Book Review: Praying The Prayers of the Bible by James Banks

I received a copy of this title free of charge from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review.

This book is gold! I really loved it. It is a perfect book to keep close as a companion to aid you in praying the Scriptures. It is divided into sections that are filled with Scripture that are appropriate for various topics in the life of a Christian. These divisions are separated into nine sections which are:
1-Prayers to Praise and Honor God
2-Prayers to say Thank You
3-Prayers to Strengthen Faith and Give Ourselves to God
4-Prayers About Everyday Needs
5-Prayers to Confess Sin and Humble Ourselves
6-Prayers for Guidance and Direction
7-Prayers for Help and Protection
8-Wrestling Prayers
9-Blessing Prayers

At the beginning of each chapter the author gives good information about each type of prayer. Overall this is a book that all praying people should have. It makes praying God's word easier because of the quick and easy reference where it places these Scriptures which makes them easier to find. I cannot say enough about it. Get it! You will not be disappointed.

To get a copy from Amazon go here.

Read More

Book Review: Humble Orthodoxy by Joshua Harris

I received a copy of this book free of charge from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review.

Humble Orthodoxy, holding the truth high without putting people down is a gift book size book. It is small and an easy read. Holding on and guarding right doctrine in the Christian faith is vital. This book takes a look at this along with the bible passage, 2 Timothy 2:23-26. This book also has a study guide in the back that goes along with each chapter. It could be easily used with people who know little or a lot about doctrine.

The heart beat or center of this book that I find most important is its admonition to keep the reader at balance in regards to truth and love. We must hold on to correct doctrine in those essential areas to the Christian faith but we must do it in humility and love. In our culture today I think we often see extremes on both sides. We have those red faced argumentative folks who only care about being right then we have those push over folks who don't care how you live because they love you. There is a balance in the middle where you can love others and uphold the truth unswervingly. This is what this little book is about.

To get a copy from amazon go here.

Read More

Book Review: gods at war by Kyle Idleman

I received a copy of this book free of charge from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review.

This book is great! I really think it is a must read for most all people. It addresses such an important topic that all Christians need to consider. Things in this life war for our devotion. This book breaks these potential things down into topics to help the reader see where their own heart is bent. Overall our hearts need to be devoted to God. Yet things in this life do try to dethrone God from His rightful place.

This book is not condemning it helps you assess the condition of your own hearts devotion. It is written in a fun, easy to read format. It includes questions to ponder and think about that are helpful. It also includes many examples and personal stories. It has witty footnotes and many biblical examples. I enjoyed reading this and the authors style. You will be better off for reading this title.

I love also that at the end of each chapter the author states that idols cannot be removed they need to be replaced. Two of my favorite Bible teachers say this as well, Dee Brestin and Tim Keller. Idols cannot be removed because as soon as one is dethroned another will rise up to take it's place. The only way to dethrone these things that war with our heart is to see Jesus rightly in all His beauty. When we do all other things are dethroned by HIM alone. As Christians we are in a process of sanctification. To become more and more Christlike in that process we must behold HIM and His beauty. This is what this book discussed and was about. 

To receive a copy of this book from Amazon go here.

Read More

Book Review: Nate Saint, Operation Auca by Nancy Drummond

I received a copy of this book free of charge from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review.

This book is part of the Torch Bearer series of biographies for kids. I was excited to read this title because I have heard some of Nate Saint's story before when I watched the movie titled, The End of the Spear.This biography was different because it was written for kids and it focused more on the life of Nate Saint who was one of the missionaries involved in the incident with the Auca Indians. 

This story was written as an easy but interesting read. It did not take me long to read through it so I look forward to passing it on to my kids or reading it aloud to them. The fluid of thought and writing style was excellent. It is one of those books that spur you on toward Christ. It helps you see the heart of this man who loved Jesus and how God drew him to Himself. It explained how he grew up and his unique interests and how that fit inside his family. It is neat to look back at a story and see how God was working all along. I really enjoyed this title.

If you are looking for a great and encouraging biography that will spur you closer to Jesus then this is a great one for you and your kids. You can get a copy from Amazon here. I do highly recommend it.

Read More

Book Review: Contentment, Prosperity, and God's Glory by Jeremiah Burroughs

I received a copy of this title free of charge for the purpose of an honest review.

Jeremiah Burroughs was a preacher in his time period (1599 1646). This book was taken from his sermons on the topic of Contentment in Prosperity. He, chapter by chapter, takes you through assessing your own heart as you live in a time or season of prosperity. He takes you through focusing primarily on Paul's words from Philippians 4:11-12, "Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need."

It is Burroughs argument that in times of need we are more likely to be drawn to God because we have been brought so low. It is God that we have to turn to not other things. Yet in times of prosperity we must also let it draw us to God in thankfulness.  For our hearts are so bent to lean toward missing God because we see that we ourselves have brought this time of prosperity by our hard work or other various things. It is a true test indeed when ones heart is full to see if it still looks to God for its source of all things.

This book is shorter than many but packed with much insight on this topic. I found myself being convicted several times of how I steward all of what God has given to me. One of these quotes that really resonated with me was this, "Surely God did not aim at this, that I should have more satisfaction for my flesh. There is something else that God was aiming at; let me learn to know God's end." Always in all things we need to focus on God and His end. That is in all situations.

I liked this book. I do recommend it for anyone living in America or other country where we are considered rich. It will indeed help your heart work through what to do with all of this prosperity. I love reading old sermons from preachers of the past. Sometimes I think that they just "get it" more than many today. It is amazing too that this would still apply to believers today. 

To get a copy of this book from Amazon go here.

Read More

A Word About Open Adoption - Our Story So Far

When I first thought about adopting a child and God put that desire into my heart, because honestly God has to open your heart to this kind of task, I initially wanted absolutely no contact with the birth parents. My husband and I prayed about this and felt led to start the process of adopting from the Philippines. Part of my heart motivation of adopting from overseas was the bonus of no contact with the birth family.

God however had other things in store for us. Our initial plan is not how it happened for our family. My youngest daughter was having some difficulty in life and behavior. It was during this time we discovered she had autism. It put a halt on our plans. We knew as a family we needed to learn how to better function. We just stopped talking about adoption. We entrusted that dream to God. If He wanted it it would happen in His time. It is His plan in building families so we would wait for Him.

Over that dying to our plans and dreams of adoption period we learned a lot of better coping skills useful for our family. Things were better but I was not sure if we were ready to bring another in to change that family dynamic. And at this time I was having a flare with my mystery illness. I was fine with how things were as is.

My girls started asking again about adoption and a baby brother. I kept saying pray. God will show us. Then my health took a remission again. It was now again a possibility. I kept asking God how to proceed for I was ready if it was time. Yet it is hard to pick up a dream again that you purposely let die.

Shortly after my health remission my friend called saying there were some boys that were going into the state system if they could not find some families to take guardianship of them. I said I would pray. This was not adoption but guardianship until the family could get things straightened out. It was different but was it God's path for us? My husband immediately said he would not leave a child out who needed help. He was on board. I was a little hesitant.

You see I was working with the state system and families in these kind of crisis es earlier as a social worker. I have seen what happens. I did not know if my heart could stand doing something like this. It would be hard work. Harder than I have ever done. But as a family we agreed to it. We hoped we could help this family get on their feet. Help them get things on track and get their children back. It also would give us a taste of how it would be to adopt. Could we really consider it after this task was complete?

Now when you do something like this you get to know people really well. You see very clearly the ups and downs, habits, and everything in their life. Much more really than you like to know. But you love anyway in a long suffering way. You learn to exist together as a unit for the welfare of the kids. You make it work. It is a new interesting family unit.

The shift in thought came at about 8 or 9 months into this process. We saw no change. No hope of returning the kids. We started to pray for permanency because all kids need this. They cannot remain in limbo and with a few displacements prior these kids deserved better. That is when the a word came up. It was a hard word. You see adoption is very permanent. It is very difficult. It takes great love.

Adoption for any birth mother is hard. It is seeing yourself rightly and realizing you cannot take care of these kids the way they deserve to be taken care of for various reasons. It is loving them enough to let them go. It is choosing not to abort them but bring them to life outside the womb. It is very difficult. I cannot even pretend I understand the pain. It is brave. It is selfless. It is death.

Not sure how adoption law works in all states but legally in Tennessee after birth parents sign termination of parental rights the adoptive parents do not have to have any contact with the birth family. Even in open adoption we are not obligated to see the birth family again. The term really only keeps the records open which are very vague. They do not explain anything like the whys of it.

Open adoption is a choice to love the birth family and keep them involved in ways you see fit that would benefit them but mostly the child involved. Our little guys birth family love him dearly yet they saw they could not give him stability anytime in the near future. They saw it was only fair for him and his future to move past this stage on to permanency. This was his best chance in life and they want to give him that.

In our case of open adoption it is probably the most open I have seen. We are choosing to stay involved with the birth parents and grandparents and siblings. We feel like we have been adopted by a larger family unit. We have gotten to know them really well over the past 15 months. We actually like each other. It is an amazing work of God. It took time to get to this place. And only time will show how it proceeds. All I know is that in adoption the child becomes yours as if you birthed them yourself. In turn it places the birth parents in an aunt or uncle role. It can be confusing but if you can all live together selflessly for the sake of the children then it can be a good experience. One that needs to be worked through each step of the way keeping the best interest of the children at heart.

The only way one can do this is rightly placing their identity in Christ and nothing else. Otherwise feelings of threat and jealousy will surface. We must depend on HIM every step of the way. All of us. We must remember this together. We must speak the gospel to ourselves moment by moment. We must see ourselves rightly as sinners in need of a Savior who loves us enough to come down to us to save us as we trust in Him.

We have always wanted a big family and in a way this has extended it. We will root for the birth parents to succeed. We will root for the success of the siblings. We will pray faithfully for them. We will love them well. We will be what we need to be in it. Not perfect but perfectly flawed children of God. We lean and depend on Him each step of the way.

Read More

Book Review: Bitesize Biographies John Newton by John Crotis

I received this book free of charge from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review.

I really enjoyed this title. It is written with just the right "bite" for someone to get a quick snap shot yet thorough enough view of the life of John Newton. I was impressed with this book because of the vast information that was included in this smaller sized book.

Included in the front of the book is a timeline of Newton's life including important events. Then after his life is described there are two more chapters that focus on his hymns and his letters. I found this very interesting and a great addition to this biography.

If you are interested in the life of John Newton this is a great book for you!
To get a copy from Amazon go here.

Read More