Book Review: Just Imagine (God's Hospitality)

I just finished reading a book that a close friend (and mentor) wrote. Dianne is a mother and pastor and a lover of people. God gave her a passion for hospitality (which is another word for love). One thing that I admire about Dianne is that she challenges me. She challenged me years ago to do a women's retreat (I admit I did it kicking and screaming, at first). Another thing I love about Dianne is that she encourages me -- to keep going, to run the race, to seek God, to do what He's called me to do. I am so thankful for this woman. Her book is like her -- challenging, yet encouraging. It makes me want to love people better. Read it. The world needs radical hospitality.

This book is a call to bring radical love and hospitality to a hurting world. This beautiful book challenges us to get messy with people -- to get out extra paper towels! In a world where people are hoarding privacy and isolation has become the norm, intentional hospitality is needed more than ever. People want to be loved and feel like they belong. Jesus took the time to connect and touch people, and we should too. Whether you want to be more hospitable or you want that for your church, this book is an excellent resource. It contains wonderful life examples and even has self and church assessments that can help show areas for improvement.

Book Review: Afghanistan: Teachable Moments

I am reading Afghanistan: 179 Days of Teachable Moments, a journal of Florence Robyn Smith's deployment. Each day has a title, experience and Scripture, in short segments that you can read in a few minutes. 

The book inspires me for two big reasons...

1. Journaling - Most of us go through life, just trying to keep our head above water, but if we would discipline ourselves, like Ms. Smith, to write down and reflect, we would see how God is working through each day, through each experience. I already keep a journal, but this book makes me want to dig more into my everyday experiences and reflect.

2. Doing -- It is inspirational to see a woman of faith step out to do something challenging. She did not have to sign up to be deployed, but the mission field is wherever you are called, even working for the military in Afghanistan.  

Here is the book's trailer.

I give the book 4 out of 5 stars! Thank you Ms. Smith for your inspiration to do big things for God!

Book Review: Same Kind of Different As Me

"Same Kind of Different as Me" by Ron Hall and Denver Moore is a true story of redemption, love, and grace.

Overview: A dangerous, homeless drifter who grew up picking cotton in virtual slavery. An upscale art dealer accustomed to the world of Armani and Chanel. A gutsy woman with a stubborn dream. A story so incredible no novelist would dare dream it.

It begins outside a burning plantation hut in Louisiana…and an East Texas honky-tonk…and, without a doubt, in the heart of God. It unfolds in a Hollywood hacienda…an upscale New York gallery…a downtown dumpster…a Texas ranch.
Gritty with pain and betrayal and brutality, this true story also shines with an unexpected, life-changing love.

Dawn's Recommendation: 5 of 5 Stars

What I Liked: This reads like a GREAT fiction book, but it is true story! You get so caught up in the story, you forget it is real-life! You can almost hear Denver's southern voice coming off the page. Chapters flip back and forth between Denver and Ron, but it is easy to follow. I read it in only two days. I just couldn't put it down!

The most amazing thing about this story is Deborah Hall, wife of Ron. Because of her love for Christ and her growing faith, she forgave her husband, began working with the homeless, heard from God, and stepped out in faith.  Because of her love and her actions, lives were transformed for Christ.

Not only is this a fantastic story, it inspires me to be like Deborah (Miss Debbie), a woman of faith, prayer, and action!

Who do you know that is like Deborah, who follows Jesus like her? 
 

Book Review: The Grave Robber

Nothing is impossible for God. The Grave Robber by Mark Batterson takes a look at Jesus' miracles. Do you need a miracle?

Overview: Do we believe that God still does miracles? Do we expect him to move in miraculous ways in our day-in, day-out lives? Maybe we'd like to see miracles, but it's hard to see past our problems. All that is about to change, like water into wine.

"There are miracles all around us all the time," says Mark Batterson, "but you won't see them if you don't know how to look for them."

Now the bestselling author of The Circle Maker reveals the incredible power of the seven miraculous signs of Jesus found in the Gospel of John. Batterson shows how they were not simply something Jesus did in the past, but something he wants to do now, in the present. He shares true stories of people today who are experiencing miracles in their lives. And he brings to light countless miracles, big and small, that we take for granted every day that point us toward the One who healed the sick, calmed the storm, and yes, even raised the dead.

But this is more than a book about miracles. It's a book about the only One who can perform them. Batterson cautions readers, "Don't just seek miracles. Seek Jesus. And if you seek Jesus, miracles will find you."

Dawn's Recommendation: 4.5 of 5 Stars 

What I Liked: I liked reading about Jesus' miracles and miracles that Mark Batterson shares from today. The book is encouraging, sharing testimonies of how God works. God can and will do miracles, but do we have faith? Are we seeking God? Miracles? Do we believe God will do them? How does obedience plays into miracles? This book answers all of these questions. It points people to God. Calls them to lean into the One who has all the power and strength and Who loves us so much, He wants to make impossible things possible.

Note: I had a harder time getting into this book than I did with Mark Batterson's previous books (it didn't have the same page-flipping intensity), but it was still great. We are doing this book & video study in Sunday School and I am enjoying it.

Which one of Jesus' miracles is your favorite? Why?

Book Review - Priceless Stones

I received my second free BookCrash book last week!
I ripped open the box like it Christmas!  Anyway, what a "present" this book is! 

Click to see it on Amazon!

Priceless Stones: 42 Days of Hebrew Promises for Kingdom Living
by James Revoir (Crosslink Publishing, 2013)

Dawn’s Recommendation: 5 of 5 Stars

Overview:
Journey with the author on a forty-two day quest to unearth the amazing goodness of God which lies hidden in the original Hebrew language of the Old Testament. (from back of book)

What I liked:
This book is “priceless”! Very powerful messages that include insight from the original Hebrew words, which helps readers understand God’s Word more fully and how we are to apply it to our lives.  This book will help you grow more spiritually mature. Each day’s reading contains a Scripture, the teaching on a Promise (aka a “Priceless Stone”), a prayer, a declaration, and thought-provoking questions. It is a powerful combination of reading, saying, and doing that can help folks get closer to God. I’ve seen prayer and questions in studies before, but the declaration section was neat because I felt compelled to read it out loud with feeling and heart (to God).

I enjoyed learning the Hebrew words and definitions that were woven into the study!

As a writer, I enjoyed the questions section. In my own journal, I jotted down the Day’s point and then answered the questions. This really helped me focus on God and assess my own faith journey. Here’s one of my favorite questions: “Can you think of a time when the Lord protected you from the onslaught of the enemy?” (from Day 3)

I liked the Glossary of Hebrew words at the back.

What I didn't like:
The book didn't include a photo and bio of the author. The blurb on the back only tells how long the author has been a Christian and that he has a Master in Divinity. You don’t get to know him.

The cover is nice, but the graphics and colors don't highlight the "priceless" information inside the book. The colors are muted tan/brown, which is blah. The title color does not pop and as a thumbnail on the internet, it can't even be read.

What I didn’t need:
At the end of the book, I didn’t need to see the Scripture Index, Bibliography or Endnotes sections, BUT because they were there I more fully appreciate the time and effort that the author put into creating this study. I also realize that some other readers may want to see this information and see that it is backed by the Bible and theological publications.

Disclosure of Material: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookCrash.com book review program, which requires an honest, though not necessarily positive, review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR Title 16, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review - Heaven is for Real

Click here to see it on Amazon

Last month I read "Heaven is for Real: A little boy’s astounding story of his trip to Heaven and back" by Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent.

Dawn's Recommendation: 5 out of 5 Stars

Overview:
When Colton Burpo made it through an emergency appendectomy, his family was overjoyed at his miraculous survival. What they weren’t expecting, though, was the story that emerged in the months that followed—a story as beautiful as it was extraordinary, detailing their little boy’s trip to heaven and back.

Colton, not yet four years old, told his parents he left his body during the surgery–and authenticated that claim by describing exactly what his parents were doing in another part of the hospital while he was being operated on. He talked of visiting heaven and relayed stories told to him by people he met there whom he had never met in life, sharing events that happened even before he was born. He also astonished his parents with descriptions and obscure details about heaven that matched the Bible exactly, though he had not yet learned to read.

With disarming innocence and the plainspoken boldness of a child, Colton tells of meeting long-departed family members. He describes Jesus, the angels, how “really, really big” God is, and how much God loves us. Retold by his father, but using Colton’s uniquely simple words, Heaven Is for Real  offers a glimpse of the world that awaits us, where as Colton says, “Nobody is old and nobody wears glasses.”
Heaven Is for Real will forever change the way you think of eternity, offering the chance to see, and believe, like a child. (from Amazon)

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What I liked:
The story is amazing! It gives a glimpse of heaven from a child’s experience and it offers hope for all who read it. As Colton told his story to his dad, Todd Burpo, Todd compared everything he said to what Todd knew of heaven from the Bible. Everything fit. The book shares the backing from the Bible to Colton's story, lending credibility.

The book shares Colton's account of:
*meeting family in heaven
*what people look like and dress like in heaven
*what you do in heaven
*what happens to babies who die in miscarriage
*what's going to happen in the future
*how Jesus reacts to children
*how Jesus reacts when we follow his will
*God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit
*angels

"Heaven is for Real" is a very short read and I read it in two days. Can’t stop thinking about heaven now! 

What I didn’t like: The story lacks a little polish and it skips around some, but the content more than makes up for that!

Writing Comes First - Comic: Prompt

Below is the link to my recent comic about Christian Writing on 1st Writes Blog. Enjoy!


So, what can a Christian do when they have Writer's Block?
See Writing Comes First Comic: Prompt

Extra Post - 1st Writes

If you are a Christian Writer in need of encouragement 

(and who isn't?), I invite you to visit 1st Writes blog.  

This is my local writing group's blog. You may not be able to physically make it to PA to sit down with us, but the blog is the next best thing. Hope to see you there soon!

Contributors to 1st Writes Blog:

Pam - Encouragement for the Christian Writers

Brianna - Pocketful of Playdough

Dawn - The Write Soil