Overextended and loving most of it by Lisa Harper!

My latest book to review is Overextended and loving most of it by Lisa Harper! This is a autobiographical book and Lisa basically takes you through the latest events of her life as a bible teacher as a woman of God! Her journey of wanting to be a mum and the whole adoption process and the up's and downs of life! She talks about the idea of being stretched and the blessing of that, as in when we are called to do something and even though that stretches us we are growing and learning to lean on our ever faithful God. 

The thing that stood out for me was the emphasis on love, thats what stands out in Lisa's life she is putting into practice loving and being loved in return, and just how powerful that is! 

Lisa's life inspires you to be brave, live fully, take risks, love and be loved and assures us that indeed the fathers everlasting arms are always underneath us!

Book Description!

Would you consider your life stretched to the limit?

Are you a burn-the-candle-at-both-ends kind of gal with lots of room for improvement when it comes to creating margins for rest? But you actually love it and wouldn't want it any other way? Well, so does Lisa Harper.

In her humorous and packed-with-biblical-wisdom way, Lisa shows us that it is possible for a frazzled nature to be glorifying to the Lord. Every late-night conversation with a hurting friend and each precious, adopted child needing a little extra tender loving care-exhausting, yet imperative, ways to be extensions of the gospel. In each of these vignettes illustrating Lisa's overextended life, we learn that even in the middle of our own pure motives and hectic schedules, it is only by resting in God's sovereign mercy that we are able to keep risking our hearts to serve his people and fulfill the callings he has placed on us.

Real life . . . abundant life . . . godly life is about loving Jesus and the people he allows us to rub shoulders with well-which means some days you'll be stretched emotionally and physically. You'll feel overextended. Thankfully God will expand our hearts and calendars to accommodate the calling. He is in the business of supplying us with new mercies every morning . . . new candles to burn, for more lives needing his light

Thanks for reading!

God bless!

When God makes Lemonade!

The latest book I've been reviewing is 'When God makes lemonade' It really has been a delight to read!

In When God Makes Lemonade, author Don Jacobson has collected real-life stories from around the world that show everyday folks discovering unexpected sweetness in the midst of sour circumstances. Some are funny, others are sobering, and more than a few will bring tears of amazement. But these true stories all have one thing in common: hope.
There's no question that life gives us "lemons," like issues with health, employment, and relationships. But when those lemons become lemonade, it's as refreshing as a cold drink on a hot summer day.
It's true that in life "stuff" happens, but as you'll see in these stories, lemonade happens too!

I found the fact that each story is a few pages long is really good because, you can basically just dip in and out and even if you haven't had time to read for a few weeks you can pick it up and pick up right where you left off!

The stories are cram packed with testimonies and powerful ones at that, it reminded me that God is always looking after us and encouraged me that whatever happens he has a plan and is in complete control. He works all things together for good to them that love the Lord.

I can't recommend this book enough, it would make a beautiful gift for somebody and will bless you too as you read of these amazing stories.

Thanks for reading,

God bless you

Have a great day!

Ever thought a painting had power?

Ever thought a painting had power? Or that a dance could release victory? Teresa Dedmon’s new book ‘born to create’ challenges us with just that, Teresa is a part of Bethel church in California and travels around speaking on supernatural creativity. This book is awesome for anyone creative, heres some of the testimonies!

“A student at Bethel came there with bi-polar and depression, he was heavily medicated and was really struggling, he heard about the creative miracles and he saw a painting that said ‘HOPE’ on it he began to see his life through God’s eyes and what it could be he was instantly healed from bi-polar and depression, that was 3 years ago he’s now at Bethel school of ministry”

“Theres a girl at Bethel who dances, she was in Bethel’s healing rooms and a couple came distraught as their little girl age 12 had leukemia, she was too unwell to come they just brought her picture on a key chain and the girl took it and began to dance releasing the presence of God, the couple went home got their daughter checked out by a doctor and she was completely healed!”

These are just a couple of testimonies showing that God uses our creativity to inspire, heal, comfort, encourage somebody and that when we have Jesus within us we can release his presence into every situation, he uses our creativity, so Teresa encourages us to find our individual signature, to write that poem, write that song, dance that dance, paint that picture, design that thing your designing, write that card knowing it holds more power than looking pretty it can release the power of Jesus and change peoples lives!

I'm inspired hope you are too :)

The Christian Mama's guide to baby's first year!

This came at just the right time I was 9 months pregnant with our baby and then i got to read and review this book, i love the cover of this book too its nice and bright and cheerful, this book is great, I really enjoyed reading it, its great especially for a first time mum I can imagine if it was your second or third baby you may know a lot of it already but as a first time mum its fab, as we know that when its your first baby you don't really know anything, its easy to feel out of your depth! This book is like being able to go to a friend and ask advice! I found myself revisiting chapters that I was struggling with, a great present for a new mum at church and a great resource to have. I liked that it had sections in for the dads too, some baby books are only aimed at women and so thats nice to see. Theres lots to learn when babies come along I'm sure I'll be dipping in and out of this book for the whole of this year
and passing on any great advice I find to other mums and dads! Enjoy reading this book if you get the chance.

Thanks Erin a great read!

Max Lucado - Just Like Jesus

 

My book to review this time is a book by Max Lucado called 'Just like Jesus, A heart like his' I loved the title as isn't that what we all long for to be more like Jesus, he came to earth and showed us the right way to live and saved us! So straight away I was interested in this book, its a short book not too long so a nice easy read and I have to say it inspired me, its in short chapters and each addresses a different  aspect of the heart of God and challenges us to look at our own hearts, chapters such as a forgiving heart, a compassionate heart, a listening heart, a God-Intoxicated heart, a worship hungry heart etc.. and the list goes on. Whilst reading it I found myself really challenged and inspired and reminded again of the heart of God. At the end is a study guide which I found SO helpful its questions for us the reader that challenge us and make us think! Without this part the book wouldn't be complete asking us questions that challenge and inspire us, like the opening statement in the book that says:

 "What if for one day, Jesus were to become you?, What if for 24 hours Jesus wakes up in your bed, walks in your shoes, lives in your house, assumes your schedule? Your boss becomes his boss, your mother becomes his mother, your pains become his pains?...........What would you be like? Would people notice a change? Your family- would they see something new? Your co-workers - would they sense a difference? What about the less fortunate? Would you treat them the same? And your friends- would they detect more joy?....And you? How would you feel? What alterations would this transplant have on your stress level? Your mood swings? Your temper? Would you sleep better? Would you see sunsets differently?... Better yet would you still do what you are doing?"

This is only a short extract and summarised the whole chapter is longer and makes you think a whole lot more, challenged? Encouraged? I am!

Desperate - Hope for the Mum who needs to breathe

Hi everyone, this is my latest book I got to review, its actually really appropriate as I'm about to become a parent and so was excited to be able to review this book.

This book is about the relationship between two women Sarah Mae and Sally Clarkson, the description reads  "I just can't be a mother today"and the fact that these words have been whispered to God in quiet desperation by mothers who love their children to the depths of their soul, but who are struggling with how hard motherhood is. Motherhood turns you inside out and that sometimes you feel overwhelmed by how tired you feel; the days go on and on and you want to be a great mum but you can end up feeling like a failure so much of the time. What happened to all your ideals? When did you end up feeling so....lost?

Sally Mae and Sally Clarkson have been to the edge and back. Desperate is the story of one young mothers trails and one experienced mentor's priceless exhortations. Desperate is not a book about despair, nor is it a rule-laden mothering manual. It's a bouquet from a friend who has been there, reminding us that we are not alone. Sarah Mae's unvarnished account of her own struggles mothering three feisty young children is a lesson in learning patience, loving idiosyncrasies, accepting help, and-most of all-leaning on God.

Each chapter includes a brief bible study with journal exercises to help you find your own quiet centre, and get you back into the fray soul-filled and refreshed. Written with candour, empathy and faith. Desperate is like coffee with a trusted girlfriend; one who knows how hard being a mother can be, and how to navigate the often turbulent road.

My thoughts...... 

I really liked this book I found it incredibly easy to read and was hooked as soon as I started reading it, as I said I am about to become a parent and haven't got children in the house so for me it was like a glimpse into the life of a mum and their thoughts and feelings and struggles! It covers all the things that mums might be struggling with and gives you advice and support and encouragement. The book really spoke to me about the importance of mentors, of people in our life that have 'been there, done that' if you like and have this wealth of wisdom to share, who understand the struggles or problems we are facing as they have walked that path and that even though we might not do things exactly like them being around them can help us find our own rhythm and our own way of doing things before God. It also showed me that God is the ultimate mentor he knows whats best for you and your family, your home and your life and that we should be running to him to be refreshed and filled up. I loved one of the quotes used in one of the chapters:

"Lord I crawled across the barrenness to you with my empty cup uncertain in asking any small drop of refreshment. If only I had known you better I'd have come running with a bucket" Nancy Spiegelberg.

I think thats the essence of this book is that its refreshing for a mum to read and I learnt a lot! Also at the end of each chapter theres a video link to a video from both women which is lovely. Yep a great read! Would highly recommend! 

Mark Driscoll, Who do you think you are?

Book Description

This is my latest book I have reviewed, Mark Driscoll's book, Who do you think you are? The book is answers the one question you need to ask: who am I in Christ? Being a christian can be like driving in a foreign city. You try living on the straight and narrow but instead take a wrong turn onto the wide avenue of sin and temptation. In the process, you become discouraged and condemned, limping along in your faith-or giving up altogether. But this isn't the Christian Life, you can make a U turn. 

Pastor Mark Driscoll knows that underlying our struggles in life is the issue of our identity. "The fundamental problem we have in this world" he says "is that we don't understand who we truly are-children of God made in his image- and define ourselves by any number of things other than Jesus. Only by knowing our false identity apart from Christ in comparison to our true identity in him can we finally deal with and overcome the issues in our lives"

Who are you in Christ? Among other things:

• You are a saint

• You are blessed

• You are saved

• You are afflicted

• You are heard

You aren’t what’s been done to you but what Jesus has done for you. You aren’t what you do but what Jesus has done. What you do doesn’t determine who you are. Rather, who you are in Christ determines what you do. These are fundamental truths that Pastor Mark explores in depth throughout Who Do You Think You Are? Finding Your True Identity in Christ.


Review 

This book is great its layout makes it really easy to read as each part is in short digesable chunks, you could easily dip in and out of this book if you wanted to, like after you had read it if you wanted later down the line to remind yourself of a particular section, to build yourself back up encourage yourself, then you could easily do this with this book! I got lots out of this book I was reminded of some really important truths that I needed to hear. Each section had a truth there to offer you and encourage you in, its a brilliant book for new christians especially as it would give them a base a guideline of who they now are in Christ! I'm so glad I read this book it has reminded me of who I am in Christ and also brought fresh revelation on that too, thanks Mark x