We Interrupt this Bloggin' Break...

We gladly interrupt this bloggin' break to announce the winner of "This Little Prayer of Mine" by Anthony DeStefano.

Drumroll please...and the winner of "This Little Prayer of Mine" by Anthony DeStefano is... Kerri from Mommy4Him.

Kerri email me your address and I'll get this wonderful treasure of a book out to you for your family to enjoy.

If you were not the winner, you can purchase a copy of "This Little Prayer of Mine" here.

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

And now... back to our bloggin' break. See ya real soon!!!!!

This Little Prayer of Mine

Anthony DeStefano does an excellent job of capturing child-like faith in his new book, “This Little Prayer of Mine.” The illustrations are absolutely beautiful, and the content is particularly appealing to this momma who desires for her children to grasp the concept of talking with their heavenly Father. One thing that I greatly appreciate about this wonderful book is the fact that it is a great conversation starter with my children. Each page presents a real life event in which one is able to look to God and rely on Him for strength, protection, guidance, unconditional love, or forgiveness. If you have young children in your life who you desire to see grow in their relationship with their heavenly Father, “This Little Prayer of Mine” is a must have!

And speaking of a must have...would you like your very own copy of "This Little Prayer of Mine"? Yes? Well...I am giving away a copy to one of you, my lovely readers. Just leave a comment on this post sharing some of your favorite children's books that point little one's to God. I'm always looking for great books to add to our library. You can also purchase "This Little Prayer of Mine" over at Random House.

Your last chance to enter the giveaway will be Friday midnight (EST), April 16, 2010. One winner will be randomly selected and announced right here Saturday, April 17, 2010.

But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me.

Don’t stop them!

For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs

to those who are like these children.”

Matthew 19:14, NLT

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Love & War

When I opened this book and began reading it, my first thoughts were, “Wow! They are writing about my marriage.” Sometimes we feel so alone in our marriages. We look around wondering if we are the only ones who struggle with loving our spouse or even simply liking them. In their book “Love and War” John and Stasi Eldredge, disclose their own struggles in marriage helping their readers realize that marriage is hard, “fabulously hard”, but with God as the foundational center and sole focus, marriage can be done and done well.

Having been in a marriage that was headed for divorce, the thing I appreciate most about this book is the fact that the Elderedge’s reiterate time and time again that one’s happiness is not wrapped up in what their spouse can give them, but rather what God provides for them. God is the only one who can meet every need, fill every hole, and heal every wound. And, God is the only one who can fill our hearts with true love for our spouse.

“We live in a love story, set in the midst of war.” A war that requires us to fight for our marriages and fight hard. A war that requires you and I to step out of the picture and allow God to work; to work in our hearts, so that we are able to love hard.

If you are interested in purchasing Love & War by John and Stasi Eldredge, you can do so HERE.

You can also read other reviews of Love & War HERE.



This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

Summer Reading Fun...

I've recently been reading "The Hole in Our Gospel" by Richard Stearns. I must tell you this is an extremly powerful, very convicting, eye opening book. Not really knowing what to expect as I flipped open Stearns book, I was literally brought to my knees as I read the words he penned on the first two pages. Today, I would like to share those words with you. As you read the following excerpt I would encourage you to take an introspective look into your heart as you ask yourself this question, "Is the inward transforming work of the Holy Spirit brought about by the death, burial, and ressurection of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, making itself known in the way I publically live my life?"

"What does God expect of us? That's what this book is about. It's a simple question, really. But is the answer so simple? What is the Christian faith about? Going to church every Sunday, saying grace before meals, and avoiding the most serious sin- or does God expect more?

I am a Christian- perhaps you are too. But what does that mean exactly? To even be Christians, we must first believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. That in itself is no small idea. If it is true, it changes everything, because if Christ is God, then all that He said and did is deeply significant to how we live our lives. So we believe. But God expects more.

And so the question, "What does God expect of me?" is a very profound one-not just for me, but for everyone who claims to follow Christ. Jesus had a lot to say about it. Yes, He did give us deep insights into the character of God and our relationship with Him as well, but He also spoke at length about God's expectations, our values, and how we are to live in the world. So how are we to live? What kind of relationship are we to have with a holy God? What is God asking for, really, from you and me? Much more than church attendance. More than prayer too. More than belief, and even more than self-denial. God asks us for everything. He requires a total life commitment from those who would be His followers. In fact, Christ calls us to be His partners in changing our world, just as He called the Twelve to change their world two thousand years ago."

Stearns goes on to say, "being a Christian, or follower of Christ, requires much more than just having a personal and transforming relationship with God; it also entails a public and transforming relationship with the world. If your personal faith in Christ has no positive outward expression, then your faith- and mine- has a hole in it. Embracing the gospel, or good news, proclaimed by Jesus is so much more than a private transaction between God and us. The gospel itself was born of God's vision of a changed people, challenging and transforming the prevailing values and practices of our world."

Is your personal faith in Christ having a positive outward impact on the world, or does it have a hole in it?

"Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works is dead."
James 2:17, NKJV

Excerpts taken from Richard Stearns book, "The Hole in our Gospel", pages 1 & 2. Thomas Nelson Publishing Company

Summer Reading Fun- A Marriage Without Regrets

Having experienced the sting of marital dysfunction many years ago and then reaping the beauty of reconciliation between myself and my husband, reading A Marriage Without Regrets by Kay Arthur was a must.

Arthur's book puts into perspective God's intended plan for marriage. Yes, this is an in-your-face, step-on-your-toes kind of book, but it is all based upon the Truths of God's Word. Kay Arthur shares with us real-life experiences which have shaped who she is as an individual and a spouse. Not afraid to disclose her past, Arthur recalls and retells to her readers seasons of her life in which she was not living in a Godly manner. This very aspect of her book allows me to personally relate to her on a down to earth level.

In chapter 3, What's the Glue that Holds a Marriage Together?, Arthur says, "marriage in our fallen world is not easy. It isn't easy even for those who belong to Jesus Christ and serve Him in some prominent way." It seems every time I turn on the television or stand in the check out line at the grocery store, I hear of another couple who are headed for divorce. Because of the ministry God has called me to, I talk with women all the time who are in marriages that are falling apart. I would like to think that within the Christian community, the divorce rate would be much less than that of the "world", but sadly in recent years there doesn't seem to be much of difference. What kind of counsel are we to pass on to those whose marriages are suffering? What IS the glue that holds a marriage together?

Kay Arthur goes on to say in chapter 3, "The One who created marriage in the Garden of Eden, the One who blessed marriage at the wedding feast in Cana, and the One who gave His own body and blood to redeem us from our sins can provide a bonding agent the very forces of hell cannot break. An intimate, daily walk with God is the most crucial element for holding a husband and wife and a family together. It is the most vital relationship in all of life-..." Oh, amen and amen!! One's relationship with God IS the foundational relationship upon which all other relationships are to be built. God IS the glue that can and will hold our marriages together.

Throughout the pages of A Marriage Without Regrets, Arthur clearly lays out the importance of God being the center and foundation of one's marriage. She also addresses the role of man and woman within the marriage covenant as clearly stated in Scripture.

A Marriage Without Regrets also speaks to:

~resolving conflict within marriage

~communicating clearly with one another with compassion

~improving your intimacy

~training up children who follow after God

~becoming wise financially

~respecting and keeping your vows to each other

~responding Biblically if your mate wants to walk away

If you find yourself today in a marriage that has hit a rough spot or you're just looking to improve upon your already healthy marriage or you may be recently engaged to your future spouse; whatever the case may be, I highly recommend this book to anyone who is seeking to build a marriage without regrets.

You can purchase A Marriage Without Regrets along with it's study guide from:

Precept Ministries International

Christian Book Distributors

LifeWay Christian Stores