and desperation? Why can you find encouragement while life hands you a truck load of lemons? How do you push past the emotions that are longing to keep your bound to your current lot in life when all you want to do is leave it all behind and move forward?

How do you overcome dealing with a spouse that has walked away from your marriage, leaving you a single mom with responsibilities of dealing with bills, the house, kids and going back to work?

How do you deal with losing someone you loved to death or disease when you know God could have healed them?

How do you push past the pain from abuse in your childhood that happened decades ago and now are having to confront the nightmares and emotions even though you thought you left it all behind?

How do you deal with a spouse that has walked away leaving you holding the bag while they move on with a women half your age and now years later he wants your forgiveness while you are still holding on to the bitterness and resentment?

How do you deal with the fifth miscarriage in your life while hoping to fill your home with the sounds of a family and children and are now told you can't have any more?

Do any of these terms describe you or perhaps all of these?

• Overstressed

• Overworked

• Underappreciated

• Underpaid

• Burnt out

If you are like most women, you can lay claim to one or more of these terms even if you don't want to. Most of us simply don't know how to break out of being burdened, in bondage or carry emotional baggage that is too heavy for one person to carry. We realize we are broken but don't know how to fix it.

We want to be set free, to break out and to bounce back!

That is the reason for the book, Bounce Back from Julie Clinton, that has been written to show you how you can not only break free but to bounce back and see your life from a completely different perspective, using stories she has gained from women going through those very things mentioned above. She shows you how to have hope again. That God does love you and He wants a better life for you. He does have a way for you to move from where you are, to the better life of your future and that you can bounce back from what has been holding you back.

I received Bounce Back by Julie Clinton compliments of Worthy Publishings for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation and the opinions expressed are strictly my own. I think every woman at some point in her life can look back and see times where her own set backs have held her back more than she wanted. Julie's book not only shows you that God is with you every step of the way, but through the stories she shares of what other women went through and got through, you can share in the hope we can bounce back and move forward through our circumstances no matter how difficult. They are all 100% survivable! I easily give this book a 4 out of 5 stars!

For more information about Bounce Back, Julie Clinton, or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Bounce Back by Julie Clinton

You can also find Julie Clinton on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest books.

To read more reviews on Bounce Back, please visit Worthy Publishing's website. 

The Confident Mom

As a mom, have you ever wondered if maybe you could have done a better job at raising your kids or looked at someone else and questioned maybe where you are going wrong in your own life? Why do we second guess our efforts when God clearly isn't done with our kids yet? Why do we look at what is going on in other's lives when we don't know what they have had to go through to get to where they are? So how do we move forward and gain a better understanding on how to be a more confident mom based on the abilities and talents God has uniquely given each of us and our kids?

Joyce Meyers has written a book called The Confident Mom to guide your family with God's strength and wisdom. I've always found that sometimes our best resources of truth can be discovered within the Bible, but just where to find it becomes the challenge. Joyce does an exceptional job at incorporating her humor as a mom in relating to us exactly where we have all found ourselves sometimes wondering just what the point is in all of this child rearing from a mom's perspective using the wisdom found in the Bible.

"We can all relate to those idyllic dreams we once had about our soon-to-be-born little bundles of joy. We also remember when the reality of the situation set in. Little bundles of joy grew into teething toddlers who cried and threw up on us every time we got dressed up to go out. They threw temper tantrums and tried to drink out of the dog bowl. Soon, instead of feeling sure of ourselves, we started wondering if we really have what it takes to do this right. We started seeing our short comings, focusing on our failures, and feeling inadequate.

I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. Every mom (no matter how awesomely competent she may appear to be) has lost her confidence at one time or another. But, thank God, there is a way to get your confidence back. It's actually possible for us as mothers, at any stage in our lives, to regain, not the false and fleeting kind of confidence but the real thing: the kind that keeps us looking forward with assurance even when things are going wrong - the kind that keeps us looking up instead of down, in spite of our mistakes. The kind that enables us to laugh at our imperfections and be positive about ourselves and what we can do instead of worrying about what we can't do." (excerpt page 7-8.)

Sound like something you'd want to know more about? Then trust me, when I say, you'll definitely want to pick up The Confident Mom by Joyce Meyers. There is something in this book for anyone even if we have kids who are grown and living outside of our homes. We all know that confidence in our abilities makes us stronger and able to gain insight to struggling moms everywhere who ask us how we seem to have it all together. We can sit back smile, and know we've all been there at one point in our lives and have arrived! "The difference between a good mom and a great mom is her supreme confidence in her supreme God!"

I received The Confident Mom by Joyce Meyers compliments of Faith Words, a division of Hachette Book Groups 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 unless otherwise noted. Joyce shows us not only how to rely on the advice God provides in His Word, but also how to make sure the children we raise remain confident in their own faith even though at times, some may fall away or stray, God will bring them back in His own timing and in His own way. We just have to have faith in the abilities we have instilled in them, God won't let them go too far! God doesn't expect us to be perfect, only trust in Him to help raise our children! I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about The Confident Mom, Joyce Meyers or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

The Confident Mom by Joyce Meyers

You can also find Joyce Meyers on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest books.

To read more reviews on The Confident Mom, stop by Faith Words Website.

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: FaithWords (January 21, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 145558018X
• ISBN-13: 978-1455580187
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 5 x 0.6 inches

Rapture Factor on America - Giveaway and Review

If anyone asked me what my favorite book in the Bible is, by far it would be the book of Revelation! Not only does it forecast the end result of what will ultimately happen between God versus Satan but also gives us the hope for a eternal future with Jesus Christ as a believer. That when this life is over, it is just truly beginning. As a believer, I have been intrigued by Bible Prophecy and love to follow along and decipher what clues lie within the scriptures that are just waiting to be fulfilled as well as the 100% accuracy of the ones that have been filled.

However when you look at the status of the way things are going in the world whenever it has come to Bible Prophecy and the end times, we are told to look to Israel to be placed on center stage. We see in prophecy the major players at the end, but one component is missing, where is the United States in all of this? The world super power we are today will not be the world super power of the future and it's chilling to see what Bible Prophecy has to say in where we began as a blessed nation with Christian biblical foundations, although some would love to argue that point including our own government leaders of today, but also where we as a country are headed. Is God removing His hand of protection over the United States? Are we too far gone to gain back what we have had in the past? What hopes lies in store for the United States if we continue on the same path of destruction we are on currently?

You might just want to pick up Edwards L. Brownlee's latest book Rapture Factor on America for a chilling look at our biblical past and see just how much it parallels with Israel. I found so much valuable information in this book I had never connected the proverbial dots to. The thirteen tribes of Israel that had to flee across the Red Sea to gain freedom to worship God as they saw fit, much like the thirteen original colonies that came her across the Atlantic fleeing freedom from a King that wanted to control their religious freedoms. Interesting connection? This is just a handful of the blessings that have joined the US with Israel and how God has blessed us with our alliance with Israel. Now that we have long since abandoned our need for God in this current generation through the misinterpretation of the separation of church and state, to the removal of the Bible and prayer in schools and businesses. This book is such a great resource for anyone who loves Bible Prophecy and End Times events in relation to what God's Word provides.

I received Rapture Factor on America by Edward l. Brownlee compliments of Tate Publishing and Edward L. Brownlee for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own unless otherwise noted. I love the historical research that the author did in providing his facts and interpretations of what the Bible scriptures have to say and provided all sorts of reference for your own fact checking. It is a chilling look at how far we as a blessed nation have truly fallen into our own self gratification and how we have simply pushed God to the back burner. For those that remain after the rapture, I don't believe there will be much in the way of the United States maintaining it's status as a blessed nation any longer and if today's signs are pointing to anything, it's that the rapture of the church is literally on the horizon to happen very soon! I easily give this book a 5 out of 5 stars and intend to go back through it in detail again being the huge history and prophecy lover that I am.

Now for the best part, thanks to the generosity of Edward L. Brownlee and Tate Publishing, they are providing a giveaway copy to one lucky follower of my blog Reviews From The Heart. Here are your guidelines:

1. Be a follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart.

2. "Like" Rapture Factor on America on Facebook. 

3. Be a resident of the US or have a US shipping address. Please No P.O.Boxes.

4. Leave me a comment telling me in detail why you'd love to win a copy of this book. Don't forget to include your email address and you can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols.

The giveaway ends on January 31st and I will notify the winner of the giveaway by email at that time.

For more information about Rapture Factor on America, Edward L. Brownlee, or where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Rapture Factor on America by Edwards L. Brownlee

You can also find out more information on Facebook on the Rapture Factor on America. 

• Paperback: 260 pages
• Publisher: Tate Publishing (October 22, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1627466207
• ISBN-13: 978-1627466202
• Product Dimensions: 0.6 x 5.4 x 8.4 inches