Reviews

God’s Word in My Heart is a new ebook written by Jennifer Thorson of The Purposeful Mom. The ebook is a simple guide for parents who want to embed God’s Word in their children’s hearts. I agree with the author that, “It’s never too early to start teaching your children Bible verses!”

The book is peppered with scriptures to remind us that God will help us teach our kids His word. The book is versatile and can be used with kids of any age. The first half of the book lists innovative tips and tools to teach scripture to children of all ages (ranging from babies to high-school kids).

The second half of the book has a list of A-Z memory verses and more. What I like is that these verses can be adapted depending on the age of your child. Toddlers can learn a small portion of the verse (the essence of it), while older kids can learn the entire verse. You can also choose the version of the Bible you want to use for the memory verses.

My husband and I started teaching our kids to memorize scripture a couple of years back. The tips in this book will definitely make the process more interesting. For now, we teach our boys the meaning of the verse they are memorizing, and use hand motions to help them remember it. I’m hoping we’ll be able to use more of the suggestions in the book as they grow older and learn how to read and write.

Here’s an exhaustive list of all that the e-book offers:

• Ideas for teaching Scripture to your children, from the baby on up
• List of Songs and other Go-Alongs for learning Scripture
• List of specific songs that go with the memory verses
• Printable Scripture memory verses for use at home, school or church
  • ABC Memory Verses
  • Verses on Sin and Salvation

For just one day (February 14), the ebook is priced at $1.99 only. The regular price is $3.99. Click here for more information about the book.

I pray along with the author that you and your children will take joy in hiding God’s Word in your hearts.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of the ebook from the author to facilitate my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are entirely my own.

Desperate: Hope for the mom who needs to breathe by Sarah Mae and Sally Clarkson is a book every mother (especially those with little ones) needs to read. The honest confessions and valuable advice in this book are too good to ignore.

I’ve been following both the authors’ blogs for more than a year now and I couldn’t wait to read their joint venture. Sarah Mae is a mother of three little children. Her contribution to the book includes her own experiences, her failures and what she’s learnt through them all. Sally Clarkson, a wise older mentor adds value by sharing practical tips based on scripture to help mothers weather the storms they face on a daily basis.

Being desperate is a feeling I am all too familiar with. As a mother of triplets, my husband has heard me say so very often, “I just can’t do it anymore”. The demands and frustrations that accompany motherhood can sometimes overwhelm even the toughest of souls. This book has truly been a breath of fresh air, reminding me that I’m not alone. Others have traveled the same worn path and have come out better than before.

Regarding the structure of the book, every chapter deals with a particular topic on which both authors write individually. The beauty is that each author’s writing complements the other, giving the reader wholesome help. Each chapter ends with a few verses and questions to help us ponder what we’ve learnt through that chapter. There is also a short “Something to Do” section at the end of each chapter that helps the reader practically implement the the lessons learnt in her own life.

The authors have also published supplemental videos that add a personal touch to each chapter. Links and QR codes to access the videos are present at the end of each chapter. A section of the book is entirely dedicated to a Q & A with Sally Clarkson who shares practical answers to questions most mothers seem to have. The authors are also hosting an an online book club to discuss their book in more detail.

If you are a mother, this book will encourage you deeply. Be prepared to dig in deeper and face your desperate feelings head on. My only regret is that I hadn’t read anything like this during my first few years as a mother. God wants us to enjoy motherhood, not feel burdened by it. He also knows we cannot do it on our own. God wants us to rely on Him to be the mothers our children need. Be encouraged, dear mother, you are not alone. Your mighty God is with you.

“God has equipped us for every good work, and I am quite confident that He who designed this role to be so eternally significant is the one who is ready to help, support, instruct, and guide. He will provide all we need for the task He has given us to fulfill.” ~ Desperate

To conclude, here’s a short video trailer of the book:

Disclosure: I received a free Kindle version of this book from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are entirely my own.

Love’s Memory by Shannon O’Donnell is the first book of The Scotts of Mountain Ridge series. The book is about an ordinary family that is displaced from their home and faces a relationship crisis. The major part of the storyline revolves around the lady of the home, her insecurities and a God who helps her overcome them all. The book’s underlying theme is that God alone can give us hope and heal the hurting. A brilliantly woven tale of God’s grace and redemption.

Book Description from Amazon: “It is only when you lose yourself that you find out who you are.” Valerie Mahoney, a girl from the wrong side of the tracks, falls deeply in love with basketball star Manny Scott. Against his parents’ wishes, the two wed and baby Wren soon follows. Years later adversity strikes and Manny begins questioning his youth decisions, including his love for his wife. Heartbroken, Valerie flees one night but a disastrous accident leaves her with amnesia. Distraught, Manny begins the desperate quest to find a wife who doesn’t recognize him and return her home. Experience this soul-stirring story of God’s redemptive power in LOVE’S MEMORY, Book One in the Scott’s of Mountain Ridge Series.

Love’s Memory has been called:

• “Soul-stirring,”
• “An inspiring story”
• “Compelling, enthralling”
• “Wonderfully suspenseful.”
• “A true page turner.”
• “Romance with a twist”

This book is a great gift for moms, dads, teens, fiction readers, romance lovers, and inspirational readers.

To celebrate the launch of Love’s Memory, the author is hosting a virtual book launch party and you’re invited!

When: January 15
Where: Author’s website

The author, Shannon O’Donnell wants to thank her readers with lots of free downloads and fun prizes at her website.

• Download party favors: clip art, e-books, and blogging tips
• Enter giveaways for jewelry, books, ad space, book editing, marketing, and loads of goodies
• Free original art suitable for framing
• Free quizzes and recipes
• A contest to nominate best pet name for the author’s next book, Wren’s Song
• Book giveaways by well-known authors: Amanda Beth, B. J. Robinson, Jeannette Oak, Jerusha Clark and more.
• Free e-books… And more!

Check out the virtual book launch party at shannonhopeodonnell.com.

Disclosure: I received a pre-release copy of the book to facilitate my review, but all opinions are purely my own. I share on the blog only those books that I personally recommend, so it’s worth checking out! 🙂

Everything: What you give and what you gain to become like Jesus by Mary DeMuth is an honest account of one woman’s spiritual growth – the ups, the downs, and everything else in between.

About a year back, I heard the author speak of how she survived abuse, a broken home and abandonment. I was touched by her testimony of finding God through her brokenness. So, when I realized this book was available at BookSneeze, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it – and I wasn’t disappointed.

This book isn’t a to-do list for Christians. It doesn’t lecture, it doesn’t condemn. It’s more like having a discussion with a mentor over a cup of coffee. The author renders her raw, honest interpretation of what God has been teaching her over the years. Living the ‘Everything’ life doesn’t mean it’s always good. It doesn’t mean we have it all together. An ‘Everything’ life is one surrendered to God – giving it all up to Him and embracing everything He leads us through.

The book comprises of three sections that deal with how we can live a surrendered life through our thoughts, our hearts and our actions. Every chapter concludes with reflection questions that help us personalize what we’ve learnt throughout the chapter.

The author recounts without hesitation, the struggles she has been through in her life. In simple words, she explains how living a surrendered life has impacted her and changed her for the better. One lesson I learnt from this book was regarding my life verse (Jeremiah 29:11). The same lesson is also found in this blog post where the author explains the context of the verse and what we can take away from it.

Irrespective of where you are on your Christian journey, this book will help you along. I have certainly been encouraged to live an ‘Everything’ life for the glory of God. And besides, what other way can we truly live, if our lives aren’t surrendered to the plans of the very One who created us. I pray, along with the author, that you will let Jesus become your everything.

To conclude, here’s a short video trailer of the book:

Disclosure: I received a free Kindle version of this book from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are entirely my own.

Self-discipline isn’t easy, at least for me! There are so many areas I need to be disciplined in – Bible studies, my health, time management, household chores, teaching the kids, the list goes on… Just when I think I have it all under control, something comes along (usually sickness or a holiday) and I fall off the wagon again. When Money Saving Mom did a blog series on discipline a few months back, I was hooked. So when she offered bloggers a chance to review her new ebook on the same topic, I was only too eager to do so.

One look at the table of contents and I knew this book was going to going to be deep and practical. I needed practical. What’s the point in reading all the good stuff and not putting it to work, right? Given that the author, Crystal Paine was my inspiration to start my very own A Habit A Month {Ahem.. the very one I’ve put off for more than a month. I think we’ve established the fact that I really need to put this book to good use.} I knew her book would be a blessing to you as well.

Going into the semantics of the book, it is meant to be read one chapter a day for 21 days. Each chapter includes one principle that we can incorporate in our lives to be more disciplined and a practical application of that principle. If you choose a major project and follow the steps outlined in the book, you will actually get the whole thing done in 21 days. I can think of several major projects I’ve been procrastinating :), can you?

Another thing I like about this book is the emphasis on goals. We all know we
can’t achieve something without having a target in mind. Again, it was this very author who inspired me to track my own monthly goals. After reading this book however, I realize I have to break them up into weekly goals so I can make better progress instead of being crunched up for time at the end of the month.

This book is about making simple, realistic changes in our lives and sticking with them for the long haul; rather than trying to incorporate too much too soon and ending with a burnout. The tone of the book is encouraging and uplifting; it motivates you to get going and make the most of your life.

Every principle outlined in this book is valuable and has the potential to help you live a more disciplined life. The book also contains links to several resources that have motivated the author in her own quest for discipline. I can already think of several areas in my life where I can apply the principles I’ve learnt from this book.

You can read more about the book and buy it here. If you are interested in applying the principles in this book in your own life, you can join the 21 day Self-Discipline challenge at Serving Joyfully starting November 1st.

Related links:

• Book website
• Author’s website
• Author’s blog

The Love & Respect Experience: A Husband-Friendly Devotional that Wives Truly Love by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs is a christian devotional book for married couples. The book comprises of 52 short devotions that aim to help husbands and wives grow in their marriage. The inspiration behind the book is this verse:

“However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” (Ephesians 5:33)

The premise is that husbands need their wives to show them respect, as much as wives need their husband to show them love. This book teaches couples how to move on from the Crazy Cycle {without love, she reacts without respect; without respect, he reacts without love} and lean towards the Energizing Cycle {his love motivates her respect; her respect motivates his love}. The ultimate goal however, is to reach the Rewarded Cycle {he loves regardless of her respect; she respects regardless of his love}.

My husband who doesn’t particularly like reading, was actually interested in reading this book with me. Each devotion starts with a verse, explains a unique aspect of the love and respect concept, highlights one major insight from the chapter, guides the reader in a prayer and finishes off with an action item.

Each chapter also has a set of discussion questions to help the reader personalize what he/she just read. The devotions are light, which is why they cannot replace your daily Bible study.

This book is a good read if you’re genuinely interested in improving your marriage. However, if you’ve perused other Love & Respect resources, this book may seem a bit redundant. If you’re curious to know how the biblical concept of love and respect can improve your marriage, I’d recommend you pick up a copy. And maybe… just maybe, your husband might be interested in reading it along with you :)!

Disclosure: I received a free Kindle version of this book from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are entirely my own.

A Reluctant Queen – The Love Story of Esther by Joan Wolf is a fictional rendition of the book of Esther from the Bible. The book retells the age old story of a beautiful Jewish girl selected to be the Queen of Persia. With the influence that accompanies the position she holds, Esther is able to play a pivotal role in the deliverance of the Jews from their persecutors.

The author’s vivid description of the characters in the book, plunges the reader into the life and customs of the people living in that era. I loved how the book transported me from dirt road to palace in a flash with incredible verbal illustrations.

Although, the book does deviate ever so slightly from the Bible, the essential characters and events remain the same. The story line revolves around the love that Esther develops towards King Ahasuerus, and how it affects her role in the deliverance of the Jews. The author has done a splendid job of weaving Esther’s faith in God into every chapter of the book.

The book was altogether an interesting and entertaining read. To be honest, I was a bit disappointed when it ended – it left me wanting more. A Reluctant Queen is a clean love story revolving around the simple faith of a woman. Simple faith, that is sufficient for God to work wonders on behalf of His people.

Disclosure: I received a Kindle version of this book free from the publisher 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.

Tell Your Time has been on my reading list for more than a month now. I knew this 30 page book would give me the kick I needed to get my life back on track, and it did not disappoint. The author, Amy Lynn Andrews does not mince words. She makes it absolutely clear that in order to successfully achieve anything in life we need patience, sacrifice, discipline and focus.

This book is probably the simplest book on time management ever written. But it is packed with strategies and tips that will change the way you handle your time. My favorite was the part where in simple steps, we are led towards developing a life plan. As I read through the book, I was prompted to jot down my goals & priorities and create my own time budget. So, that’s what I did – halfway through the book (but more on that in a later post).

The book reminds us that “Even the best planner doesn’t address the need for internal discipline”. I can write lists and plan the pages off my shiny new 2012 planner, but it will make no difference if I don’t discipline myself enough to actually get things done. That certainly hit the nail on the head!

I have personally applied the strategies I have found in this book over the past week and I must say, the results are pretty impressive. I am more conscious of the time I spend online (check out February’s habit) and I’m able to ensure my priorities don’t fall through cracks.

If you have loads of things to do (who doesn’t?!) and hardly any time to do it in (really, who has enough time?!) this book is for you. If you are struggling to keep up with your to-do lists and you’re not able to look ahead, this book is for you. But honestly, just reading this book will do you no good unless you make the hard choices necessary to actually streamline your day.

For more information, visit Tell Your Time. And while you’re at it, take a minute to explore the author’s blog Blogging with Amy. Whether you are a blogging newbie, a seasoned blogger or just plan on starting a blog someday, Amy has boatloads of wisdom and blogging advice to help you along the way.

And now for the fun part – “talk” to me… I love hearing from you! Have you read any books on time management recently? Which strategies have helped you streamline your life? Share with us in the comments, please :).

Darlene Schacht, New York Times Best-Selling Author and Blogger at Time-Warp Wife has released her new eBook “The Good Wife’s Guide – Embracing Your Role as a Help Meet“. When Darlene offered bloggers a chance to review her book, I jumped at the opportunity and I wasn’t disappointed… I love, Love, LOVE this book.

To be honest, I long fought against the idea of being a submissive wife. It took several months (and some very helpful blogs) for God to work in my heart – to reveal just how important my role as my husband’s helper was. I’d have to say, the original wife’s handbook is indeed the Bible and Darlene does not disagree. In The Good Wife’s Guide, Darlene has used scripture to inspire women to joyfully serve as wives, mothers and keepers of our homes. She writes from her own experience – and 23 years as a wife is a LOT of experience :).

If you are a wife, mother, young bride or looking to get married, this book will give you a wealth of information on:

• Setting priorities – Faith first & Family second.
• Planning ahead and getting things done early.
• Welcoming your husband when he comes home from work.
• Making small sacrifices for your family with a willing heart.
• Biblical submission.
• Being faithful stewards of our time & possessions.
• Handling conflict in marriage.
• Keeping our home clean and organized.

And here are some quotes from the book that struck home:

“Everything that I present to my family is a reflection of my heart. I can either show them that I value them by giving of myself with joy, or I can do it begrudgingly because it’s something that has to be done.”

“Busy children trump an immaculate house any day of the week… Things can be replaced, but nothing can replace the feeling of “home” that one gets when a house is bustling with children.”

“Submission doesn’t mean that we’re weak-minded, feeble, or frail. It means that we’re empowered by choice, and that we’re dedicated to esteeming others higher than ourselves.”

I intended to read this book over a period of 3 days… but I was so engrossed, I finished it in 2 hours while my sons were napping today! The eBook is filled to the brim with biblical wisdom – and practical tips to make them work in our daily lives. I have highlighted several passages in the book that I will be revisiting – just to remind myself of my primary ministry as a help meet & keeper of my home.

Click here for more details on The Good Wife’s Guide. And while you are at it, visit a while at Time-Warp Wife – it is a treasure trove of resources for the Christian woman, wife & mother.

Here are some more helpful links:

• Time-Warp Wife Facebook Page
• The Good Wife’s Guide Facebook Page
• Time-Warp Wife Blog
• The Good Wife’s Guide Webpage