Go ahead and give it a try if you want

3 stars

Go Ahead & Like It by Jacqueline Suskin

What do you like in life?

For what are you grateful?

Have you ever made lists of the things you like?

That is just what author Jacqueline Suskin encourages readers to do in her new book Go Ahead & Like It.

Suskin believes making these lists is a celebration of the sacred, and that the lists become our appreciation guides of life. Sometimes we just don't have enough appreciation for what is around us and what God has given us. This book is a reminder of that.

The book is full of artwork and lists Suskin herfelf has made over the years in hopes that it will help prompt readers to make their own lists. I wish the book had blank journaling pages for my own lists, but there is only one page for readers to do that. The simple addition of blank pages would have made the book more useful and a wonderful keepsake. But, if you need inspiration to help you be more grateful in your life, go ahead and give it a try if you want. Hopefully you will like it.

One of my lists after reading the book:

I like ...

• The smell of rain
• Cool breezes
• Seeing my dog’s nose twitching when she catches the scent of something that intrigues her
• My pillow. Ahh, my pillow!
• Art

For more information on the author, visit http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/305888/jacqueline-suskin/

To see an excerpt, visit http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/252022/go-ahead-and-like-it-by-jacqueline-suskin/

*I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this unbiased review.

Love knows no borders: Heading to Colombia

As a Christian, I believe churches have a priority of sending people out. Jesus Christ gave us the mission of making disciples for Him for the transformation of the world. Thus, we are to seek Kingdom expansion! Every church has a responsibility to spread the Gospel beyond its own four walls, and we are to constantly be looking outward—whether locally or to the remotest edges of the world.  We are to proclaim the Word of God in truth and love.

As a people on mission for Jesus Christ, we share the passions of God’s heart for one another, for our nation, and for the nations of the earth. Therefore, my husband and I will be partnering with God to be world changers by being a part of a team that will be planting two churches in very unchurched areas in Colombia during an 11-day mission trip in October.

We want to reach as many people as we can with the love of God. We are invited to be the catalyst to get a movement started in Colombia.

First, we desperately need your prayer.  We believe revival begins with prayer. Your prayers will be the fuel that will allow us to be successful as we follow God’s leading in our ministry in Colombia. With your prayer support, great things can happen.

Second, as you can imagine, a trip like this requires financial support. It will cost about $6,000 for both my husband and I to go (with those funds also going to help build the foundation of the church plants, water purifiers for the communities, supplies for the church plants’ ministry and more). So you are not only supporting us, but the church plants as well. We are digging into our savings as we are committed to being obedient to what God is calling and leading us to do in participating in His worldwide mission. But we still need your help. If you would like to give, please let us know.

… And since this is a book blog, I couldn’t go without mentioning the “Mission Journal” by Ellie Claire that I just picked up to take on the trip. It is full of blank pages for me to fill out while on the risk-taking mission trip, and also includes inspiring Scripture and quotes. At the bottom of each page it asks: “What is God teaching me?” and “How is God changing me.” I can’t even begin to imagine the answers to those questions, but know it will be profound.

Blessings!

Caution: This book may spark inside of you the fire to go change the world!

5 stars

Possible: A Blueprint for Changing How We Change the World By Stephan Bauman

Caution: This book may spark inside of you the fire to go change the world. But please, ignore the caution and proceed!

Possible: A Blueprint for Changing How We Change the World presents a wonderful biblical worldview on how all things are possible with Jesus, and how we are all called to participate in His life-saving mission.

The book inspires Christians to the realization that we were created to change the world and help usher in the Kingdom of heaven now—today. Even if that sounds impossible, it is not. With God, all things are possible.

Author Stephan Bauman continually reminds readers that the Lord is a God of outrageous love, who relentlessly pursues His people, inviting them to join Him in saving the world.

As a pastor getting ready to take an international risk-taking mission, this inspiring book reminded me that what we do with our lives matters—to us, to the world, and most of all to God. We are called to bring hope to the hopeless.

Again, the caution is: This book may spark inside of you the fire to go change the world. But please, ignore the caution and proceed!

*I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this unbiased review.

Dog lovers must have!

5 STARS

REVIEW: STAY: Lessons my dogs taught me about life, loss, and grace by Dave Burchett

This is a sweet book that reads like a Christian devotional (as the chapters are relatively short, usually less than 10 pages) and is a treat for dog lovers!

Throughout the book, author Dave Burchett lays out lessons he has learned over the years from his beloved canines like gratitude, living in the moment, and forgiveness. Burchett then relates those lessons from his dogs to biblical stories, turning the wisdom back to our relationship with the Lord.

I finished the book with many dog-eared pages (yes, I used that pun!) and tears. Some of the lessons Burchett learned along the way came through loss of his beloved pets—heart wrenching, but beautifully captured.

If you are a dog lover or know one, hand them this book. And if you know a dog lover who is not a Christian, this could be a great outreach tool to introduce them to Scripture and the Creator of all.

*Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of these books for my unbiased review.

An eye-opening look into spiritual warfare

4 stars

The Ishbane Conspiracy by Angela, Karina & Randy Alcorn

The Ishbane Conspiracy by Angela, Karina & Randy Alcorn is like an updated, contemporary version of C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters.

The fictional storyline follows along four teens in their day-to-day life. (And for those who don't know the struggles of today’s youth, the storyline alone is worth the read and very eye-opening.)

But what makes this book unique, and like Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters, is at the end of each chapter about the fictional youth, the reader becomes privy to private letters between demons who are trying to inflict wickedness upon the lives of the youth without them realizing it. Spiritual warfare is at work.

Ephesians 6:12 clearly says: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” If you have been one who has never believed in spiritual warfare, this book will make you a believer. It will make you realize that indeed spiritual forces are at work without us even realizing it.

This is a must-read for youth workers, and anyone wanting a look at spiritual warfare. 

*I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this unbiased review.