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

Heidi and Rolland Baker - The hungry always get fed.

Oh wow I had to blog about this book! I bought this a while back while i was wedding planning and it was only this week that I actually had time to pick it up and really set about reading it, and oh my word its awesome!

Its written by Heidi and Rolland Baker and is a book based on their blogs (found on their website), Its like reading their diaries and having this unique insight into their life in Mozambique. Heidi and Rolland set up Iris Ministries and house thousands of children they feed the hungry, tell people about Jesus and see miracles every day the blind see, the lame walk, the deaf hear, food is multiplied, love is poured out in abundance. The testimonies in this book are staggering they are wonderful and so real and give so much Glory to God! The bravery and commitment of this couple their lives arms wide open surrendered to God is so inspiring!

It changed my whole perspective, it made so many things look insignificant it made me see what the Gospel is really about and it made me want to live for a greater cause. It shaped me and moved me and I would recommend it to anyone it inspires you to forget about the ordinary life and do something extraordinary for God! I am so glad these guys are out there in Mozambique and that they share the incredible stories with us! God is active in Mozambique and reading the stories of his healing and love there are life changing to say the least!

Psalm 68:5: 'A father to the fatherless,
                    A defender of widows is God in his holy dwelling.
                    God sets the lonely in families"

Matt 25:40: "The king will reply, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me"

Quote by Heidi Baker, Page 68: "God is not about using the mighty but the willing. He is not into using amazing people, just ones who prepared to lay their lives down to him. God is not looking for extraordinary, exceptionally gifted people, just laid down lovers of Jesus who will carry his glory with transparency and not take it for themselves"

For more information about Iris ministries go to: http://www.irismin.org

To buy this book got to: http://www.eden.co.uk/shop/more-than-enough-pb-123887.html

Or you can follow iris ministries on Facebook!

Be inspired!

Love Janine.

Faithful to Laura Review

Hi everyone! Faithful to laura was given to me to review, I love fiction, and so was excited to read this book I also love a good love story! :)

Faithful to laura is about Laura, her Amish faith requires her to forgive but all she can think of is revenge, Laura Stutzman leaves her Kentucky community for Middlefield Ohio with one purpose to find Mark King, the man who pledged his love to her then left, she can't move on with her life until he explains why.

Sawyer Thompson is a Yankee who spent his teen years in an Amish home. Now an adult, he has to make a decision-go back to the life he knew as a child or join the church. Having suffered loss at a young age, he understands Laura's anger, but is determined to follow God's will and forgive. As their friendship grows, Laura begins to let her guard down.

New information about Sawyers past threatens the couple's budding relationship. Both Laura and Sawyer will need to release the anger they're storing in their hearts and forgive the people who've harmed them. As Laura struggles to trust God, will Sawyer do whatever it takes to remain faithful to Laura?

I really enjoyed this book it was easy to read and kept me gripped page by page. What I especially liked is its bravery to deal with real life gritty issues, issues such as forgiveness which is dealt with massively in this book, it also deals with things like insecurity, anger, and abandonment. It also shows us lots about Love about acceptance, about true heartfelt forgiveness, about seeing past the physical and seeing the heart of a person, truly falling in love. I also like the way it deals with family and how that is a heart thing a true gift from God. It is a book celebrating relationships, I would recommend it and am glad I have had the privilege of reading it.

Thoughts on Prayer!

Hi everyone I know i normally post my book reviews up but I've been thinking a lot about prayer! Ive felt really challenged about the power and the importance of prayer in our lives and so to encourage myself I started looking up what the great men and women of God have to say about it! It really inspires me so thought I would share it with you!

"Make your thoughts and conversations consistent with your prayers" Bill Johnson

"It is a crime for us to pray and think nothing will happen" Bill Johnson

 "There are things God only tells friends" Bill Johnson

"You can't go in faith where you haven't gone in intimacy" Bill Johnson

"It is not the body's posture, but the hearts attitude that counts when we pray" Billy Graham

"Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons but they are helpless against our prayers" Sidlow Baxter

" God's looking for the open door to provide his solutions for our problems. We open that door through Prayer" Bill Johnson

."Be specific, and be relentless in praying for miracles in every part of your life. Bring the promises of God before him in your pursuit. He hasn't forgotton what he has said and does not need our reminder. However, he enjoys seeing us standing on his covenant when we pray. Prayer with fasting is to be an integral part of this quest, as he revealed this to be an important way to get breakthrough. I even pray for specific diseases for which I'm not seeing a breakthrough" Bill Johnson

 "Prayer is where the action is" John Wesley

 "Don't pray when you feel like it, have an appointment with God and keep it. A man is  powerful on his knees" Corrie ten boom

"Talking to men for God is a great thing, but talking to God for men is greater still" E.M Bounds

"Prayer is the real work, evangelism is just the mopping up"

"I would rather teach one man to pray than ten men to preach" Charles Spurgeon

There was LOADS more too! Keep giving us your wisdom people!