Author: Ann Cuddy-Sullivan

God’s Plan For Spiritual Battle

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ 1 Comment

God’s Plan for Spiritual BattleGod’s Plan for Spiritual Battle by Russell Stendal

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“I love a good fight. When unjustly attacked, I have learned to seek the guidance and leadership of the Holy Spirit and retaliate by Overcoming Evil with Good. There is a huge difference between a Peacemaker and a Pacifist!

This Battle Plan for spiritual warfare, gleaned from the life and message of Jesus, especially the Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes.”

God’s Plan for Spiritual Battle; Victory of Sin, the World, and the Devil, is a book that is written to all Christians. The author, Russell Stendal, brings about the premise that we, as Christ Followers, not only should, but must be living our lives and interacting with this world in the way that Jesus spoke of when He taught the Beatitudes in order to live in victory over sin this world and most definitely the devil. The author walks us through each of the Beatitudes… not with flowery words, but real truth. Nothing in this book is sugar-coated. Continue reading →

Experiencing God in Your Everyday

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Simply Open: A Guide to Experiencing God in the EverydaySimply Open: A Guide to Experiencing God in the Everyday by Greg Paul

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“The simplest, most transformative prayer you may ever pray—the five senses prayer. This book invites you to a simple practice of prayer and awareness that can turn each ordinary workday into a deepening spiritual journey.
No matter where you are or how busy you get, your five senses are always “on,” your mind and heart responsive to what you perceive. These channels of awareness can take you deeper into God’s great mystery if you practice the discipline of submitting them to the One who is closer than you imagine. The beauty of such a contemplative path is that you can follow it anywhere—alone or in company, in quiet meditation or amid the bustle of your craziest day.“

This book, Simply Open; A Guide to Experiencing God in the Everyday, was a pleasure to read. It certainly gave me pause for thought on more than one occasion. It is based on our everyday moments, the moments where we encounter God by asking Him to open us up. Continue reading →

Open My Ears

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We live in a society of noise. Right now, it is mid evening and I am alone in the house. Yet it is noisy here. I can hear the music playing in the living room. I can hear my upstairs neighbors walking… walking… walking (God bless older home with squeaky floors!) I can hear the whirring sound of my computer. I can hear kids running outside. I can hear cars coming and going. And to top it all off, someone overcooked their dinner and set off the fire alarms! Everybody outside till the firemen come! Chatter, Chatter, Chatter. All kinds of noises.

All that, and its evening here. What about during the day. How much noise is there that goes on in our lives every day? And not just the noise of our life, the noise that we have no choice but to hear.   Think about it and make a list the different sounds that you hear before you make it to work in the morning, or that you hear during a simple one hour lunch break… the noise is never ending, and it is deafening.

Even with all of that, there are some noises that we just know, sounds that we can hear over the din of our daily life. There is the sound of “mommy” coming from your child among all of the other children at the playground. Then there is cry in the middle of the night that can wake you from a solid slumber.

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Finding Favor with the King

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Finding Favor with the King: Preparing for Your Moment in His PresenceFinding Favor with the King: Preparing for Your Moment in His Presence by Tommy Tenney

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“Have you ever had a “that night” or a “that day”? A point in time before which things were going wrong, but after which things began to go right? What are the ingredients for “that night”? What is mixed into the recipe? Understanding what goes into creating that moment of divine favor was Esther’s ultimate secret. She learned how to find favor with the king.”

Finding Favor with the King takes the reader into the life of Esther. Specifically into the one year prior to Esther’s fateful night with the king; the night that would save a nation.
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The Prosperous Soul

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The Prosperous Soul: Your Journey to a Richer LifeThe Prosperous Soul: Your Journey to a Richer Life by Cindy Trimm

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and letter life than they ever dreamed of.” “Prosperity comes from within. You were created to enjoy prosperity on every level – from a rich spiritual and intellectual life, to richness in your relationships and professional pursuits! The problem is that prosperity has often been reduced to a single measure: A dollar amount. Truth is, financial abundance is just one expression of what it means to live a rich life.”

I wondered when I asked to review this book if it was going to be another “do this and you’ll be rich… prosperity gospel” book. Oh how wrong I was. This book by Dr. Cindy Trimm is amazing! It truly spoke to my heart.
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When You Need Peace

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The Beauty of Grace: Stories of God's Love from Today's Most Popular Writers“The Beauty of Grace: Stories of God’s Love from Today’s Most Popular Writers by Dawn Camp

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

” This is your invitation . . . to slow down, take a deep breath, and know that you are loved “

“In this hectic life, it’s easy to forget that God is always near at hand, even though He sends us frequent reminders. The beauty amid the mess, a well-timed word of encouragement from a friend, the memories that won’t let go of our hearts–they’re all ways God extends an open hand to us. But if we’re not paying attention, we can miss it.

Combining heartfelt stories from some of today’s foremost writers with Dawn’s stunning photography of God’s incredible creation, The Beauty of Grace is your haven of calm contemplation amid the chaos. This inspiring collection includes stories of cultivating friendship, waiting on God, choosing joy, staying connected, learning to trust, and much more.”

This book, The Beauty of Grace, is just… peaceful. It is a wonderful compilation of stories written by women from all walks of life. They are stories of Grace. Grace in our Purpose, Our Surrender, Our Trust, in Our Hope and Encouragement, in our Lessons Learned and in Our Worship. These are more than mere stories written by some of the most popular writers, they are stories that almost make you feel that they are right there with you, sharing their words. Continue reading →

hand in Hand

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Hand in Hand: The Beauty of God's Sovereignty and Meaningful Human ChoiceHand in Hand: The Beauty of God’s Sovereignty and Meaningful Human Choice by Randy Alcorn

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

“If God is sovereign, how can I be free to choose? But if God is not sovereign, how can he be God? Is it possible to reconcile God’s sovereignty with human choice? This is one of the most perplexing theological questions. It’s also one of the most personal.

In hand in Hand, Randy Alcorn says that the traditional approach to this debate has often diminished our trust in God and his purposes. Instead of making a one-sided argument from select verses, Alcorn examines the question in light of all Scripture. By exploring what the whole Bible says about divine sovereignty and human choice, hand in Hand helps us… • Carefully and honestly examine the different views on this issue; Gain a deeper understanding of God; Appreciate God’s design in providing us the freedom of meaningful choice; See the value in better understanding what we cannot fully understand; Learn how to communicate about the issue in clear and compassionate ways; More fully experience the unity Christ intends for his Church” Continue reading →

Peace Through Prayer

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“The Stress Cure” by Linda Evans Shepherd is a book that I read and reviewed in October 2014.  This is a profound book that touched me deeply.  I felt that I needed not just to read the book again, but to really give it my attention and let it work to soothe me in the craziness of all that is going on around here.

With head-strong, unbelieving extended family members, there is never a shortage of drama.  Lately however, the level of crazy has gone to a whole new level.  One that I didn’t think was possible.  Most days, I don’t want to answer the phone and consider running away as a viable option.

So the other day as I was flipping through the pages of this book, I can upon this prayer:

Dear Lord, Please forgive me for allowing my circumstance to overwhelm me instead of trusting in You.  I close all the doors I have opened to the enemy in this area.  In addition, I cancel any plans the enemy has for my life.  I cast out any power of influence from any evil spirit trying to overwhelm me.  I pray this in the power of the name and blood of Jesus   I exchange the enemy’s work for God’s peace.  Send the river of Your peace not only to me, but also to those overwhelmed by the same influences and circumstances.  I pray this also in the power of the name and blood of Jesus!  (The Stress Cure – page 45)

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What Am I Supposed To Do With My Life

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God’s Will Demystified?? Part of me understands exactly what the author is saying in this book… perhaps the other part of me does much life the way it’s put out there.  I will let you decide for yourself.

 

What Am I Supposed to Do with My Life?: God's Will DemystifiedWhat Am I Supposed to Do with My Life?: God’s Will Demystified by Johnnie Moore

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

“For nearly two thousand years too many Christians have embraced a lie. The lie is cast in spiritual tones and seems, on the surface, to be innocent enough.

Yet, it’s a lie so deceptive that even the most pious believe it without knowing it, and its widespread practice has robbed the world of a thousand types of good that would have been hers had Christianity followed God’s path. It’s a lie so clandestine that it has weaved its way in and out of Christian history nearly undetected.

It’s a lie so sinister that it has robbed millions of people of their souls. What is the lie? It is that “God’s will” is hard to find. It isn’t.”
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Own Your Life

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Own Your Life: How to Grow a Legacy of Faith, Love, and Spiritual InfluenceOwn Your Life: How to Grow a Legacy of Faith, Love, and Spiritual Influence by Sally Clarkson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

God has made you with the capacity to live courageously, to have great faith, and to become a person of influence. Will you follow hard after Him and live into your potential? Will you choose today to own your life?

Learn to live each day with spiritual intention—and see how your moment-by-moment decisions add up to a breathtaking life story that shines with God’s love. You’ll come alive with confidence, energy, and purpose as you discover His fingerprints in your most ordinary days. Your life will become a lasting legacy that points others to Him—and He will honor your decisions beyond what you ever imagined.”

“What will be the legacy of your life? What story will the day of your life tell? Will you invest your life for eternity, or spend it, wasting the days on things that do not matter, on issues that will quickly fade away?” (Page xv) Those are the first words in the opening of this book and they are powerful. They are the words that challenged the author, Sally Clarkson, all those years ago. They are the basis for this thought-provoking book, a book written to challenge you to ponder your life, and own it. Own and take responsibility for your own behavior, decisions, and attitudes. Continue reading →