Her Restless Heart Bible Study by Barbara Cameron (Review)

Her Restless Heart: A Woman’s Longing for Love and Acceptance 

(Book Two in the Faith and Fiction Series)

by Barbara Cameron

(I received this book for review purposes.)

Genre- Religion / Christian Life / Women’s Issues 
Published by- Abingdon Press 
Copyrighted- 2013
Number of pages- 190
Age Group- Adult Women
Description of book- Paperback, listed price- $14.99, ISBN 978-1-4267-6170-6

The Her Restless Heart Bible study, by Barbara Cameron, is the second book in the Faith and Fiction series.  This study takes six weeks and is based on the book, Her Restless Heart.

This study centers on Mary Katherine and some of the people she spends time with.  Cameron adds excerpts from the book and many different questions for us to study ourselves and the Bible.  Some of the topics discussed are, the hungry heart, wounded heart, and satisfied heart.

About the Author- Barbara Cameron currently lives in Florida and has written more than thirty nonfiction and fiction books.

My Thoughts- Her Restless Heart Bible Study was a thought provoking study.  I learned that while I may have a little bit of restlessness in my life that I am content in my heart.  I know that I have God to thank for it.

I had read the book, Her Restless Heart, which corresponds with the study, but I found that if I hadn’t read it that I would not have missed anything.  Barbara Cameron did a wonderful job of including the important excerpts and then tying it all together.

My favorite parts of the study were the excerpts and the “Talk with God” and “As You Go” sections at the end of each daily section.  Each one gave me a lot to think about on how I want to live my life. 

I would recommend this Bible study to all women, whether you are restless or not.  You will learn a lot about yourself.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Her Restless Heart Bible Study by Barbara Cameron for free from Abingdon Press.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. All links were current when posted.

Radical Dating by Diane Montgomery, Gabrielle Pickle, and Sarah Bubar

Radical Dating: When God Takes Over Your Love Life

by Diane Montgomery, Gabrielle Pickle, and Sarah Bubar

(I received this book for review purposes.)

Genre- Religion / Christian / Nonfiction

Published by- Christian Focus Publications

Copyrighted- 2012

Number of pages- 176

Age Group- Older Teen and Adult Women

Description of book- paperback (ISBN 978-1-78191-058-0, $10.99)

Are you looking for a book on dating, which is based on the Bible?

Radical Dating, by Diane Montgomery, Gabrielle Pickle, and Sarah Bubar, is full of biblically-based information about dating, true love, singleness, and how to fulfill your relationship with Jesus.

Each author writes their own chapter and some of the subjects included are:

• Why we date.
• How we should date.
• Who we should date.
• What we are to do or not do on each date.
• Life when we are single.

About the authors- Diane Montgomery, Gabrielle Pickle, and Sarah Bubar are ministry partners, best friends, and more.  They have started the Unlocking Femininity Blog to help girls and women connect with the truth of Jesus.

My thoughts- There are many different kinds of dating books being published today.  Radical Dating, by Diane Montgomery, Gabrielle Pickle, and Sarah Bubar, is a book that is well written, easy to read, and focuses on how to make sure God is the main focus in our relationships.

I enjoyed reading the different stories the authors had to share.  I also enjoyed the end of chapter questions and the amount of Bible verses used to support their text.  Sometimes there could be a lot of verses, but I could understand their use, because it only made the authors’ text stronger.

I was wondering how Montgomery, Pickle, and Bubar were going to divide up the writing and I was pleased when I saw that each person had written their own chapter.  It made a strong book because of that, and each author was able to have her own say.

I would recommend this book to others, because it is important as Christians to know how and who God would want us to date.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Radical Dating: When God Takes Over Your Love Life by Diane Montgomery, Gabrielle Pickle, and Sarah Bubar for free from Cross Focused Reviews.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.  All links were current when posted.

Firsthand by Ryan and Josh Shook (Review)

Firsthand: Ditching Secondhand Religion for a Faith of Your Own by Ryan and Josh Shook

(I received this book for review purposes.) 

Genre- Youth / Christian Living

Published by- WaterBrook Multnomah

Copyrighted- 2013

Number of pages- 208

Age Group- Young Adult (focusing people in their twenties)

Description of book- hardback, list price $17.99, ISBN 978-0-307-88629-3

Do you feel the need to have your own relationship with God, not a continuation of your parents’ relationship with Him?

In Firsthand, Ryan and Josh Shook share their own story and how the average Christian church experience stopped working for them. 

Topics are:

• How to find a faith that is not afraid of doubt.
• How to find a faith based on a relationship with God.
• How your faith can help form a community.

There are quotes from others, study questions, and activities to do at the end of each chapter.

Excerpt from this book. 

About the authors-

Ryan Shook currently lives with his wife in Los Angeles where he is a filmmaker and blogger.

Josh Shook currently lives in Nashville and is a musician.

My thoughts- Firsthand, by Ryan and Josh Shook, is a perfect book for people in their twenties who  want to have their own faith instead of their parents’.

I thought this book had a lot of good information I could implement in my own life and was easy to read, but it lacked passion.  It had thoughts from the brothers, great information, thoughts from others, and a great section and the end of each chapter, but it just wasn’t as captivating and passionate as I thought this important subject matter should be.

At the end of each chapter, I enjoyed reading about other people’s experiences, answering the questions, and deciding which of the “Might Try This” activities I would do.  All of the “Might Try This” ideas were helping in exploring my relationship with God.

I would recommend this book to all who want to discover a personal relationship with God. 

Informational Links:

• Podcast
• Author's Web Site
• More Info
• Author Bio

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Firsthand by Ryan Shook and Josh Shook for free from the WaterBrook Multnomah “Blogging For Books” program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Contentment, Prosperity, and God’s Glory by Jeremiah Burroughs (Review)

Contentment, Prosperity, and God’s Glory by Jeremiah Burroughs

Part of the Puritan Treasures for Today Series

(I received this book for review purposes.)

Genre- Religion / Christian / Nonfiction

Published by- Reformation Heritage Books

Copyrighted- 2013

Number of pages- 126

Age Group- Adult

Description of book- paperback, list price $10.00, ISBN: 978-1-60178-232-8

 

Jeremiah Burroughs, the author of Contentment, Prosperity, and God’s Glory, lived in the 1600’s.  Even then he knew how prosperity can cause temptations that can pull us away from the Lord.  The text in this book was originally the appendix to The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, and is the conclusion to the sermon series on Philippians 4:11-12.

About the author- Jeremiah Burroughs lived from 1599 to 1646 and was a preacher among the Congregationalists and was a member of the Westminster Assembly.

My thoughts- Sometimes we wonder how important it is to heed the words of the past.  Jeremiah Burroughs, who lived from 1599 to 1646, words in Contentment, Prosperity, and God’s Glory are words that have truly never been so important as they are today.

I learned a lot from Burroughs and the updating done by the editors made it easier for me to read, but in no way did it change the important message he had for us.  The important message being, when we have an abundance it can pull us away from God.  There are more temptations in prosperity than in poverty.

In today's society there is a great gap between those who have an abundance and those who do not.  Those of us who do have an abundance need to share with those who need more or have nothing.  We are God’s stewards and giving will only lead us closer to God.

I liked how each chapter had the points in italics and then a discussion followed.

I really enjoyed this book.  Everyone should find a copy of this book, read it, and then put the principles into action.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Contentment, Prosperity, and God’s Glory by Jeremiah Burroughs for free from Cross Focused Reviews.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.  All links were current when posted.

God’s Not Dead by Rice Broocks

God’s Not Dead: Evidence for God in an Age of Uncertainty by Rice Broocks

(received for review purposes)

Genre- Religion / Christian Theology / Apologetics

Published by- Thomas Nelson

Copyrighted- 2013

Number of pages- 284

Age Group- Adult

Description of Book- hardback, list price $19.99, ISBN 978-0-8499-4853-4

God’s Not Dead was written for seekers, believers, and skeptics.  Rice Broocks describes how God still exists in our time by quoting different people in their fields in the subjects of theology, history, philosophy, and science.

The introduction discusses what Broocks will prove in this book, Jesus’s story, and his own story.  Each chapter has a complete summary at the end.

Some topics discussed are:

• How important scripture is and how it witnesses to the people.
• The life that God made was not an accident and has meaning and purpose. 

Author- Rice Broocks is the author of several books and is the cofounder of the Every Nation family of churches.  He has a doctorate from Fuller Theological Seminary.

My Thoughts- God’s Not Dead, by Rice Broocks, had a lot of potential, but fell short in my eyes.

I was excited when I read the description of this book.  I thought I would learn a lot and have an interesting book to pass onto others, so we would know how to share how God is still alive in our world.

I was disappointed.  While there was a lot of useful information, it was written in such a dry, stiff manner that I had a hard time reading the book.  I know that Broocks has a great passion for God, but I didn’t just feel it in this book.

He wrote God’s Not Dead for seekers, believers, and skeptics, but the only group I believe who will gain from reading this are the skeptics.  I would recommend this book to people who want to read a book for what it is.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received God’s Not Dead by Rice Broocks for free from the publisher through the BookSneeze Review Bloggers Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Captives by Jill Williamson (Review)

Captives (The Safe Lands- Book 1) by Jill Williams (received for review purposes)   

Genre- Juvenile Fiction / General

Published by- Zondervan

Copyrighted- 2013

Number of pages- 416

Age Group- Young Adult

Description of book- paperback, list price $8.99, ISBN: 978-0-310-72422-3

Eighteen-year-old Levi is from the village of Glenrock. He returns from Denver City to find that the people in Glenrock have been either killed or taken captive, by the enforcers. It has happened, because of his brother, Omar.

Omar has to decided to help the enforcers, so he can help Glenrock. He thinks his village is being held back by an old religion. He also thinks the Safe Lands, home to the enforcers, will keep everyone safe and that he will be given a position of power.

The third brother, Mason, has taken a job in the Safe Lands.

What will happen to the three brothers and the inhabitants of Glenrock?

About the author- Jill Williamson currently lives in Oregon with her husband and children.  She has written other books and has won the 2010 Christy Award and the Epic Award for By Darkness Hid.

 My thoughts- When I read the synopsis of Captives, I knew I wanted to read it.  I grew up in a town called Glenrock, as did Levi and his brothers.  That is the reason I selected it for review.  I wasn’t even one-fourth of the way through the book, when I knew I was reading a gem.

Captives has both male and female main characters, so both young men and women will feel comfortable reading this book.  Everyone will learn what the power of temptation is like and how you can avoid it.  You can be strong and work for what is right.

I have watched, Princess Bride.  It was a lot of fun to read references to it in the book.

I recommend Captives.  Many readers will learn how sneaky temptation can be and how to be strong.  Read today!

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Captives by Jill Williamson for free from DJC Communications. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. All links were current when posted.

Get Lost by Dannah Gresh (Review)

Get Lost: Your Guide to Finding True Love by Dannah Gresh

(I received this book for review purposes.) 

Genre- Youth / Christian Living / Relationships

Published by- WaterBrook Multnomah

Copyrighted- 2013

Number of pages- 224

Age Group- Young Adult

Description of book- paperback, list price $13.99, ISBN 978-0-307-73063-3

Do you focus mainly on guys? 

In Get Lost by Dannah Gresh, you will learn the importance of being lost in God, not guys.  The Bible is the first place to begin to look for God’s love.  It is important to know what the different kinds of love are and what they look like when God is involved.  Once you know them, then you will be able to respond correctly when you feel romantic love.

Included is a ten-day Love Feast Challenge, which will help you to learn to recognize the love of God and how you need to treat relationships.

Excerpt from this book. 

About the author- Dannah Gresh has been a contributor to FamilyLife Today and Midday Connection.  She has written, And the Bride Wore White, and other books.  She enjoys talking about purity with teens and young adults.  She currently lives with her husband and children in Pennsylvania.   Dannah Gresh’s website- http://purefreedom.org/.

 

 

 

My thoughts-  There are many books about Christian romantic relationships in publication.  I think Get Lost, by Dannah Gresh, is one of the best that I have read.

Top four things I learned or enjoyed:

• We should crave God not men.
• We need agape love for Jesus, not phileo (brotherly) love.
• “Love Feast” study, which takes ten days or ten weeks, is full of spiritual information.
• Complete group leader’s guide and questions.

This is a book that every young lady needs to read before committing herself to a young man.  I wish I had read a book like this when I was younger.  If I had, I would have had a deeper relationship with God when I met my husband and then God would have been first in our relationship.

I highly recommend this book to all young women.  It needs to be at church libraries, public libraries, and bookshelves at home. 

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Get Lost: You’re Guide to Finding True Love by Dannah Gresh for free from the WaterBrook Multnomah “Blogging For Books” program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.