From Good to Grace

April 20, 2015 ~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

From Good to Grace: Letting Go of the Goodness Gospel by Christine Hoover

“God is calling you to something greater than good. So many of us feel as if we do not do enough and, in fact, are not enough. We try hard to be good–a good friend, mom, wife, Christian, employee, or ministry leader–hoping for that “atta-girl” from God, some heavenly assertion that we matter. In the process, we find ourselves living by a lesser gospel: the gospel of goodness. It’s a gospel without grace, and in the end, it’s good for nothing.”

While written mainly to women, From Good to Grace: Letting Go of the Goodness Gospel by Christine Hoover is a book that will touch so many of us – men and women alike. How many of us feel that, though we have received forgiveness and new life that somehow we still must work for it… that we don’t deserve it… almost as if we “owe” for it. Continue reading →

You Can Hear the Voice of God

April 14, 2015 ~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

You Can Hear the Voice of God: How God Speaks in Listening Prayer by Steve Sampson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“What did Jesus mean when he said, “My sheep hear my voice”? According to Steve Sampson, he meant exactly what he said-that his followers would know and recognize his voice. In You Can Hear the Voice of God, Sampson explores what the Bible teaches about the still, small voice of the Almighty. Like two people conversing back and forth, an exchange between God and one of his followers involves both speaking and listening. “Whenever we pray, we should expect to hear something,” Sampson says.

Can all Christians hear God? What are the best conditions for optimum listening prayer? How do we know it is God talking and not our own wishes or, worse, Satan’s attempt to distract and deceive? Sampson gives clear directives for discernment, for cultivating intimacy with the Holy Spirit, and for developing a faith that responds to that quiet voice. Uncomplicated, unique, and practical, this book will prepare readers for the ultimate adventure-enjoying two-way conversation with God and knowing in a deeper way his great love for us.”
Continue reading →

Spiritually Strong

March 25, 2015 ~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

Spiritually Strong: The Ultimate 6-Week Guide to Building Your Body and Soul by Kristen Feola

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“Spiritually Strong is a six-week program designed to help you get in better shape spiritually and physically. As Timothy says, “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come” (4:8). This book teaches you how to train yourself in godliness through the implementation of six disciplines—Bible study, prayer, fasting, healthy living, financial stewardship, and serving others.” Continue reading →

When Mountains Won’t Move

March 11, 2015 ~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

When Mountains Won’t Move: How to Survive a Struggling Faith by Jacob Hawk

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“Standing in the midst of majesty and might, Jesus said that if we have faith as small as a mustard seed, we can look at the mountains in the distance, tell them to move, and they will (Matthew 17:20). But what happens when our faith is smaller than the smallest of all seeds? What happens when the mountains won’t move? The purpose of this book is to equip and exhort Christians to survive the most difficult days of life, so that the mountains which won’t move will move before them.”

When Mountains Won’t Move; How to Survive a Struggling Faith by Jacob Hawk is not a big book both in size and number of pages, but it certainly is big on wisdom. Death of a child, loss of a job, foreclosure of the house, your spouse is walking out, the bills can’t be paid, a serious illness is diagnosed… those are the mountains that show up in the lives of believers and non-believers alike with more regularity than we want. They are mountains that seem impossible for us to move under our own strength. Continue reading →

Come Out Swinging Through the Hard Times

November 27, 2014 ~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

This book is a “DON”T MISS”! It is being added to my “second look” list for 2015.

The Pendulum: Come Back Swinging Through the Difficult Times by Rickie Rush

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“You Haven’t Missed It; You’re Right on Time! Many of God’s people feel guilty for going through difficult seasons. We think depression is spiritual weakness. In challenging circumstances, we ask: “God, where are You?” We consider the state of our lives and become discouraged, assuming we are not where God wants us to be. But what if we are?

What if the very circumstances that threaten to destroy us are the very things that launch us into our God-ordained moments of destiny? In The Pendulum, Pastor Rickie Rush shows you that there is a time for everything under heaven.

The Pendulum by Rickie Rush is an interesting book that got my attention and as well as it got me to thinking. Everyone seems to think that once/if you’re a Christian then life is filled with unicorns and pixie dust. How I wish that were true, but it isn’t. Christian deal with all the same life issues, the same difficult times that everyone else does. We have all the same triumphs and tragedies. And just like everyone else, sometimes we just don’t know how to get back up and fight. Continue reading →