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Monday, 30 November 2009
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God Gave Us Christmas by Lisa Tawn Bergren
If you’ve ever been concerned that a child in your life will spend more time thinking about Santa Claus than Jesus, this book may help.
As Christmas time approaches, Little Cub has many questions for Mama Bear. She wants to know who gave us Christmas, and is surprised to learn it was a gift from God and not Santa. She also wonders if she can find Santa. Mama explains that God is much easier to find than Santa, because God is everywhere. The two then embark on an exploration, during which they find many traces of God’s hand in our world.
Beautifully illustrated by David Hohn, this book will delight your child as it teaches him truths about God.
I do not have any copies of this book to give away this time. However, if you are interested, you can purchase this book here.
This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.
Friday, 14 August 2009
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The Friends We Keep
Perhaps you've heard of Ravi Zacharias. You may know of his daughter, Sarah. Like her father, she has written some books. Her most recent is entitled The Friends We Keep. I was intrigued by the summary below:
During a particularly painful time in her life, Sarah Zacharias Davis learned how delightful–and wounding–women can be in friendship. She saw how some friendships end badly, others die slow deaths, and how a chance acquaintance can become that enduring friend you need.
The Friends We Keep is Sarah’s thoughtful account of her own story and the stories of other women about navigating friendship. Her revealing discoveries tackle the questions every woman asks:
• Why do we long so for women friends?
• Do we need friends like we need air or food or water?
• What causes cattiness, competition, and co-dependency in too many friendships?
• Why do some friendships last forever and others only a season?
• How do I foster friendship?
• When is it time to let a friend go, and how do I do so?With heartfelt, intelligent writing, Sarah explores these questions and more with personal stories, cultural references and history, faith, and grace. In the process, she delivers wisdom for navigating the challenges, mysteries, and delights of friendship: why we need friendships with other women, what it means to be safe in relationship, and how to embrace what a friend has to offer, whether meager or generous.
There are definitely some nuggets of wisdom to be gained from this book. Sarah poses a lot of thought provoking questions. However, I was disappointed in the number of questions that are raised and the comparatively few answers that are given. I also found that there was a heavy reliance on quotations from other sources - almost to the point of distraction. Nevertheless, if friendship is an area of your life that you want to grow in, this book would interest you. You can check it out at www.RandomHouse.com or leave a comment for the chance at winning a copy. :)Author Bio:
Sarah Zacharias Davis is a senior advancement officer at Pepperdine University, having joined the university after working as vice president of marketing and development for Ravi Zacharias International Ministries and in strategic marketing for CNN. The daughter of best-selling writer Ravi Zacharias, Davis is the author of the critically-acclaimed Confessions from an Honest Wife and Transparent: Getting Honest About Who We are and Who We Want to Be. She graduated from Covenant College with a degree in education and lives in Los Angeles, California.
Thursday, 13 August 2009
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40 Minute Bible Studies
The 40 Minute Bible Study series from beloved Bible teacher Kay Arthur and the teaching staff of Precept Ministries tackles important issues in brief, easy-to-grasp lessons you can use personally or for small-group discussion. Each book in the series includes six 40-minute studies designed to draw you into God’s Word through basic inductive Bible study. There are 16 titles in the series, with topics ranging from fasting and forgiveness to prayer and worship. With no homework required, everyone in the group can work through the lesson together at the same time. Let these respected Bible teachers lead you in a study that will transform your thinking—and your life.
Titles Include:
•The Essentials of Effective Prayer•Being a Disciple: Counting the Cost
•Building a Marriage That Really Works•Discovering What the Future Holds
•Forgiveness: Breaking the Power of the Past•Having a Real Relationship with God
•How Do You Walk the Walk and Talk the Talk?•Living a Life of Real Worship
•How to Make Choices You Won’t Regret•Living Victoriously in Difficult Times
•Money & Possessions: The Quest for Contentment•Rising to the Call of Leadership
•How Do You Know God’s Your Father?•Key Principles of Biblical Fasting
•A Man’s Strategy for Conquering Temptation•What Does the Bible Say About Sex?
Author Bio:
Kay Arthur, executive vice president and cofounder of Precept Ministries International has worked with her teaching staff to create the powerful 40-Minute Bible Studies series. Kay is known around the world as a Bible teacher, author, conference speaker, and host of national radio and television programs.
Friday, 31 July 2009
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Blue Like Play Dough
At first glance, it might look like this book is just for moms; but, I found in it many truths and illustrations that apply to life in general. You likely will too. Reading about other people's experiences and learning about how God brought them through builds faith in our loving Father.
Summary:
In the everyday stretch and squeeze of motherhood, Tricia Goyer often feels smooshed by the demands of life. In Blue Like Play Dough, she shares her unlikely journey from rebellious, pregnant teen to busy wife and mom with big dreams of her own. As her story unfolds, Tricia realizes that God has more in store for her than she has ever imagined possible.Sure, life is messy and beset by doubts. But God keeps showing up in the most unlikely places–in a bowl of carrot soup, the umpteenth reading of Goodnight Moon, a woe-is me teen drama, or play dough in the hands of a child.
In Tricia’s transparent account, you’ll find understanding, laughter, and strength for your own story. And in the daily push and pull, you’ll learn to recognizes the loving hands of God at work in your life… and know He has something beautiful in mind.
Author Bio:
Tricia Goyer is the author of numerous works of fiction and nonfiction, including Generation NeXt Parenting and the Gold Medallion finalist Life Interrupted. Goyer writes for publications such as Today’s Christian Woman and Focus on the Family, speaks to women’s groups nationwide and has been a presenter at the Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) national convention. She and her husband, John, live with their family in Montana.If interested, you can purchase a copy here. You may also win a copy if you leave a comment on this post.
Thursday, 02 July 2009
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Attention Christian Mothers
Here's a book you might like: Mama’s Got A Fake I.D. by Caryn Dahlstrand Rivedeneira
Summary:
Formula for identity loss:
1. Take one multifaceted, intriguing human being.
2. Bless her with a child.
3. Mix with today’s cultural assumptions.
4. Add the demands of motherhood.
5. Presto! All identity except Mom disappears.
For every woman wondering what happened to the unique combination of gifts and abilities she was known for before kids came along, Caryn Dahlstrand Rivedeneira has good news: in Mama’s Got a Fake I.D., Rivedeneira helps moms reclaim their full identity as creative beings, gifted professionals and volunteers, loving friends, children of God—and mothers.
This inspiring and practical guide shows women how to break free from false guilt, learn a new language to express who they really are, and follow God’s lead in sharing their true self with others. After all, motherhood doesn’t have to mean losing one’s identity. Instead, being a mom makes it possible for a woman to discover a more complete identity as the person God made her to be.
Author Bio:
The former managing editor of Marriage Partnership and Christian Parenting Today, Caryn Dahlstrand Rivedeneira has been a trusted voice writing and speaking to women for more than a decade. Today she is the managing editor of GiftedForLeadership.com, an online community for Christian women in leadership. Rivadeneira works from home in the Chicago suburbs, where she lives with her husband and their three children.I have read the first 1/3 of this book, and so far, I am honestly not sure what to make of it. Of course, I am not a mom; therefore, I have never felt that my identity has been lost in motherhood. But somehow, I don't know if I'd mind if it did. Who knows? Since I am not the best judge of this, you'll have to read it for yourself and see what you think. You can get it here, or leave a comment for a chance to win a copy!
a_thousand_thoughts
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- Birthday: 11/23/1974
- Gender: Female
- Member Since: 8/23/2005
