What If Jesus Was Serious About Prayer by Skye Jethani

 

In the introduction the author states, “The truly radical Christian is not the one whose life appears extraordinary, but the one whose unseen communion with God is extraordinary. Living radically is about prayer, not prominence.” For the Christian who wants to live radically for Christ, this book about prayer is for you. It challenges some pre-conceived notions you may have about prayer.

The book is divided into six sections which include short chapters with creative illustrations. The sections are: What Prayer Is (and Isn’t); Keep It Simple (and Unceasing); It’s Off to Work (with God) We Go; Learning to Pray (Like Jesus); The Truth (And Nothing but the Truth) So Help Me God; and Prayer Changes (How You See) the World.

In the end, prayer is not about getting what answers we want, it is about desiring more of God Himself. This is a very helpful and practical book which I highly recommend.

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

God of the Impossible by Rev. Stefano Fehr and Dr. Samuel Naaman

 

This book contains the stories of individuals who have come to faith in Christ from a Muslim background. These believers often pay a great price for their Christian faith in Muslim nations. Stories from believers living in Africa, the Middle East, Asia and the United States are shared within the book. This book illustrates the great work God is doing among Muslims today which is a great source of encouragement and hope for all Christians.

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

Candor by Charles Causey

 

This book is an excellent resource for when difficult conversations need to take place. The guidelines explained in this book enable the reader to ask before speaking: is this necessary, is this loving, and is this truthful? Each chapter covers a different topic including having candor in leadership, having candor in families, as well as how to be honest with yourself and how to have candor with difficult people. Each chapter concludes with a helpful summary of the important points covered and reflection questions.

Helpful appendices include strategies for effective candor, the eight candor commitments, and discussion questions for groups.  This is an excellent guide in having conversations most of us would rather not have but need to. I plan to use this resource when the need arises.

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

 

 

 

Walk with Me by Bill Mowry

 

This book is a very practical guide to walk with others, connect with them and help them to go deeper in their relationship with Christ. Each chapter focuses on various principles including to walk heart to heart, walk simple, walk slow, walk deep, and walk on mission. Practical examples are included to illustrate how to live out these principles in relationship to others.

I appreciated The Navigators Wheel which illustrates how Christ is the power in the hub of the wheel which motivates us to love Christ and to live that out in our lives and our relationships with others. In our fast-paced world I also appreciated the acronym in the chapter on walk slow which is Serve excellently, Love accordingly, Observe to learn, and Wait for God’s timing (SLOW). I highly recommend this book for anyone who desires to go deeper with another to encourage them in their Christian journey.

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

When Faith is Forbidden by Todd Nettleton

 

This book is created as a 40 day devotional focusing on the testimonies of persecuted Christians around the world. Each daily devotional begins with a Scripture verse and then shares the account of a persecuted Christian from a country where you can suffer persecution or imprisonment for being a Christian. Also included are questions for reflection and a space for you to record your own thoughts. Lastly each day includes an entry from the author’s journal as he met with the person who shared his or her experience.

These testimonies challenge those of us as Christians who have no idea what it means to suffer for our faith. These stories will challenge the reader to think about the persecuted church and to reflect on their commitment to Christ and to pray for those who are persecuted for their faith in Christ.

This is eye opening, inspiring and challenging journey for 40 days. I highly recommend this devotional for anyone wanting to learn more about persecuted Christians and how to pray for them.

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

  

Turning of Days by Hannah Anderson

 

This is a beautiful book with beautiful illustrations by the author’s husband, Nathan Anderson. Organized around the four seasons, there are individual reflections about nature and related Scripture readings to go with each reflection. It is a celebration of the beauty of nature as well as God’s handiwork on display. In the back of the book is a field guide to aid the reader in learning to listen to what God is saying through nature. It encourages the reader to slow down and appreciate the details of the natural world. It has challenged me to look at the little things around me in nature and to slow down to appreciate the beauty and majesty of God’s creation. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking to see God in the world around us.

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

Discovering God Through the Arts by Terry Glaspey

 

In reading this book, I discovered a new appreciation of the arts which includes paintings, film, music, sculpture and other kinds of art. Appreciation of a work of art is more than just as a distraction or a useful decoration, as it can take on a different meaning allowing us to experience God in it. The author discusses various ways this can happen including helping us to pay attention, to dig for deeper meaning, to bring the Scriptures to life, and to discover and experience a sense of wonder, to name a few.

The book describes many works of art and the author shares his own personal story and that of others in discovering God through the arts. What is especially helpful is a chapter at the end of the book entitled “Soul Food: Resources for Your Spiritual Journey.” This chapter includes lists of books, films, music and other works of art along with artists to discover on your own. This book provides a way to grow closer to God by learning to appreciate beauty and creativity. I highly recommend this book.

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