hearing God’s word

Life Unstuck

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

Life Unstuck: Finding Peace with Your Past, Purpose in Your Present, Passion for Your FutureLife Unstuck: Finding Peace with Your Past, Purpose in Your Present, Passion for Your Future by Pat Layton

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“Everyone has felt stuck at some point in life. Our inertia is gone, momentum is wiped out, and life trudges on devoid of passion. But God has so much more than this planned for his daughters. With passion and enthusiasm, Pat Layton invites women to imagine their world unstuck–a place where they feel at peace with the past, find purpose in the present, and revel in the possibilities that the future holds. With her rousing Unstuck Manifesto, she delves deep into the areas readers get stuck in the most–relationships, finances, ministry, career, and more–and, with the Scriptures as her guide, unveils the path to positive forward movement.”

Had I not gone any further than page 13 to what the author titled “Unstuck Manifesto”, I would already have been beyond blessed by this book. However, I kept reading. And oh how I was blessed. In Life Unstuck, the author, Pat Layton, so readily shares testimony from her own life where she was stuck, and allows us into her journey of freedom.
Continue reading →

Word of Promise Audio Bible

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

NKJV Audio Bible on 79 CD’s547965_large[1]

Overview
Featuring the voices of more than 500 popular actors, this faithful rendering of the New King James Version presents the Bible in more than 90 hours of compelling, dramatic audio-theater format. Includes an interactive Behind-the-Scenes DVD.

Publishers Description

This faithful rendering of the New King James Version(R) presents the Bible in more than 90 hours of compelling, dramatic audio theater format.

This world-class audio production immerses listeners in the dramatic reality of the Scriptures as never before with an original music score by composer Stefano Mainetti (“Abba Pater), ” feature film quality sound effects, and compelling narration by Michael York and the work of over 600 actors.

Each beloved book of the Bible comes to life with outstanding performances by Jim Caviezel as Jesus, Richard Dreyfuss as Moses, Gary Sinise as David, Jason Alexander as Joseph, Marisa Tomei as Mary Magdalene, Stacy Keach as Paul, Louis Gossett, Jr. as John, Jon Voight as Abraham, Marcia Gay Harden as Esther, Joan Allen as Deborah, Max von Sydow as Noah, and Malcolm McDowell as Solomon. Continue reading →

When Mountains Won’t Move

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

When Mountains Won't Move: How to Survive a Struggling FaithWhen 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 →

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

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

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

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

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.

Continue reading →

The Prosperous Soul

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ 1 Comment

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.
Continue reading →

When You Need Peace

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

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 →

Own Your Life

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

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 →

Unveiling Heaven’s Agenda

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

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!”
Continue reading →