21 Days to Revolutionize your Relationship with God

AWAKENING

By

Stovall Weems

Foreword

By

Craig Groeschel

“It’s time to wake up and put an end to spiritual sluggishness! I promise this year will be the best of your life if it is your best year spiritually.” – Stovall Weems

Awakening: A New Approach to Faith, Fasting, and Spiritual Freedom by Stovall Weems has been an enlightening experience. I wanted to know more on fasting. Yes, I have fast during Lent, etc. but no were near like Weems talks about. I have done a lot of Bible studies, attended conferences, prayed and studied God’s Word on my own, but I had never really thought much about fasting. I must say I have learned a lot by reading this book.

Reverend Weems is the pastor of Celebration Church in Jacksonville, Florida and he regularly includes fasts as part of his relationship with God. Weems goes into great detail in this short book to explain why we need to fast and uses his experience and Scripture to show you why.

What I also like about this book is Weems shares how you can healthy fast even if you have a medical condition that prevents you from going on a really strict fast.  

Also is included a section that goes over different types of fast you can go on. Weems suggest that you go on a 21-day fast, as it seems like when you do something for at least 21 days it will become a habit. If you fast 21 days you will want to fast again. He concludes with a section that includes 21 devotions you can use while you fast.

There are also some discussion questions at the end of the book that can be used in a book club review group. 

I would recommend Awakening to anyone who wants to learn more about growing closer to God. 

I gave this book a 4 out of 5 starts and posted a review on www.amazon.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

 

Naomi's Gift:

An Amish Christmas Story

By

Amy Clipston

Published by Zondervan (September 12, 2011)

Hardcover

A wonderful Christmas story unfolds as Caleb returns home for the first time in many years. Caleb’s wife died several years ago and he has decided to spend Christmas with his family so his daughter can meet all her relatives. 

Caleb meets Naomi at the beginning of the story in quite a strange way. Even though this is a short Christmas story, a lot goes on with family and friends.  Amy Clipston has done a great job of putting this story together to pull you into so many characters, unusual happens in such a short time span. 

You will be surprised to find out what is Naomi’s gift!

I gave Naomi’s Gift a 5 out of 5 star rating and will tell my friends to read this great Amish Christmas story.

I received this E-book free from Zondervan through NetGalley.  

I am posting reviews on www.cbd.com and www.goodreads.com and my book review blogging site.

 

The Harvest of Grace

An Ada’s House Series

By

Cindy Woodsmall

Publisher: Waterbrook Press (August 9, 2011)

I received an advance reading copy of The Harvest of Grace the last of An Ada’s House Series by Cindy Woodsmall from Waterbrook. An Amish fiction is one of my favorite things to read, so I was really excited to receive this advance copy.

The Harvest of Grace is the last of the Ada’s House Series. As many of Cindy Woodsmall’s book that I have read, I hadn’t read the first two books of this series. Cindy has included a short review of the first two books so you know what has been going on.

A lot is going on in this book. It involves people from several communities and is a little different from other Amish books I have read. I don’t want to give too much of the story line since I feel it will take away from your enjoyment. You will not want to put it down once you start it.

I gave this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. I have published a book review at www.cbd.com and www.goodreads.com.

Myth-Busters

Don’t Check Your Brains

at the

Door

By

Josh McDowell & Bob Hostetler

Publisher: Thomas Nelson (August 2, 2011)

Format: E-Book

Reading Level: Young Adult

I chose this book to see how Josh and Bob have updated it. My daughters had a chance to read this book in their Youth Group when it was first published years ago. After reading this new version; I can say this is a must read for a “new” Christian and also a great book for someone who doesn’t already know God. Even though the reading level is given as young adult I think anyone would benefit from reading this book.

There are 6 sections to this book: “Myths about God, Myths about Jesus, Myths about the Bible, Myths about the Resurrection, Myths about Religion and Christianity, Myths about Life and Happiness”. Each section is divided up into different chapters (42 in all). The chapters are short, but tell you so much. At the end of each chapter is what the authors call “Brain Food”. “Brain Food” is a time to reflect on what you have just read in that chapter. You are asked questions and also given Scripture that goes along with the chapter. The one thing I missed about having the E-Book was I didn’t have anywhere to write my answers as you are given space in the book.

I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars. A review has been posted on www.amazon.com and www.goodbooks.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”