God’s Blessings

Pathways To The King – A Review

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

Pathways to the King: Living a Life of Spiritual Renewal and PowerPathways to the King: Living a Life of Spiritual Renewal and Power by Rob Reimer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“The Church in America desperately needs revival. We have fewer people attending church now (percentage wise) than ever before in the history of the United States. But how do we experience revival? How do we usher in God’s kingdom on Earth and see the next great spiritual awakening? It starts with you. God wants you to draw near to Jesus and to be a carrier of His kingdom, and He wants you to expand the kingdom to others – just like Jesus did. Pathways to the King provides you with 8 Kingdom pathways that you’ll need to incorporate and internalize in order to experience and expand God’s kingdom on Earth. When you begin you walk down these pathways, you will develop intimacy, authority, and power in Christ and become a kingdom-minded person living out the compelling life of the Spirit.”

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It served as both a wake up call and a reminder for me that I have been becoming complacent in my walk. I was “OK” with the way things were… instead of being hungry for more, and wanting all that God had for me – like it was all those years ago when I first met Jesus. Not only do I need revival, but also the Church needs revival.

The author brings out 8 pathways that we need to walk in order to bring about a fresh revival and renewal – both corporate and personal. We are called to internalize the pathways – personalizing our identity in Christ, pursuing God, purifying ourselves, praising, praying kingdom prayers, claiming promises, passing the tests, and persisting – in order to walk in continuous revival.

This book is filled with great information that just makes sense. There are probably 100 “blubs” (for lack of a better word) scattered throughout the book. They are wonderful nuggets of wisdom and truth that will certainly give you something to ponder through your day. A personal favorite – “If you believed the things that God believes about you, it would revive your soul”!! While this book is an easy read, I feel that this book deserves great attention and certainly more than just one reading to fully absorb the message that is so desperately needed in our Country.

*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through the “For Readers Only” group at The Book Club Network, in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.

*Reviews of this book were posted at the following locations:
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Deeper Shopping, Goodreads, and to be featured on my blog at http://titus3.wordpress.com

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Organizing Your Prayer Closet – A Review

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Organizing Your Prayer Closet: A New and Life-Changing Way to PrayOrganizing Your Prayer Closet: A New and Life-Changing Way to Pray by Gina Duke

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“A recent survey revealed that 48 percent of the Christians surveyed were unhappy with their prayer life, 34 percent admitted that they did not know how to pray, and 31 percent were not sure that God ever responded to their prayers. The truth is we all want to grow our prayer lives, to be closer to Christ, to see prayer change things, and to make a difference. This books help you begin.

Organizing Your Pray Closet is part organizer and part record-keeper; it’s a new approach to revitalizing your time alone with God. Using Scripture, inspirational quotes, and space for journaling, author Gina Duke highlights the importance and power of prayer as the best connection to the source of all strength.”

I was intrigued when I read the title of this book. I have kept a journal for many years; nothing fancy, mostly a spiral notebook where I drop my thoughts, prayers, problems and blessings. I’ve never really found a way to organize my thoughts, until now.

Ms. Duke has brought it all together for me in a clean, concise and organized manner. There are 10 sections that are covered in the book with each section/chapter building on the last, culminating in a wonderfully organized plan. As each section is defined and discussed, Ms. Duke offers suggestions and helpful advice to make the most out of your newly organized prayer closet and your one-on-one time with Jesus.

I would recommend this book to anyone that wants to take their precious alone time with Jesus to the next level; to really witness and understand His hand at work in their life and to see the real effects of their petitions and prayers.

*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through the “For Readers Only” group at The Book Club Network, in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.

*Reviews of this book were posted at the following locations:
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Deeper Shopping,  and Goodreads.

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Praying for Your Husband from Head to Toe – A Book Review

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Praying for Your Husband from Head to Toe: A Daily Guide to Scripture-Based PrayerPraying for Your Husband from Head to Toe: A Daily Guide to Scripture-Based Prayer by Sharon Jaynes

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“In this much-needed book, Sharon Jaynes gives reader the whys, whats. And how-tos of praying for a husband.” Elizabeth George, Author of A Woman After God’s Own Heart

”As a wife, you have been given the privilege of serving as a mighty prayer warrior for your husband. Yet sometimes, even when poised with the best of intentions, you may find the task overwhelming. You wonder: What should I pray? How should I pray? What prayers does he need right now?

In Praying for Your Husband from Head to Toe, Sharon Jaynes maps out sixteen landmarks to help you consistently and effectively cover your husband in prayer. From his mind and the thoughts he thinks, to his eyes and the images he sees, all the way down to his feet and the path he takes, Sharon teaches you how to pray for your husband in ways that are powerful, practical, and life-changing.”

I was so pleased to be able to review this book. It was truly touched by it. Before now, I guess that I hadn’t really given it too much thought… praying for my husband. Sure, I pray for him each day, but it wasn’t until I started reading this book that it struck me about how I should be praying for him. This book really opened my eyes to the struggles that our husbands encounter each day.

The author, Sharon Jaynes, has created for us a 30-day prayer and scripture guide to equip us to develop a habit of purposeful prayer for our husbands… prayers for all that he may encounter during his day. The book consists of two main parts – the power of prayers and the landmarks of prayer and the second part consisting of the 30 days’ of prayers for your husband from head to toe.

In addition, the author has added 3 great chapters in the Appendix. Praying for His Salvation, Praying for His Fatherhood and Praying for His Healing.

I am recommending this book to women everywhere. I don’t care if you’ve been married 1 year or 60 years, this is a valuable resource for all married women. Consider giving this book to the new brides in your lives.

*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through the “For Readers Only” group at The Book Club Network, in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.

*Reviews of this book were posted at the following locations:
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Deeper Shopping, and Goodreads
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Forgotten Road – A Book Review

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forgotten road book cover

Forgotten Road by Randall Arthur

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“Nashville music star and family man, Cole Michaels, is persuaded to embrace an “American Dream” Theology that promises comfort, happiness, and success. But when the unimaginable happens, Cole blames God and abandons his faith. More vulnerable than ever, he is clueless that an evil character with an unspeakable secret is using every available resource to find him.

Down every forgotten road is a new discovery. Sometimes pleasant. Sometimes frightening.

There’s no “fairy tale’ Christianity here. But there is a true –to-life drama that will captivate your heart and mind. And resonate in your soul.”

Forgotten Road by Randall Arthur is the first book that I have read by this author and it is unlikely that it will be the last. It is one of the best books I’ve read in a very long time. It is at times sweet and other times rife with raw gut-wrenching emotion. This book will grab you on page one, touch your heart, jangle your emotions, and not let go of you until the last paragraph. It is filled with Cole Michaels’ personal road to really discovering the truth who God is and how to humble himself not only before God, but before man as well to let HIS light shine through.

I can’t say enough about this book… but to divulge too much would give away the story. You must unwrap this story yourself. I will warn that there are a few paragraphs/pages that are seriously graphic – so sensitive readers be aware.

*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through the “For Readers Only” group at The Book Club Network, in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.

*Reviews of this book were posted at the following locations: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Deeper Shopping, Books A Million,  and Goodreads
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Daily Reflections on the Names of God – A Review

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ 2 Comments

Daily Reflections on the Names of God: A DevotionalDaily Reflections on the Names of God: A Devotional by Ava Pennington

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“What is your understand of who God is and how He works? Is it a biblical perspective, or have you been molding your understanding of God to fit your desires and expectations? If your perspective is not biblical, then it’s time to look at who God says He is and how God says He works.” (Daily Reflections On The Names Of God – Introduction – page 9)

Daily Reflections on the Names of God is a great devotional, that I have added to my quiet time. Unlike many devotionals, it is not dated and it has a great topical index to help you through whatever might be going on in your life.

In the introduction, there is a key for each devotion by a clever use of “arrows”. As we read a devotional, are we looking up, looking in or looking out to indicate where the devotion is focusing on? Each of the 366 days contains a bible reading, an explanation/study, a short prayer and thoughts to ponder for the day to learn who God is according to how He revealed Himself in His Word.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone that wants to dig deeper into God’s words and His promised for us.

I received this book through The Book Club Network (http://www.bookfun.org/) for my honest review, which I have given.

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Jesus Is In The House

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

Some years ago, I came across an article called, “What If Jesus Toured Your Business?” by Buck Jacobs.  The summary of the article poses the question to Christian Business owners, “If Jesus took a tour of the organization you run, would He see anything that would distinguish you from your secular counterparts?”  The article goes on to where the author invites the business owners through a spiritual audit of the business.

This article got me to thinking.  While I am no longer a small business owner, I am about the business of my family, my home, my work and my community.  If Jesus knocked on my door today and asked to spend the week with me — would I pass the “spiritual audit”? Continue reading →

The Gospel Of God’s Grace

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

confident heart

“Have you I let the gospel of God’s grace move from your my head to your  my heart, so that you I know without a shadow of a doubt that you are I am known intimately and loved completely by God?” “A Confident Heart” pg 41.

I grew up in a wonderful, complete, warm and loving family.  Mom and dad saw to it that we were in church every weekend, that we attended weekly religious instructions, and received all of the Sacrements of the Church.

I grew up knowing about God.  I knew OF Him… I just didn’t KNOW Him.  I knew that God loved me.  I just didn’t know how deeply and how He truly loved me and how much He longed for a relationship with me.  I didn’t know that He wanted a relationship with me that would last for all eternity.  All is knew at that time is that if I followed all the rules that that would be good enough to get me into Heaven. Continue reading →

The Long Awakening – A Book Review

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The Long Awakening, a memoirThe Long Awakening, a memoir by Lindsey O’Connor

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The riveting true story of a life-threatening coma, a miraculous awakening, and the long quest to regain what was lost.

From the front flap: “The day our baby came into the world was the day I left. A day that began all smiles and excitement and anticipation and joy ended with running and panic and blood and tears. And then coma.I lay suspended in the deep, my newborn unknown. Nothingness. Layers where dark pulled from below, light called from above, and me, trapped in between, longing to break the surface. To live.
Forty-seven days later when I first saw my husband’s face leaning close to me, I knew where, and who, I was. But other things took much longer to know. Learning to restitch life–and love–when everything’s changed, and finding who we are afterward, can be the longest journey of all.

I’m Lindsey O’Connor, and this is the story of my long awakening.”

I just finished reading this book. This is, by far, one of the best written books that I have read in a very long time. It is a story of being alive just outside of deaths door. It is a story of love and despair. It is a story of returning back to life after being snatched back from the brink. Surviving the 47-day medically-induced coma is just the start to this beautifully written and brutally candid story.Be warned tho, The Long Awakening is no mere memoir…. if you pick up this book you will not soon put it down.

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Verse Mapping

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

A few weeks back, while I was working on the Proverbs 31 Ministry – “When A Woman Says Yes To God” online bible study, we were given a reference to a blog that gave a teaching on Verse Mapping .  Verse Mapping is a unique way to learn scripture by meditating on the Word.  In this blog post, there was also reference to personalizing the scripture verses by crossing out words like “you”, “we”, “whoever”, “them” and write in your name.

This reminded me of something that my mom taught me many years ago.  It was shortly after I was married.  I was just a young bride and for whatever reason (I can’t even begin to remember the reason) I was being particularly snotty one day towards my new husband.

God-inspired I’m sure, but my mom just happened to show up at our home during the midst of my hissy-fit.  Of course, not to let her and dad know that we were argueing… we, or should I say I, dropped whatever it was about.  But my mom had a special gift of knowing when her children were being “stupid” (my word, never hers) Continue reading →

Preparing For The Storm

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

This post was originally written in August 2011. This is something that I wrote a few years back.  With all of the storms that have been beating up New England in the last couple of weeks…  well I decided to repost it.

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storm-pic-for-blog
Winter 2013

Growing up in northern New England, we are used to having massive winter storms.  I learned from my parents at a very young age about being prepared.   The preparations for an upcoming storm typically included making sure that there was “Blizzard” food in the house (milk, cereal,bread, etc… especially with 4 children) and the vehicles were gassed up.  It’s not that we weren’t going to be able to get out of the house for months after the storm, as usually within 8 hours after the end of the storm, we would be out and about.  But then again, you never know. (In December 2010 a freak ice storm resulted in 14 days without power for 100’s of thousands of folks – never know)  Mom and dad were always prepared.

Continue reading →