Mom's Everything Book for Daughters, Becky Freeman

Mom’s Everything Book for Daughters, Becky Freeman
In the trenches of motherhood on days that you seem to be at a loss for ways to connect to your daughter here is a helpful handbook! Filled with fun, engaging, easy to do activities – it is a great little resource. We all need resources like this – be honest we all get in a rut: our days can sometimes feel like one argument or emotional encounter after another with our precious princesses from God. I really like the Rave Reviews Section and the God, Mom and Me!! There is really so much stuff packed into this little book!
Thank you Zondervan for this review Copy.

Choosing To See, Mary Beth Chapman

Truly an inspiring testimonial book of a life surrendered to Christ. I have often wondered where the songs of this couple have come from – in this book you learn the depth and meaning of those penned words and the songs take on a new richness. They are the overflow of the ponderings and praise of hearts and souls given over to the power of Christ. Mary Beth has graciously poured out a sweet offering of a heart that has been shaped by the hands of God. A life deep with pain and times of brokenness is equally rich in joy. Her life revealed so openly in this book is a beautiful display of God’s tapestry. As the title of one of our favorite children’s book “Only God would have planned it that way”. This book is worth the read and I believe will encourage the weak in faith or those looking around in the midst of pain wondering what good it all is that God in fact does have a plan.
Thank you Revell for this review copy.

Amish Proverbs

Delightful book! This is a great gift book or a book for personal use. I am a mother of 4 and found within its pages new ways to say old things. Sometimes changing the way things are said drastically change the effect on people and the reaction that you get. For instance I loved the proverb, "Tackle the problem not the person". This is very useful when fights among the brothers over things get out of hand. It is a lot better than scolding for the 3rd or 4th time "DO NOT HIT!!!". In fact in gives them a common thing to "beat up" - the problem. The other I like is "Two can not argue if one will not", I am constantly telling my children to speak kindly, to not respond if the battle is not the Lord's (if the outcome will have no eternal signifigance or if you are out just to prove you are right). I found the book encouraging and entertaining. I have picked it up more than once and read it through. I can remember my parents telling me when someone teased or said something ugly to me "Consider the source and pray for the person, you have not walked their road". This was to remind me that I do not know what a person has faced or is facing that might have provoked their unkind speech and spirit, but kindness covers many things.
Thank you Revell Books for this review copy.

A History of Christianity, Diarmaid McCulloch

This is a great dvd series! I would strongly reccommend it for home school families! Most obviously for the historical context but also for the biblical as well. Children can see that the words of the bible are in fact historical accurate and correct. Great for apologetics and those that are seeking a deeper knowledge of the richness of the christian legacy that has been passed down. In this series you can walk the streets of acient cities and modern also and see the past and present intertwine the way only God could make it happen. My younger children struggled setting through it, but this is great for highschool age children and history lovers.
thank you B&B Communications for this review copy...It is appreciated and will be well used and integrated into my current history and bible curriculum for high school.

Nudge, Leonard Sweet

Very well suited for Pastors and lay people seeking a way to encourage their people to evangelism. I appreciated the author’s attempt at using a word such as “nudge” to bring an abstract thought into a common realm for all people. Who doesn’t know the word “nudge” – to gently push another into a realization, an awakening, an acknowledgement of what has always been. Mr. Sweet seems determined to see the current church changed toward the heart of evangelism, out reach a love of Christ.
Thank you B&B Communications for this review copy.

That's Where God Is, Ali Morrow

I am always excited to get my hands on a really great children’s book. This is one that every home should not be with out. I love the tenderness of the story. Even more though, I love the fact that the loving grandfather sent the child on a hunt for God. I was able to incorporate this into our home school bible time. Asking my children to go out and search for God in our yard. They came back and reported what they saw, bringing with them different items of nature – a rock, a flower, a red/gold leaf. The older ones where then asked to report how God spoke to them through this object or what God revealed about himself through it. This book does a great job of showing that although God is everywhere his main desire is to be in the heart of each child he created. A wonderful and beautiful children’s story filled with tenderness and love. I am thrilled to have a copy.
Thank you B&B Communications for this review copy.

Living with Confidence in a Chaotic World, David Jeremiah

I had to smile at the chapter titles as I recognized this as a preaching style used to help make points easier to remember. Excellent, easy to read book. Clear and concise points, dealing with issues that anyone can relate to are defined in an easy to understand language. David Jeremiah does an excellent job of pointing people to Jesus in this time where so many feel their lives are in upheaval and disarray. He shows how scripture truly gives all the answers needed to face this world and all the things that seem like insurmountable mountains. This book is filled with scripture that encourages the reader to explore the vast truths of of God's Living Word. I enjoyed the illustrations of real life situations that made each point even more believable. An excellent book for anyone needing some encouragement and direction in these difficult and uncertain times.
Thank you booksneeze for this review copy.

What the Bible's All About for Young Explorers

Perfect for families wanting to expand their knowledge of the bible. This all-in-one bible resource is excellent! My children loved the easy too read and understand format and the beautiful color pictures in the back. I love how everything is broken-down, with a time-line and the main ideas of each chapters. I can't wait to begin using this with our home school curriculum. I highly recommend this to Sunday school teachers, home school teachers, and families wanting to enrich their family devotional time. I will be using it in our Sunday school class as well, to expand the lesson with "The Discoveries from the Past" section.
Thank you so much Regal (Gospel Light) for this review copy. I am as always impressed with the things you put into print.

Great Parents Lousy Lovers, Gary Smalley

This book reminds couples that what makes the best foundation for parenting is a strong, happy, vibrant marraige. It is easy to focus on our children during the season of parenting and overlook our marraige relationship. What happens then are two people who no longer know eachother. This book challenges couples to make their marraige relationship a priority during the hectic years of parenting. Reminding them to make in a joint effort, a team journey, and a life-time partnership. Uplifting and inspiring. Thank you Tyndale

His Princess Girl Talk with God, Sheri Rose Shepherd

His Princess Girl talk with God, Sheri Rose Shepherd
This is a charming little book. The devotions only take a few moments to read. Each ones is a life story, followed by a “Letter from God”, and scripture to tie the story and letter together. I think the stories are very applicable to the lives of teenagers. They are short and to the point. The letters are beautiful expressions of love from God as a father to a daughter. Short and sweet – just the right size for even the busies young lady. These will encourage a closer walk with God and a longing to get to know him on a more personal level. I am recommending it to our youth group as reading for this fall.
Thank you Revell for this review copy.

Captured by Grace, David Jeremiah

What a wonderful book. In the first pages my mind was captivated as I imagined the believers gathered in the home, and the shattering of the door as their enemy burst in to take them captive. Even more intriguing was the image of enemy as he feels the presence of something pursuing him – Elohim – the I AM, the ultimate giver of grace. This book takes the reader on a journey to experience the richness and vastness of grace. Grace - the extraordinary answer of Elohim to a sinful, undeserving mankind. Grace – the unexpected, the one thing that heals, changes, sets free, turns worlds & lives upside down just to rebuild them on solid ground, and bring beauty to that which is otherwise ruined. This book offers a life-changing look at grace. If you can’t see it in your world right now you will after you read this book. The author points a vivid picture of grace like none I’ve read before (outside the scripture). Come face to face with grace: the self-less often sacrificial act of giving what is undeserved without any expectation of reward, recompense, ore response. Prompted from the depths of a heart filled with mercy, compassion, and love in order to restore another to faith, rescue on from the depths of sin, or to release one from bondage. The ultimate grace giver is Jesus Christ – the pursuer of our hearts – the footsteps we hear as we trod through our life before salvation. An encounter with grace results in change and that is clearly showed in the stories of this book.
Thank you booksneeze for this review copy

How to Talk so Your Kids Will Listen, H. Norman Wright

How to Talk So Your Kids will Listen, H. Norman Wright
Wright does again what he is so good at doing. He guides the reader through scripture to look closely at themselve and examine the areas they can change. This is not a step-by-step magic formula to mold the perfect child. Nor is it a step-by-step guide to “making” your child mind or transforming them into what you think they ought to be. Rather it encourages the reader to truly evaluate the fact that God has created us each as unique and beautiful creations – designed for a specific purpose and plan. It causes you to look at the way you communicate with your children. Are you truly convinced that they are individuals and thus they are very much different and have different personalities and learning styles. We often spend time and energy learning to communicate with other adults. We strive to listen and not interrupt, to interpret the meaning behind what they are saying (often over-looking the way in which it is said). However, when it comes to our children we demand that they be molded into our world – responding to situations and circumstances the way we think they should. This means we often do not convey to them a healthy communication style at all. I found this book extremely helpful and believe that it can apply across the board to improve communication skills in the entire family and in extended relationships. What a great skill and gift to pass on to our children – a heart knowledge and desire to see others as a unique creation of God and thus to strive to communicate with others in the wisdom of this on their communication style. I had not realized until reading this book just how much I had taken for granted nd misused my position as a parent by not showing a proper respect in this area to my children – in turn they too did not show that respect to their siblings. Thank you again H. Norman Wright for you insight and wisdom. Thank you for laying out a scriptural guide-line that causes a reader to dig deeper into the word of God to discover what the Spirit has for them – making the changes permanent and not just surface level – genuine heart change. As always H. Norman Wright has written another excellent resource for the family and individual. I must have for those who counsel parents, and couples.
Thank you Regal for this review copy.

The Seeker, Anne Gabhart

The Seeker, Anne Gabhart
This is most certainly one of my favorite love stories! The main character is a southern belle who’s world is turned upside down when the man she is engaged to breaks the engagement to enter a Shaker community. This same night she meets her father’s new wife and an artist hired to paint a portrait of the new Mistress of the Plantation. What more could happen to a young lady in one day?! Unsure of her future, unsure of her identity, and unsure of position in life she begins a journey with her personal maid that will transform her earthly and spiritual life as well. Seeking to find answer to where she fits into life, and who God really is, and to escape the hand of her step-mother she enters the Shaker Community with her personal slave. Prompted by the protection that the community offers her and her maid she begins a journey that will forever change her life. The characters in this book are so real, their plight so believable that I found it difficult to put the book down. I was immediately drawn into their world as they struggled through life seeking out the answers to the questions that gnawed at the center of their hearts – did love matter or even really exist, where was God when bad things happened – did he even exist or care and if he did where did he fit in – was God a personal God able to love and bless, and what was her purpose in life? I especially liked the fact that the love story was not based on continual physical interaction or feelings of emotional context, but rather it unfolded through the blooming of a personal relationship based not on emotional things, but on truly getting to know the other person. In fact very few times did the two ever see each other, the relationship was developed through correspondence closely monitored by the Shakers. I wonder how many women (and men alike) would not benefit from such monitoring of their relationships – so as to allow God to unfold loves tapestry. In all of it our main character finds peace in God and the true love her heart desired (first from God, second from man). I absolutely loved this story. In fact I am late in writing the review because immediately upon finishing it I handed it off to another lady and did not take down the date to post the review. Truly a riveting and moving love story, highly recommended.
Thank you Revell for this review copy.

The Big Book of Christian Growth

I am using this excellent resource in home school bible time for my older children. It is divided into 4 convenient to use sections: Active Games (great for morning P.E. times), Quiet Games and Activities (great for rainy day or too hot to go outside day recess times), Instant Games (games that require almost no prep), and Discussion Cards (an excellent memorization starter). I choose one verse or discussion cards set a week. My older children incorporate this verse into their penmanship/writing time so as to commit the verse to memory. Each Discussion Card is a verse with 18 discussion cards or questions with it. On Monday we review the verse and I assign the first of the discussion cards as personal work. Later that day, after having time to think on the verse and the assigned questions, we discuss them and the answers the children have thought of. In this way the children are learning to read the scripture and pray asking for discernment and wisdom. They are also being taught to commit to heart the word of the Lord. By writing it out they commit the verse quickly to memory and practice good writing and sentence structure skills. By reading the verse and questions out loud they enhance their vocabulary, speech and reading skills. I do the same on the following days, lastly giving a “quiz” on the verse where the children are required to recite the verse and tell how they can use the verse in their life (giving them wisdom, not simply head knowledge, but heart knowledge of the scripture and confidence that they can in fact use scripture in life). I am excited to continue using it with my children. They have enjoyed it thus far. I will also be recommending it to the new Sunday school teacher for this age group as a supplement to the curriculum that they choose to use. The games are great ice-breakers and offer ways to introduce scripture (the Discussion cards or scriptures of your choice) in an active, fun way. This is a very solid resource to have on hand. Great for the family, the home school mom looking for something affordable, adaptable and different for bible time, and for the church setting!
Thank you Gospel Light for this review copy. Your dedication to provide excellent resources is appreciated.

THe Big Book of Read Aloud Stories

Book of Read-Aloud Stories #2
I love this!! What an excellent resource. I am using this for home school bible curriculum once a week. I present the lesson on Monday mornings to my children ages 9, 6, 3, and 2 (I also have one a present to my older children). Even though the ages listed are for 2 – 5 year old my older children enjoyed the stories as well. The scripture are short enough for children to memorize throughout the week. They really enjoy the “real-life” stories and the pictures. Each story has suggested questions that really serve as starters for discussion, especially with my older two. We discuss how the scripture can be applied to our lives. I am recommending it for our church, but am highly recommending it for home devotions, and home school bible time. These lessons are easy and practical, they do not require much prep (other than getting a few optional items to glue to the coloring pages), and they do not take much time. They would be great for the busy family to incorporate into their schedules and allow special family time as you study God’s word together.
Thank you Regal Publishing for this review copy and your dedication to the Lord to equip families and church with such biblically based resources!

Blessing your Children, Jack W. Hayford

Blessing your Children, Jack W. Hayford
This book does an excellent job a presenting the importance of Christian living and the pursuit of holiness as a means to bless our children. Simply reading your bible and talking about it once in a while and “being a good person” does not entitle your children to a spiritual blessing. Even being saved does not do this. You must put your faith to work, you must actively pursue a relationship with the eternal God who actively pursued you. You must live by His precepts and laws, letting him consume your life in all areas. Reading this book in correlation with David Pierce’s “Protecting your Home from Spiritual Darkness” was especially enlightening. As one deals with the benefits of pursuing God, turning from and asking forgiveness of sin and being faithful to the laws and word of God - resulting in a blessing for your children; and the other deals with the consequence of living in sin, not following the laws of God and thus ultimately resulting in cursing your children. I love the way Pastor Hayford lays out the biblical principles of blessing your children. This is not a step-by-step approach but rather a life-style approach. Remember Faith is action. This book encourages believers to be active about their belief. It does no good to be just a “good person”, it benefits no one for you to be saved if you don’t love God enough even to follow his simple commands to honor him by your tithes (of money, time and talent), or to pursue a relationship with him, or to attend church because you long to be in his presence. To truly benefit those you love you must love God the Father as Jesus (God the Son) loved him, as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David and Solomon loved him and sought after him. Blessing our children means living out a vibrant faith in a living God that they can see, touch and experience – it is making God real to them.
Thank you Pastor Hayford for putting into words the testimony that Christ has laid on your heart. I believe this book could stir many to a more active, vibrant faith. Who doesn’t want to leave behind a rich inheritance of eternal value to their children? I would much rather this option than the other of curses. The scripture is very clear that there are only curses or blessings – what are you leaving behind? It is never too late to break the curse and begin to bless.
Thank you Regal Publishing for this review copy. For Further Reviews see www.abbiereviews.blogspot.com

Protecting Your Home from Spiritual Darkness, Chuck D. Pierce

“Do we have a greater responsibility to honor past generations or to mold new ones?” page 66
This is books is NOT for the new or weak believer. It could easily bring about a spirit of fear in a person not strongly held in their identity in Christ.
The above question really is the driving point of this book. What is important to you? In reading it one must be willing to take a close prayerful look at ones life. You must be ready to examine areas of sin in your life and areas of sin in your family (your parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins) looking for those things that are the same in many generations. It is an excellent resource and guide to identifying strongholds of the enemy in your life and your families. Backed by scripture I found it both informative and convicting. Does poverty or financial hardship plague your family – does it seem like you just can’t get caught up, that you live from pay check to pay check? This book clearly points out in scripture where this is directly linked to the sin of withholding your tithe (stealing from God). Once this sin is confessed and you change your life you enable God’s blessing in your income. Do you suffer from health problems, constant pain, chronic fatigue, depression, or worry? These are also may be rooted in the sin of your household or the sin of your parents. In this book you can see how un-confessed sins such as idolatry (clearly defined in this book: It may surprise you), witchcraft/occult activity (also may surprise you), pornography, sexual sin (adultery, immorality), violence, watching inappropriate things on television and movies (language, sex, violence), or any other thing contrary to God’s word influences your children and grandchildren – leaving them open to an attack of the enemy. This book teaches through scripture how to be freed and overcome these things.
We are in a battle! You must ask yourself the question quoted above. Being a bible reading, pew-sitting, preacher listening, verse quoting Christian does nothing unless you put action to your faith. You may be a born again and blood bought but have you stepped out of the broken bonds and stepped through the prison doors to freedom? Faith is nothing without action!
Thank you regal for this review copy. For more Christian reviews see: abbiereviews.blogspot.com