Fight Back With Joy

Fight Back With Joy: Celebrate More. Regret Less. Stare Down Your Greatest FearsFight Back With Joy: Celebrate More. Regret Less. Stare Down Your Greatest Fears by Margaret Feinberg

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“Great Joy Waits in Life’s Greatest Battles. Joy is stamped on coffee mugs, sewn onto decorative pillows – even displayed on dish soap. But what if there’s a deeper power and purpose to this mighty virtue? Through vulnerable story telling, a difficult diagnosis, and a good dose of humor, Margaret Feinberg revels how joy is more than whimsy. Its’ the weapon you can use to fight life’s battles.”

This is an extraordinary book that will take you by surprise. When I read the first few pages of the first chapter, I though to myself… here we go, another book that is going to try to teach me the how’s and why’s of being joyful. And then came chapter two. Continue reading

Keep It Shut

Do not just read this book….   study it and live it.  This is another on my list of second read 2015.  Truly loved the book.


Keep It Shut: What to Say, How to Say It, and When to Say Nothing at AllKeep It Shut: What to Say, How to Say It, and When to Say Nothing at All by Karen Ehman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“From Bible times to modern times women have struggled with their words. What to say and how to say it. What not to say. When it is best to remain silent. And what to do when you’ve said something you wish you could now take back. In this book a woman whose mouth has gotten her into loads of trouble shares the hows (and how-not-tos) of dealing with the tongue.

Beyond just a “how not to gossip” book, this book explores what the Bible says about the many ways we are to use our words and the times when we are to remain silent. Karen will cover using our speech to interact with friends, co-workers, family, and strangers as well as in the many places we use our words in private, in public, online, and in prayer. Even the words we say silently to ourselves. She will address unsolicited opinion-slinging, speaking the truth in love, not saying words just to people-please, and dealing with our verbal anger.”

This book – Keep It Shut by Karen Ehman– arrived just before Christmas and so I was able to read it before the onslaught of the holiday madness. Oh am I so ever grateful that this book arrived when it did. While it did require some serious work on my part to Keep It Shut, the madness became a bit less maddening and my need to lash out at the perceived crazy was tempered by Karen’s words that came to mind quite often. Continue reading

War in Heaven

War in Heaven: Taking Your Place in the Epic Battle with EvilWar in Heaven: Taking Your Place in the Epic Battle with Evil by Derek Prince

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

“A cosmic view of God’s plan-from start to finish! The Bible says that when God laid the foundations of the earth, the angels were watching. In time, one of those angels would be the main player in a rebellion to wrest God of His magnificent creation. Thus began a battle of epic proportions that leaves today’s believer with many questions. -Why did God allow evil in the first place? -If evil was defeated at the cross, why does it continue to exist? -Does spiritual warfare really make a difference? -How are we to await the end of the age?”
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Step Into Your God Given Dream

This is another one of those books that you don’t just read and put it away.  This is a book requiring a reread to study and absorb all that it has to offer.  I have added to my “second read 2015”. (complete list coming soon!)  Loved it!


The Joseph Blessing: Change the World with Your God-Given DreamThe Joseph Blessing: Change the World with Your God-Given Dream by Jordan Rubin

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“Step into God’s divine blessing and fulfill your dreams! Are you ready to see your dreams go from vision to fulfillment? To see God’s promised blessings revealed in your life? Join Jordan Rubin and Dr. Pete Sulack as you discover how Joseph endured incredible opposition and persecution, only to be elevated to a key position of influence and watch his dream come to pass before his very eyes.

You’ll unlock the powerful secrets that will take your dreams from birth to fulfillment. In this easy-to-follow process, you will learn how to protect your dream during seasons of adversity, resurrect vision when you believe it is dead, have hope even when you feel like your dream is impossible, and watch God miraculously fulfill your life purpose through your God-given dreams.” Continue reading

Unveiling Heaven’s Agenda

Hosting the Presence Every Day: 365 Days to Unveiling Heaven's Agenda for Your LifeHosting the Presence Every Day: 365 Days to Unveiling Heaven’s Agenda for Your Life by Bill Johnson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

”The Holy Spirit lives within you. This is a fact for every single Christian. The question is: Are you experiencing the power of the Spirit resting upon you? He lives within you for your sake, but He comes upon you to transform the world around you.

Experience deep intimacy with the Father, catch a fresh vision of Jesus, and discover how you can walk in the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit as your new normal. Transform your world as you begin Hosting the Presence Everyday!”
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Your past does not define you

Your Life Still Counts: How God Uses Your Past to Create a Beautiful FutureYour Life Still Counts: How God Uses Your Past to Create a Beautiful Future by Tracie Miles

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“God still has a plan for you–not in spite of your past, but because of it! Do regret and shame over your failures, sins, and shortcomings make you wonder how you could ever be loved, much less used, by a holy God? Tracie Miles felt the same way until she discovered the path to healing, peace, and significance.

She helps you recognize that God not only has a purpose for you, but He has prepared you for your divine purpose based specifically on the experiences of your past. Through her own story and stories from other women who have discovered God’s purpose for their lives because of adverse experiences, Tracie helps you see how God can turn pain into purpose. You will find forgiveness and healing from the troubles of your past, discover the courage to step out of your comfort zone to help others find hope and strength, and be inspired to step into the beautiful future God divinely designed for you.”

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Ignite God’s Vision

Greater Devotional: A Forty-Day Experience to Ignite God's Vision for Your LifeGreater Devotional: A Forty-Day Experience to Ignite God’s Vision for Your Life by Steven Furtick

My rating:

Recently I became aware of a GodTube video of Pastor Furtick that I, as an evangelical Christian, find truly offensive.  For that reason,  I will not promote any products of Pastor Furtick and have removed my reviews of his books from my blog.

To understand this post, please visit:

http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=FFCM2CNU

Misfits Welcome

Misfits Welcome: Find Yourself in Jesus and Bring the World Along for the RideMisfits Welcome: Find Yourself in Jesus and Bring the World Along for the Ride by Matthew Barnett

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“Being a misfit does not disqualify you from a dynamic life—it prepares you for it. Matthew Barnett knows a thing or two about misfits. As founder of the Dream Center in Los Angeles, a 24-hour church that ministers to 35,000 hurting people a week, Barnett has seen a little of everything. Gangsters, addicts, orphans, taggers, cutters, the sick, the suffering, the hopeless…all the misfits of the world come through the church’s doors in search of hope.”

The Least of These… This is the premise for this powerful book, “Misfits Welcome: Find Yourself in Jesus and Bring the World Along for the Ride” by author, Matthew Barnett. For more than 20 years Matthew Barnett has served the “misfits” that walk in our midst – those that most of society has thrown away – as founder of the Dream Center in Los Angeles, California. He has served them with through programs and out reach ministry. But through it all, he has served them in love. Continue reading

Heaven Touches Earth

book cover

“She had been killed in an automobile accident. Her husband was in route to the hospital. I met their minister in the hospital corridor. In utter desperation, he cried, “I feel so uncomfortable coming to the hospital. It’s such a foreign environment. I don’t know what to say or do. I’ve never done this before. Please tell me what to do.” The patient said,” My pastor doesn’t make hospital visits. He can’t handle hospitals.”

When the unexpected arises and you find your parishioners hospitalized, are you equipped to support them effectively? Difficult situations can catch us off guard and unprepared. This concise “how to handbook” is a succinct resource of clear insight into hospital practices/protocol useful in training volunteers, parish visitors, pastors/chaplains and a helpful refresher guide for those that have studied hospital ministry. You will proceed with confidence as you minister to the sick and suffering.”

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Satan’s Deadly Trio

Satan's Deadly Trio: Defeating the Deceptions of Jezebel, Religion and WitchcraftSatan’s Deadly Trio: Defeating the Deceptions of Jezebel, Religion and Witchcraft by Jennifer LeClaire

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“You’re on your guard for the Jezebel spirit. But did you know that it doesn’t work alone? Just as the holy Trinity works together to deliver, redeem and then guide us day by day, an unholy trinity is doing everything possible to put us in bondage, strip us of our God-given identity and derail our Kingdom purpose.

Satan’s abominable threesome–the spirits of Jezebel, religion and witchcraft–is coordinating its attack. Are you? Veteran spiritual warrior Jennifer LeClaire pulls back the curtain on the calculated and systematic strategies of the enemy while offering practical biblical tactics to combat this deadly trio. Her Spirit-anointed discernment will help you understand the hidden schemes of these spirits and, with God’s help, to resist them.
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