Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health by Donald S. Whitney

Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health by Donald S. Whitney
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

Have you, like myself, wondered about your spiritual growth? Have you wished for a way to know whether you are growing in your walk with God or not? If so, this is a book you will enjoy! Whitney's 10 question guide will help you diagnose your spiritual health and in some cases, it may be the tool that diagnosis whether there is life at all.

I first heard about this book from several teachers at a Biblical counseling conference and was immediately intrigued by the idea of being able to diagnose my spiritual status. As the title suggests, it walks you through ten questions that help you get an understanding of where you are spiritually. While there is no scale, therefore there is no physical measurement of your spiritual well-being, this book is a tool to gain a better understanding of areas that need improvement and ways in which to do so. It is not the ultimate tool or ultimate test, but it can be a great aid to challenge, convict, and encourage you in your walk with Christ.

At first I was excited at this new "magic formula" that was sure to help me. But I quickly found, that as any good author should, Whitney takes you to Scripture for the source of our spiritual evaluation. Ten Questions is a informative first read that will easily become a quick reference manual to add to your bookshelf for future use. I highly benefited from this book and I think most Christians will if they use it in the proper context of which a tool should be used.

This explanatory and applicable read is good for older high school ages and on up.

Blogger Behave by Laura Booz

Blogger Behave: Make your blog benefit your life, so you can love both! by Laura Booz

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

This is a short and sweet book that will breath new life into your blogging!

The subtitle sums up this book well. Blogger Behave is all about making your blog behave and finding balance between your real life and online life. While Laura does talk about our actual online behavior, the focus of the book is more behind the scenes. A very important topic to address these day!

I really liked how Laura didn't waste any time. She jumps right into each subject, presents her thoughts clearly, and moves on. It only took me two hours to read from start to finish.

Blogger Behave is a good mix of blogging philosophy and practical application. It covers vision, expectations, scheduling, benefits, integrity, transparency, and more. Her candor and real life examples are not only fun, but encouraging, and will have you laughing.

Whether you are a new blogger, and old blogger, or a pro blogger, I believe you will find inspiration in this book. I walked away with a fresh perspective and simplified goals for my blog. Rather then feeling duty, this book helped me come back to the delight of blogging - both for myself, and most importantly, for God.

Lit! A Christian Guide to Reading Books by Tony Reinke

Lit!: A Christian Guide to Reading Books by Tony Reinke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

I never thought I would enjoy reading a book about reading as much as I just did.

About a month ago I had the opportunity to review this book and I turned it down. Then just two weeks ago I began seeing some posts on Crossways' blog about this book and it looked more and more intriguing with each post. So curiosity got the best of me and I bought the book for my Kindle and now here I sit typing my review after having just finished this great read.

Lit! is not a book about other good books. It's not a recommendation list, nor a break down of good genres to read. Instead Lit! is about reading and how to make wise decisions in your reading. Reinke takes us back to the The Book of All Books - the Bible - to understand why we should read, how we should read, and to help us pour a solid foundation built on Scripture for our reading habits. Then in section two he breaks out the practical application and tips for better reading practices.

I really like this book overall and would highly recommend it to anyone - teens to adults. I appreciated Reinke setting a solid base in section one of the book, but personally I found it a little hard to get through. However, in all fairness, I believe it was due to the fact that so much of what he wrote was just reiterating what I already know and believe. For those who have never given any thought about to the reasons why they read the first section will be of great benefit. The second section was very helpful and I liked the wide variety of suggestions and ideas that were presented. No matter what kind of a reader you consider yourself to be you will find something to challenge you within these pages.

Lit! is a short read, making it easy to read in just a few hours, and sums up the authors opinions in thorough but to-the-point chapters. It truly renewed my desire to read, kindled the passion to pursue reading in a way that glorifies God, and breathed new purpose into developing sound reading patterns. Whether you are old, young, new to reading, don't like to read, or read like you breath...this book is for you. Enjoy!

For a sample of what this book holds, read this post and watch this interview with the author.

Tell Your Time by Amy Lynn Andrews

Tell Your Time: How To Manage Your Schedule So You Can Live Fulfilled by Amy Lynn Andrews
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

Simple. Short. Easy. Practical. Hands-on. Inspiring. Helpful.

As an organization freak I can honestly say I have read dozens of books on time management. And I have even read many books about reading books about time management. Yes...I have issues! However, setting my "issues" aside, I must say that THIS book is the BEST book I have ever read about the topic of, solution to, and aid for time management.

Hands down. Without a doubt.

It is short and sweet - only 30 pages! - and it's extremely simple. So simple that it only took me 3 hours to read the book, print off the four resource/tool pages, and complete the action steps. I really liked how I could fill out the downloadable worksheets as I read through the book making it all one smooth process. This book sticks to the basic principles and breaks them down into four easy and manageable steps. There are no long chapters waxing eloquently about what we should do, but rather step-by-step instruction, encouragement, and personal example of what to do. Whether you are a fellow "freak" like myself, or someone who hates time management, you will be encouraged and enabled by this book to become more managed in your time.

I highly recommend and challenge you to put down the big, thick books you're reading and pick-up this short book and see some results! Find your freedom in time!

You can purchase your own copy through Amy’s website or through Amazon.com.

The Call by David Nasser and Brent Crowe

THE CALL by David Nasser
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

Inspiring. Challenging. Interesting. Practical. Helpful. Informative.

The Call is split into two sections - the first being about God's call on your life and the second is a series of interviews with well known Christians about God's call in their lives. It is a very practical "how-to" book as well as very encouraging, inspiring, and full of great advice. It is easy to read and easy to understand and digest. Each chapter can stand alone, but the book flow well with an overall theme of knowing God's call.

I appreciated this unique book and it's intent on helping the reader know and understand God's calling on their life. While I think it's geared for teens and young adults, it's a great read for any age and there is much wisdom to be gleaned at any stage of the journey. There is humor sprinkled around - especially in the interviews - that makes this book personable and real. The first half, which is more "hands-on", is very simple yet very thought-provoking as you apply it to your life. I really enjoyed the second half as it was a window into the lives of so many whom minister to us as they shared wisdom from following the call of God in their lives.

This book is perfect for the 16 to 21 age bracket, but definitely beneficial for younger teens and older adults as well. I highly recommend this book to all teens - especially those wanting to know what God's call is for their life.

Real {Fast} Food by Trina Holden GIVEAWAY!

Real {Fast} Food is a how-to book, inspirational read, and cookbook all rolled up into 58 pages.  I was able to read it in about 2 hours, so it’s a quick read as well.  It is a how-to book because Trina walks you through simple and clear steps to making your own food and cooking month by month.  It is inspirational because Trina’s enthusiasm is oozing out of this book and even those of us who feel pretty overwhelmed by the whole subject find ourselves jumping up and down in excitement by the time we turn the last page.  And lastly it’s a cookbook because it is full of wonderful, drool producing recipes!

Real {Fast} Food is an e-book that can be purchased here and makes the overwhelming task of planning meals for a month – and healthy ones, too! – achievable through simple steps.  Actually, Trina makes it so simple that there may be a few places you have questions if you have never read or thought about planning meals ahead for an entire month.  However, Trina is also easily accessible to contact via twitter or facebook or her blog for you to hit up with any questions you might have.

The one thing I really appreciated about this book – besides the whole thing! – is that you can easily customize the basic idea/plan to fit your life right now.  Maybe like me, you are not going to do the whole thing, but this book was still very helpful in making a plan for healthier meals.  Although as Trina reminded me, you can jump in head first, too, and do the whole plan!  Trina  has taken the work out of finding healthy alternatives and put everything right at your fingertips for getting started in the healthy meal planning.  As you get your feet wet she provides you the framework for experimenting on your own and adding in your own healthy recipes.

You can buy this book HERE!

Because I love this book and because Trina is so generous, I get to give a copy of this e-book away here at To Read, Or Not To Read!  So on your mark, get set,…..GO!

Leave a comment and you’ll be entered in the giveaway!  You can also leave a comment over on my Facebook page for an entry and if you share a link to this page through Facebook, twitter, or e-mail, leave a 2nd comment stating that you did and get a 2nd entry to the drawing!

A winner will be drawn on Monday.  Hurry and enter!

And the winner is Jody C!  Congrats!

dot.com Dating by Drs. Les & Leslie Parrott

dot.com Dating: finding your right someone online--avoiding the liars, losers, and freaks

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

In this culture where the look of dating is changing, dot.comdating is an almost-pocket-sized handbook to help you work through the myths of online dating, the decision of whether online dating is for you or not, and the questions to ask prior to dating online. I appreciate that this book has helpful information for those looking to date and those like myself who are parents and friends of those dating online. Drs. Les & Leslie Parrott effectively debunk the myths surrounding the online scene and I liked the way the shed light on the truth so that the fear of online dating is removed. The advise they have to offer about how to use the online sites is very helpful and will hopefully enable many singles to have a better experience, saving more heartache and frustration.

Although I found this book very helpful, there were a few points that I flat out disagreed with - specifically their description of true love found on page 36. I would encourage adults to read this book for it's helpful hints, but hope that they filter it through the Word of God and not establish the foundation for their beliefs about relationships on man's relationship techniques. Look to the gospel to see what love looks like and how it should be fleshed out in our daily lives. Then read this to find out how to use a dating site more efficiently.

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This book was provided for review courtesy of Tyndale House Publishers but the opinion expressed is my own.

The Reluctant Entertainer by Sandy Coughlin

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

Are you afraid or intimidated by the thought of entertaining? Or are you one who relishes in inviting people over for a casual dinner or party?

No matter who you are, what your style is, whether you are organized or not-so-organized, have children or not, this book is for YOU! It truly is as the subtitle says, every woman's guide to simple and gracious hospitality.

I love hospitality and have read a number of books on the subject and will still say that this one if one of my favorites. It is fun to look at - full of colorful photos - and a sweet mix of encouragement and practical help. The ideas Sandy shares will help you get started and keep you wanting to think of new ways to entertain. Over all this book is easy-to-read, enjoyable to browse, and a delight to any person who desires to entertain. And you don't want to miss these yummy - oh so wonderful looking - recipes! If for nothing else...buy the book for the recipes!

Enjoy the read!

BOOK OVERVIEW:

Faced with feelings of inadequacy or unrealistic expectations, most women never experience the joy of inviting others into their homes. But no more. Speaking candidly about her entertaining highs and lows, popular blogger and author Sandy Coughlin offers apprehensive hostesses genuine encouragement and practical tips for simple yet savvy entertaining.

Hospitality is not about perfection or complicated, expensive meals. It's about connecting deeply with others--all you need is an open door and an open heart.

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This review copy was provided courtesy of Bethany House Publishers but the opinions expressed are my own.

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This book gets awarded with the To Read, Or Not To Read badge of distinction  - Best Of The Best Badge! - for the fact that because it is so good, it has been added to Mandy’s bookshelf!

A Mentor’s Fingerprint by Ann Griffiths & Donna Inglis {GIVEAWAY!}

A Mentor's Fingerprint: Leave a Mark. Make a Difference by Ann Griffiths
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

Mentoring.

It's become a buzz word of sorts in today's culture. In the secular world it's become known more as a "life coach", but whatever the title, more and more people desire to have one.

A Mentor's Fingerprint is a broad overview of what it means to mentor as well as a handbook for specific areas of being a mentor and/or mentee. It's an easy-read that will help you understand both the importance of mentoring as well as the key skills a mentor needs to continually hone.

I have read many books on mentoring and this one would probably rank on my "top 5 list" for being practical for someone wanting to know how to be a better mentor. In simple explanations and examples Donna & Ann highlight the importance of listening and asking questions and how you can become better at both.

At the end of each chapter there are questions that will help you connect what you have learned, apply it, and then think through it deeper. I appreciated the well balanced encouragement and help that these ladies have to offer.

BOOK OVERVIEW:

Each of our lives is peppered with memories of people who made an impact on us—people who intentionally or unknowingly mentored us. In A Mentor’s Fingerprint, authors, Ann Griffiths and Donna Inglis, take you into their own personal mentoring experiences, invite you to reflect on the men and women who made a difference in your life, and challenge you to think about the kind of fingerprint you are leaving. Filled with real-life stories, guiding principles, and practical tools, this book will awaken the realization that we are all mentors, and will inspire, empower, and equip you to be an even more effective formal or informal mentor. If you want to know what mentoring can do in and through your life and what it means to be used by God to affect others for eternity, A Mentor’s Fingerprint will help you get there. If you want to intentionally come alongside others and feed into their lives, A Mentor’s Fingerprint is for you and your friends.

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This review copy was provided courtesy of WinePress Publishing but the opinions expressed are my own.

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!!! GIVEAWAY !!!

Leave a comment on THIS post to be entered into a drawing for this book. 
A random winner will be drawn on October 16th.
Click here for my GIVEAWAY policy.

Let’s Do Lunch by Roger Troy Wilson {GIVEAWAY!}

Let's Do Lunch: Eating all the Calories and Carbs you want to lose weight! by Roger Troy Wilson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

Let's Do Lunch is a new approach to loosing weight. It gives hope to those who have tried everything and feel hopeless.

I enjoyed the book, was quite intrigued by it, and picked up some good tips from this book, but ultimately I must say I didn't walk away impressed. Quite honestly the flow of the book is a little rough and so much of it sounds too good to be true. However, in all fairness, there are a number of testimonials included and I do believe it works, but rather that it's not the miracle for everyone that it appears to be by reading the jacket.

I would recommend this book to those who are really wanting to understand all the weight loss options available or for those who simply have tried everything else.

BOOK OVERVIEW:

Roger Troy Wilson weighed 425 pounds and had a 5-foot waist. He had given up on losing weight and prayed that he would die and go to Heaven.

After fifteen years of experimenting with different foods and eating patterns, he discovered how to actually have fun losing weight easily---almost the complete opposite of most diets. He lost 230 pounds and 24 inches from his waist.

Today Wilson has maintained his weight loss for years. “You do not need to exercise or count carbs. You can do it without portioning and shakes and chemicals,” says Wilson. In Let's Do Lunch, he reveals:

* the dumbest thing we all do that keeps us from losing weight
* which “non-fattening” foods are actually fattening
* special ways to eliminate cravings
* where to go and what to get when you want to eat something quick

Once you’ve read Let’s Do Lunch, you’ll never think of eating any other way.

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This review copy was provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson but all opinion expressed is my own.

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GIVEAWAY!

If you would like to win a free copy of this book all you have to do is leave a comment!  For my giveaway rules click here.  A winner will be drawn randomly on Saturday, October 2nd.

The Making of a Missionary by Jay & Sunny McLaughlin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

Jay and Sunny McLaughlin bring the mission field into your home through this book. You are able to read first hand about the ups and downs, the joys and the dangers of serving God. And most of all, the McLaughlins share the amazing acts of God as they watch Him move in the hearts of many.

I enjoyed reading this book for the frank and honest approach it takes on missions. It's not sugar coated, but rather raw experiences of what missionaries - especially in a third world country - face. I also was blessed to read the amazing accounts of how they visibly saw God work in mighty ways - ways we in America don't normally experience. This book also holds a great amount of practical information, help, and encouragement for anyone considering entering missions. It is a pre-missions handbook so to speak.

I have to say that I would love all the teens in our church to read this book because I think it would be a great eye-opener to them. However, there are some doctrinal differences in this book and while I recommend this read, I think that one needs to be aware that they may not agree with everything that is said. All that said, I still say that this book can and is a great one for perspective missionaries to be reading and I especially appreciated and respected Jay's exhortation on asking yourself why you want to be a missionary.

If for no other reason, I would recommend reading this book just because it opens your eyes to the real challenges our missionaries face even today.

BOOK OVERVIEW:

After seeing the lack of knowledge in many churches, regarding missions, Jay McLaughlin was prompted by his supporters to write a book on the subject. In The Making of a Missionary readers will see life as a missionary first hand, through McLaughlin’s years of experience. These true-life examples place your mind in the middle of the dangers, blessings, miracles, failures, successes, arrest, escapes, joys, and rewards lived out almost daily.

For the person who is hunting for deeper mission knowledge, this book also categorizes pertinent subjects, such as how to prepare for a mission trip, how to know if you are qualified, and what crucial steps must be taken. Learn the importance of licenses, school, police and shot records, driving record, and any specialty training that you have. Where can you find medical and dental help oversees? What will the local officials expect of you when you arrive? The list goes on and on but is very much needed to help those who are called to be better prepared and make a difference for the Lord. It will help the people they are trying to serve, and those they serve with.

AUTHOR BIO:

Jay McLaughlin was a late-comer to Christianity, who crawled out of the world and started living for Christ at age 43. In 1984 he and his wife Sunny went out as missionaries to Mbale, Uganda. After some success and some real near-death experiences, their trip ended with a hair-raising escape that exposed a corrupt organization for what they were. They again went out in 1986 to Mombasa, Kenya for three months training. From there they went to Nairobi for three months of missionary excitements, language school, and slum work, before returning home with a fresh calling from God for Jinja, Uganda.

They spent the next five years studying and serving in many different areas in the church, undergoing various training groups and schooling, until the leadership saw it was time to ordain Jay as a pastor in 1990. After that the McLaughlin's put together a great mission team to handle things connected to their mission. He and Sunny prepared themselves to go out long-term to Jinja and start a mission base from scratch. Their life has been filled with many Christian-Indiana-Jones-type stories, with the miracles, dangers, failures, successes, sorrows, blessings, laughter, and tears of pain over the death of so many children and adults from AIDS. Jay’s story, expressed through his book The Making of a Missionary provides proof that God does provide for those who love Him.

Jay and his wife currently live in Corpus Christi, TX, where he leads the Silver Saints group at Calvary Chapel Coastland.

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This review copy was provided courtesy of WinePress Publishing. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.

God Strong by Sara Horn

God Strong by Sara Horn

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

I can't imagine how hard it is to be a military wife, but I do know that I am extremely thankful for each wife who sacrifices for me by facing the challenges on the home front while their husbands serve the USA. I am also very thankful for Sara Horn and her excellent resource of encouragement, hope, and help in the low times for the women who do know what it means to be a military wife.

God Strong is a 238 page spiritual survival guide for women who have a husband who serves our country in any military capacity. This guide addresses real issues and challenges that a military wife faces in 10 easy-to-read chapters. Each chapter is then followed by Strength Builders which gives quick access to verses pertaining to the topic at hand as well as Strength Trainers which provide questions for thought and application of the topic. I especially liked the Survival Sisters section which gives real life stories and comfort from other women in the trenches of military wife life.

I give this book 4 stars for being a solid friend and comfort for those women facing the challenges known only to them as wives military men.

BOOK OVERVIEW:

Currently, more than one million military wives care for their families and their homes, often while their husbands are deployed out of state or overseas for months at a time. These women can experience a roller coaster of emotions including disappointment, loneliness, and fear. Sara Horn, the wife of a navy reservist, understands the challenges these women face. She knows how to talk about faith and spiritual truths through the filter of military life. In her encouraging book, Horn shares her personal stories, as well as wisdom and anecdotes of other wives from all branches of service. She reminds readers that: • God is in control. • You can have joy, no matter what. • Superwomen get grace, too. • God knows where you hurt. Horn’s reliance on Scripture and confidence in God’s comfort during difficult times will remind military wives they don’t have to be an army of one when they are God Strong.

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This review copy was provided courtesy of Zondervan, but the opinions expressed are my own.

Raising A Modern-Day Princess by Pam Farrel

Raising a Modern-Day Princess by Pam Farrel

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

If you are a Mom, Grandma, Aunt, or an influential woman in the life of any girl you will not only appreciate this book, but benefit greatly from it, too. Pam Farrel and Doreen Hanna have written a book that will encourage you in your relationship with your daughter(s) as well as walk you through many things we want to do, but just don't know how to do. Most of us want to inspire our daughters and breath purpose into their lives and Raising A Modern-Day Princess is the guide to help you do just that.

I appreciated the combination of personal stories and insight that Farrel and Hanna shared along with all the simple and practical tips on how to raise a modern-day princess in a world that wants just the opposite for them. The book is easy to read and offers huge amounts of creative ideas for you to glean from.

The focus of this book is on teaching young girls about becoming godly young women. My favorite part of all that was shared was the idea of intentionally choosing mentors, along with your daughter, to mentor her. There is a treasure trove of information in this book to help you at whatever place in life you are at. Not everything will be for everyone, but I doubt anyone could walk away without gleaning something.

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This review copy was provided by Tyndale House Publishers and the opinions expressed our strictly my own

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• Making Money from Home by Donna Partow (readornotread.blogspot.com)
• The Busy Mom's Guide to a Happy Organized Home by Kathy Peel (readornotread.blogspot.com)
• Sleep, It Does A Family Good, by Archibald D. Hart (readornotread.blogspot.com)

Making Money from Home by Donna Partow

Making Money from Home: How to Run a Successful Home-Based Business by Donna Partow

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

Making Money from Home is a personal coach in "soft cover" format for helping you to make money from the comfort of your own home. Donna has given us a thorough, informative, and extremely practical guidebook on the steps to getting started and maintaining a home business.

I began reading this book with the mindset that I would learn how to make some extra money on the side while staying home. While I picked up many tips and ideas to help me accomplish this, I would say the main focus of this book is about building a bigger business than just some "extra cash". It shows you how to build a career from working at home.

This is the perfect handbook and encouragement for those who work outside the house and want to make the jump to working from home. I found chapter 10, on legal and financial issues, to be very helpful as it took some deeper topics and made them simple to understand. And I also greatly appreciated the chapter on E-bay which literally gives you the step-by-step knowledge of how to make it work for you.

Donna makes the whole process sound so easy. Maybe even too easy. I could understand someone getting either hyped-up or discouraged by reading this book. Remember that working from home is not for everyone. In fact, the one thing that I didn't like about this book was that I felt the benefits of working from home were overemphasized and in doing so, the role of a homemaker was downplayed. At times the message of the book seemed to be flirting with the line of greed and traditional homemakers may not agree with Donna's philosophy. Having everything the way you want it is not as easy as Donna presents it to be.

However, this book is not just for the homemaker looking to bring in some cash, it can be read by anyone - male or female, married or single. The questions at the end of each chapter are some of the best "discussion questions" I have ever seen in a book. They are practical and applicable; truly aiding in the understanding of the book on a personal level. Anyone wanting extra money or a full-time job can glean from this book, but I would recommend it more to someone who wants to seriously pursue a full-time job from the home setting.

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This review copy was provided by Tyndale House Publishers in connection with Donna Partow. The opinions expressed are purely my own and my thoughts were no way influenced by the publisher or the author.

The Busy Mom’s Guide to a Happy Organized Home by Kathy Peel

The Busy Mom's Guide to a Happy, Organized Home: Fast Solutions to Hundreds of Everyday Dilemmas by Kathy Peel

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

Are you feeling overwhelmed?

Do you feel like you are always busy?

Do you long for way to simplify your life?

If you answered yes to any or all of these questions then The Busy Mom's Guide could be the book of the year for you!

In an easy reading format this book provides help and encouragement for the organized and unorganized Mom alike. It is fun to read straight through or easy to read in any order you need. It also is a great book to read a page a day with-out feeling like you're lost. Kathy breaks life down into 7 manageable categories and then provides a variety of helpful tips and ideas to make each of those categories work better in your life. Whether you browse the book or read from cover to cover, this book is for you! It is a great addition to anyone's personal bookshelf and one that you will go back to over and over through out the years of motherhood as you fine tune your home and routines.

I liked the easy read format along with the index for quick finds if searching for tips on a particular subject. I also enjoyed all the sidebar tips, tricks, and tid-bits. Kathy has truly given you fast solutions to hundreds of everyday dilemmas!

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This review copy was provided by Tyndale House Publishing, but the opinions expressed are strictly that of my own.

Sleep, It Does A Family Good, by Archibald D. Hart

Sleep, It Does a Family Good: How Busy Families Can Overcome Sleep Deprivation by Archibald D. Hart

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

Is your family sleep deprived?

You may not even know if you are! In this book Dr. Archibald Hart talks about the signs and symptoms of people and families who are deprived of sleep and shares how to "fix" the problem as well. The main point is: "The family that sleeps well, lives well", and even "Just because your family doesn't feel tired doesn't mean that don't have a problem".

Dr. Hart's book is a fascinating look sleep and our view of sleep. I greatly appreciated his informative approach and simple ways of expressing the problem and presenting the solutions. I was also amazed at the amount of problems and physical ailments/disabilities that have a high probability of being linked to not enough sleep. But as amazed as I was, I believe it because I can see what a lack of sleep does in my own life.

I think this is a MUST READ for anyone, but especially for married couples and parents. There is plenty of practical application and tips to help you start sleeping better now. For parents, I highly recommend you read this along with the book: On Becoming Babywise.

Overall, I think this is a great book. There were a few things I didn't agree with the author on, but it was more application than theory and I would still highly recommend this book for EVERYONE!

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This book was provided for review courtesy of Tyndale House Publishers. The review is my own opinion.

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Queen Of The Castle by Lynn Bowen Walker

Queen of the Castle: 52 Weeks of Encouragement for the Uninspired, Domestically Challenged or Just Plain Tired Homemaker by Lynn Bowen Walker

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

Queen Of The Castle is the perfect book for a woman who wants some inspiration and encouragement in the area of homemaking. Whether you are domestically challenged, or just simply looking for some refreshing ways to spice up your skills around the house, Lynn Bowen Walker has written a book for you.

Walker has divided the book into 52 short chapters that contain fun tid-bits like a new word to learn, a short devotional/encouragement reading, quotes, prayer prompts, and a great variety of advice. Every 5 chapters are followed with a Chocolate Break where she gives a yummy recipe containing chocolate, and who doesn't enjoy chocolate?! This book covers a wide range of topics about homemaking; from holiday ideas to schedules and chores, organization to housework and meals - Lynn talks about it all.

I enjoyed reading a chapter of this book each Saturday to encourage me for the upcoming week. While you could read it all in one sitting, it is enjoyable to read like a weekly dose and use the tips as a way to slowly tweak your household skills. Queen Of The Castle is fun and easy to read and I found it to be the perfect amount of encouragement for each week.

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START HERE by Alex & Brett Harris

{This is a longer review…but stick with me for a video clip AND a giveaway copy!}

Start Here: Doing Hard Things Right Where You Are by Alex Harris

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

BOOK OVERVIEW:

At the age of eighteen, Alex and Brett Harris wrote Do Hard Things—and launched a movement that would change a generation. Young people around the world were ready to be inspired, ready to move beyond complacency, ready to rebel against society’s low expectations.

Now the highly anticipated companion book, Start Here, answers the questions Alex and Brett have received from thousands of teens on their worldwide conference tour and popular online community: How do I get started? What hard things does God want me to do? How do I keep from getting discouraged or burned out? What is the best way to inspire others?

Filled with stories and insights from Alex, Brett, and other real-life rebelutionaries, Start Here is a powerful and practical guide for young people who are ready to take the next step and blast past apathy. Let the rebelution continue.

MY THOUGHTS:

Start Here is the practical application to Alex and Brett's previous book, Do Hard Things, but it also stands alone by being an encouragement and inspiration in and of it's self. Some of the things that I really like about this book are:

1. I especially appreciate how Alex and Brett encourage teens to handle things when the authority in their life is not supportive of the hard thing they want to do.
2. They directly talk about how to handle the affirmation after doing a hard thing and how to battle pride that we ALL face.
3. The whole section on our schedules and how busyness is not always (most often not!) being fruitful. I really liked how they deal head-on with this issue and not just by personal experience but also with the wisdom of other godly men.
4. Their challenge to do the matters of importance first was wonderfully written and convicting. Brett and Alex explained the problem clearly and compassionately.
5. EVERYTHING about this book!!!

Start Here is a book that, in my opinion, should be read by every Christian teen, youth leader, and parent. It not only tells, but shows, how to live a Biblical based life doing hard things for the glory of God

AUTHOR BIO:

Alex and Brett Harris are the coauthors of the best-selling book Do Hard Things, which they wrote at age eighteen. Today the twins speak regularly to audiences of thousands on The Rebelution Tour, maintain a hugely popular online presence through their blog, TheRebelution.com, and have been featured on CNN, MSNBC, NPR, and in the New York Times. Raised in Portland , Oregon , the brothers currently attend Patrick Henry College in Virginia .

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This review copy was provided courtesy of WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group

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I have one copy of this book to giveaway!

Here is what you need to do:

Leave a comment on my blog about why you would like to read this book.  A winner will be drawn on March 20, 2010 using Random.org.

A Mom’s Ultimate Book of Lists by Michelle LaRowe

 A Mom's Ultimate Book of Lists by Michelle LaRowe

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Do you wonder about what baby products you really need?

Are you wondering how your baby, toddler, or preschooler is doing developmentally, but you can't remember where you put that list you got from the pediatrician's office?

Have you ever questioned your child's diet and want to know how much of each food group they really need?

Are you going on a trip and feel like you might be forgetting something?

Do you wish you had a list of the top resources to read for the various stages of motherhood rather than sift through all the options a Google search offers?

Or maybe you are dealing with what seems to be one of the BIG questions for moms of young kids: how much sleep does my child need?

A Mom's Ultimate Book of Lists has the answers for all of these questions and many more. Michelle LaRowe, former nanny and current mother, has made it much easier to find the answers to our daily questions in motherhood by writing a resource book for Moms. From your first moments of pregnancy through the first day of Kindergarten, you will find yourself reaching for this book to help you figure things out and make the best choice in your parenting journey.

Do not let the idea of a book of lists scare you away from adding this to your own library shelf. It's more than just a book of dry lists - it's full of encouragement, quick mom-to-mom tips, and fun. From what to stock your car with, to feeding a picky eater, and back to age appropriate chores, it will quickly become your faithful companion.

I appreciated the readability of this book seeing that Mom's do not always have much time to research an answer to a question or concern. A Mom's Ultimate Book of Lists is easy to read in brief moments of time or browse through during afternoon nap time. The table of contents is organized easy to use to find a list you need for the current moment. The only thing I wish it had was an index of topic or items. However, I feel that you can still search well enough to make it a user-friendly book.

This book is perfect for a mother-to-be, new mom, or a "second family" mom. It also is a great resource for any mom with children from 0 to 4 years of age.

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The review copy was courtesy of Revell.

Available January 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

The Hour That Changes The World by Dick Eastman

The Hour That Changes the World by Dick Eastman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The tag line of this book is A Practical Plan for Personal Prayer and that it is - a practical plan. The Hour That Changes The World does not just preach about the importance of prayer and give lists of why we should pray, but rather addresses the how of praying.

Dick Eastman gives a practical plan for breaking down an hour of time into twelve five-minute segments. In each chapter he walks you through a segment (i.e. Praise, Waiting, Confession, Intercession...etc...)and shares how to do it, why to do it, and in what ways this impacts your life.

I appreciated this book and the way it makes praying for an hour seem much more feasible than just sitting down to pray with no plan of action. I learned what areas that I need to strengthen and what areas that I need to stop overusing.

While this plan may not work for everyone, Eastman is quick to share that this is a guide, not a rule, and gives gives the frame work for making a customized plan for prayer. This is a great book for anyone wanting to grow in their prayer life, both in knowledge and in application.

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For more great books on prayer check out these reviews!