Daughter, Where’s Your Crown

Daughter Where's Your Crown: Examine Biblical Virtue in the Life of Ruth and Proverbs 31Daughter Where’s Your Crown: Examine Biblical Virtue in the Life of Ruth and Proverbs 31 by Kathy Farley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“As wives, mothers, caretakers, and breadwinners, women face a unique set of challenges. Have you found yourself struggling with not feeling “good enough?” Has pressure of trying to do the “right thing” ever left you feeling overwhelmed and discouraged? Daughter, Where’s Your Crown? will help you meet these challenges head-on.”

“Daughter, Where’s Your Crown” by author Kathy Farley is a bible study for women based on Proverbs 31. The first half of the book is based on Proverbs 31- verses 1 – 9, with the remainder of the book focusing on the Proverbs 31 woman. This study is designed to give women new insights into this important chapter. Continue reading

The Truth of Doing Theology

A few days ago, I was sitting on our little patio enjoying the fresh air and morning sunshine while working on part two of False Preachers, Teacher’s and Prophets. I began on a writing frenzy about how we, as mere lay people, can’t always know the truth of the Word of God if we don’t know how to read, study, and understand it to begin with.

I headed inside for a coffee refill; I felt led to my bookcases in search of a reference book or two to help me with this article. I sort through a stack of “TableTalk” Magazines[i] – on the top of the stack is the February 2018 “Doing Theology”. I opened and read the short article just inside the front cover entitled, “Doers, Not Hearers Only” by Burk Parsons. My first thought… Thank You Holy Spirit for confirming yet another article.

Throughout many of my articles, and in some stories in my Book, I make the statement “I am not a Theologian”. After reading this short article, I must now stop doing that. What first leapt off the page I read was, “…everyone is a theologian — the question is whether or not we are good theologians. The fundamental problem in our day is that many professing Christian don’t think they need to study theology, while many others don’t seem to care about theology or are simply too lazy to study it. Christians, however must care about theology. How could we not, when it tells us about the One that saves our souls?”[ii]

Continue reading

Before Opening Your Bible

This prayer was taught to me by my mother many years ago. It is still so very valuable.


Before opening the pages of your Bible,
ask the Holy Spirit to be your Teacher and Guide.

Father God,

I ask that You send Your Holy Spirit to be my Guide as I open Your Holy Word.

I ask that You open my eyes, that I may read Your Word.

I ask that you would open my ears, that I may hear Your Word.

I ask that you would open my mind, that I may understand Your Word.

I ask that You would open my mouth, that I may speak Your Word.

And Lord I ask that You would open my heart, so that Your Word will come and live in me.

Thank You Father God, I pray this in the name of Your Son Jesus. Amen.

Lavish Grace

Lavish Grace: Poured Out, Poured Through, and OverflowingLavish Grace: Poured Out, Poured Through, and Overflowing by Kathy Howard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“Lavish Grace is a unique, nine-week study of Paul’s teachings about grace and ways he experienced God’s grace in his life. Filled with contemporary examples of grace at work, this well-written format gives you the rare opportunity to combine a character and topical study into one rich, practical approach to Scripture. Lavish Grace is the eye-opening study you need to recognize how God’s grace is being poured out on you and through you. His grace will give you reason to rejoice every day.”

Lavish Grace by Kathy Howard is an interesting book. It is designed to be an interactive nine-week bible study, but I think that it could also devotional of sorts too. The book is divided into three sections: “Grace Poured Out”, “Grace Poured Through” and “Grace Overflowing”. Each section is then divided into three week studies and each week into four sections. Continue reading

Hebrew Word Study

Hebrew Word Study: Revealing the Heart of GodHebrew Word Study: Revealing the Heart of God by Chaim Bentorah
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“Hebrew is a language of poetry and pictures. With Chaim Bentorah’s expertise, you will see how to examine not just word definitions, but also the origin of the words, their place in the culture and idioms of the day, and even their emotional context. Through this devotional, you will walk the road less traveled as you uncover the deeper spiritual messages in God’s Word. In the process, you will discover the heart of God toward you and come to know Him better. You will see just how beautiful the Word of God is and, most of all, you will see the beauty of God Himself and love Him all the more.”

I loved this book! As the author says, “I would love to walk in the garden and converse with God as Adam did; Alas, the reality is that our most authoritative source for understanding Him is what is written in Scripture that came from the heart of God into a human language that we can’t understand, and were then translated into yet another language that we can understand.” Therein lies the heart of it… and this book cuts through all of that, brings us beyond the dozens of translations of the Word to discover the heart of God. Continue reading

The Country Road through the Book of Matthew

The Country Road through the Book of MatthewThe Country Road through the Book of Matthew by Mike Lovett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Country Road through the Book of Matthew is just that, a road that travels through the entirety of Matthew with stops along the way where the reader can pause and explore on their own. Desiring to live out Paul’s admonition to Timothy that all scripture is inspired by God and useful to us, Mike keeps the reader on the road in hopes that each day will bring new growth in their relationship with Christ as they read about His birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection.
Continue reading

Speak Lord

Speak, Lord: Hearing Psalms in the First PersonSpeak, Lord: Hearing Psalms in the First Person by Vic Black

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

““I am your shepherd. You have no need of anything, because I am all you need.”
Do you ever wish that God would speak directly to you? The Psalms are filled with the heart-cry of a man for his God. But they are also overflowing with the depths of God’s heart for you.

In Speak, Lord you will learn how to engage with the Psalms in a fresh, dynamic way – hearing them as though God were speaking directly to you. Vic Black, the National Prayer Director for The Navigators, shares his passion to ignite your personal relationship with God by teaching you to interpret the Psalms from God’s perspective.”
Continue reading

Spiritually Strong

Spiritually Strong: The Ultimate 6-Week Guide to Building Your Body and SoulSpiritually 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

The Making of an Ordinary Saint

This is another of the books that is on my 2015 list of books to read again… digging deeper and going deeper – exploring each of these disciplines…   (that list will show up on this blog at the beginning of December. I hope that you will join me in reading through the list)


The Making of an Ordinary Saint: My Journey from Frustration to Joy with the Spiritual DisciplinesThe Making of an Ordinary Saint: My Journey from Frustration to Joy with the Spiritual Disciplines by Nathan Foster

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“Nathan Foster was just a child when his father’s classic Celebration of Discipline brought the spiritual disciplines into the popular evangelical consciousness. More than thirty years later, Nathan made his own journey into the spiritual disciplines. As he sought day by day to develop habits that would enable him to live more like Jesus, he encountered problems both universal and unique. In this engaging narrative, he draws insights from saints of old to uncover fresh ways of living for the contemporary, postmodern Christian.”
Continue reading

Bethlehem Road

This is another wonderful study by Michael Whitworth!

Other reviews of his Bible Study’s on this blog:

The Derision of Heaven – A Guide to the Book of Daniel

Living & Longing for the Lord – A Guide to 1 & 2 Thessalonians –


Bethlehem Road: A Guide to RuthBethlehem Road: A Guide to Ruth by Michael Whitworth

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“Out of the immense moral darkness of the Judges period comes a story of romance, redemption, and hope. The tale of Ruth has inspired countless generations. But Ruth isn’t the star in this romantic drama; center stage belongs to God and his providence. Naomi and Ruth traveled the Bethlehem Road—one of famine, abandonment, grief, and loss—unaware that the Lord had gone before them to redeem their heartache.”
Continue reading