On Waiting Well by Bradley Bourain

 

No one like to wait, myself included. In this book about biblical waiting, the author explores this concept along with explaining how waiting is a crucial part of following God. Usually when I think of waiting, I think of staying in place until an event occurs. I hadn’t thought about instead of waiting for something I am also waiting on the Lord. This concept refers to the sense of attending to or serving someone. In waiting on the Lord, the main element in waiting is simply being in His presence and a way to worship and find joy in our life and in the Lord. This changed the way I perceived waiting in general.

Some of the chapters include the myths and truths about waiting, what are we waiting for and waiting and patience. At the end of each chapter there are discussion questions which would make the book appropriate for small group discussions.

This is an important topic and I appreciated the author’s approach in exploring the concept of waiting. I would highly recommend this book for anyone looking to grow in their appreciation of waiting according what is taught in Scripture. I received this book from Moody Publishers in exchange for this honest review.

 

  

What Now? by Mark Jobe

 So many times, we feel stuck in a particular season in life whether due to a change in our circumstances, a midlife crisis or unexpected global events which impact us. Mark Jobe shares ways in which we can move into our next season. He goes on to expound on the steps we need to do which include:  Quieting your soul to listen; Re-envisioning your life story; Adjusting your thinking; Inviting others to your journey and Taking the first bold step. Putting these five steps into practice will aid you in getting out of your comfort zone and into the new season God is calling you to. He shares many examples of how to live out these principles in his own life which is helpful in making the application to our own lives.

I received this book from Moody Publishers in exchange for this honest review.

Pandemics, Plagues and Natural Disasters by Erwin Lutzer

 In the present day, nothing has impacted our lives more than COVID-19. We question whether things will ever be “normal” again. In this book. Pastor Erwin Lutzer helps explain the role of God in suffering.  Using examples of suffering and tragedy from the Bible, he explains how God uses such events to speak to his people.  He looks at the ways God asks us to trust him, to teach us, to understand that the world we live in is under judgment, that the worst is yet to come, and that God has provided a way of escape. Also shared is how we can respond to God in the midst of suffering. This book is helpful in understanding God’s eternal plan for our salvation from all suffering here and in the future.

I received this book from Moody Publishers in exchange for this honest review.

  

What If Jesus Was Serious? by Skye Jethani

This is an in depth look at the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 5:1 – 7:29. There is often a disconnect between Jesus’ teaching in this passage and how Christians live. The author has broken down the text into 72 sections which makes it ideal to study one section per day. Each section features an engaging illustration along with posing the thought to be considered. For example the first section is entitled, “If Jesus was serious…then we will focus more on his good news and less on religious to-do’s.” This could also be used in a small group study. Each section provides much food for thought and discussion. I highly recommend this look at the Sermon on the Mount and the challenging applications it presents.

I received this book from Moody Publishers in exchange for this honest review.    

Journey in Prayer by Daniel Smed

Prayer is how Christians communicate with their Heavenly Father. Many times, it is difficult to know how to pray. Jesus’ followers also asked how they should pray. The author takes you through the journey of prayer, that Jesus taught his disciples in what is commonly known as the Lord’s Prayer. The journey is divided into seven days. Each day includes the sentence or phrase of the prayer that is expounded upon. The reader is then asked to share their thoughts in the section entitled “Prayerful Pondering.” Also included is a section that gives you prompts to pray and a section to guide you through your own personal prayers. This helpful book shows you the importance of prayer along with the necessary tools to pray on your own. This is a great way to enrich your prayer life by not only reading the book but applying its principles.

I received this book from Moody Publishers in exchange for this honest review.

Becoming Sage by Michelle Van Loon

This is one of the best books I have read on dealing with midlife issues for Christians. The transition to the midlife stage is a process and as the author notes it is an invitation to become “sage – a way of life in which a person expresses experience, knowledge, insight and self-mastery.”  While it may look different for each person it is also a journey growing in wisdom through lifelong discipleship.

The first section of the book deals with what it means to become sage while the second section of the book addressed how one can develop spiritual maturity in the second half of life. Areas addressed in the second section include physical health, relationships, financial issues, church community as well as end of life issues. At the end of each chapter there are questions for both individual reflection and group conversation. This would be a great resource for individual as well as a small group study. I appreciated   this book as I am in the second half of life myself and found it as a helpful tool to look at some of the issues I am facing.

I received this book from Moody Publishers in exchange for this honest review.   

Shepherding Women in Pain Bev Hislop, Editor

This is a valuable resource for any woman involved in ministry to other women. The first section is to help the reader understand the women in pain and what the woman in pain wants to know. Questions addressed include how can I stop the pain; when will life be normal again; what does healing look like; and where is God in pain. The second section addresses helping or shepherding the women in pain and what the shepherd needs to know.  Topics included in the section are depression, infertility, terminal illness, aging, addictions, domestic abuse along with many others. The last section of the book addresses communities in which healing can take place.

This book is a collaboration of many women who share their knowledge in helping women deal with specific areas of pain. This is not only a resource for women but for anyone in church leadership to understand how to help women in pain.

I received this book from Moody Publishers in exchange for this honest review.