Tag: Multnomah

Book Review · Books

Get Out Of Your Head

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Do you live in your head? I sure do. I’m a dreamer, worrier and the hamster is constantly doing laps in his cage. Sometimes I have to tell my mind to, “Shut up,” because it won’t be quiet. It’s exhausting. How can I tackle this? Enter in the book Get Out Of My Head.

The author, Jennie Allen is personable and forthright about her own journey to get out of her own head, to learn how to have a choice in the thoughts you think. She provides ways we can take our thoughts captive to Jesus versus allowing them to control our lives.

What we believe shapes our thinking and how we react to our life. One thing Jennie shares that hits home is one thing: “I have a choice.” It sounds simple, but I think may be a tad more challenging to remember every time we have a thought. We have a choice in how we will choose to react to the thought, or even if we’ll accept the thought we are having.

As a believer Jennie shares how we can take our thought captive to Jesus. Satan wants to keep our mind muddled, to keep us enslaved. The more mental distractions we can have the more we have trouble battling our thoughts.

I know the idea of having silence is unheard of. We constantly are bombarded with visual and audible distractions clamoring for our attention. Sitting in full quiet is not popular because then we’ll actually hear our inner thoughts, we just might be convicted if we get quiet. We just may hear God speak within our being silent.

I received my complimentary digital copy of Get Out Of My Head by Jennie Allen from Waterbrook/Multnomah, care of NetGalley. The views are mine and of my own will. This book is helpful, convicting and educational. In a world filled with anxiety being on the rise I’d highly recommend it. Even if you aren’t a Christian there are still helpful things you can glean from reading Jennie’s book.

Book Review · Books

Daring To Hope

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If you have read Kisses From Katie, then the follow up memoir, Daring To Hope is going to be the icing on your spiritual cake. It’s a short book, but the spirit led richness makes you want to take your time reading each chapter. This book is anointed. It is a simple, yet powerful testimony to Katie’s ministry and work in Uganda. She shares stories of helping others who don’t have much. Katie along with her thirteen adopted daughters help those who need a place to stay, some who are sick and need around the clock care and those who need food. I found myself crying, laughing and just drinking in the beauty this book holds.

I have been lapsed in my faith for a long while. I’ve been wrestling over what do I believe and why. This memoir was a God send. Katie isn’t preachy in a Hell and brimstone manner, but in the manner of a saint whose seen prayer answered in the way she hoped and in the way that was not in her comfort zone. Katie is humble. She meets you where you are at with no judgement, or spiritual arrogance. If you need a book that will let you know you aren’t alone in your faith struggles I hugely recommend this gem of a book. I received my free copy of Daring To Hope by Katie Davis Majors from Blogging For Books in exchange for my review.

Book Review · Books

The Alphabet Of Grief

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img_2099Grief is not a topic out of popularity, but out of necessity. We don’t know when a friend, family member, spouse, or acquaintance is going to pass away. The Alphabet Of Grace is a small little book packed with lots of wisdom. Chaplain Andrea Raynor brings death and grief to our door in an easy to understand Guide. Her guide of sorts is broken down via the alphabet. Each letter stands for a topic having to do with grief and death. At the end of each short chapter is a meditation and an affirmation.

I have had family members pass away and close friends. Death is never easy to deal with. I still miss my grandparents and my one best friend, but I know they are now not in pain. Personally I don’t find comfort in going to their graves. Honestly cemeteries creep me out. One way I like to remember them is by going to a fave place they liked to eat, or enjoy a favorite pastime they had like watching baseball, or reading a book. We all deal with grief in different ways.

I’m so glad I requested to review this book from Blogging For Books. This book is not preachy, though it is consider Christian. It comes across like a warm blanket on a winter night that keeps you warm and feeling cozy. It’s comforting and yet educational at the same time. I got this book for free in exchange for my review from Blogging For Books. I highly recommend this title for anyone dealing with someone in the process of dying or have passed on. I wish I’d had this book back when my grandparents passed. It would have helped me get through a lot.

Book Review · Books

Never Settle For Normal

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I saw this title and couldn’t decide if I wanted to read it. I possibly didn’t read the fine print on what this book was about, but it was not what I had in mind. Never Settle For Normal by Jonathan Parnell is about how we try to fill our lives with the usual things we think that will make us happy: nice homes, fancy cars, high-end dining, promotions, vacations, lots of socializing, etc. These things for a time tide us over, but there is still something missing and gnawing at us. Mr. Parnell explains what’s causing the gnawing feeling deep in our souls which amounts to giving us a condensed Christianity 101 breakdown.

Maybe I’m jaded, or have heard it too, many times, but if I was not raised a Christian with the basics taught I’d be lost reading this slim volume. There are a few big what I’d call Christianese words slipped in. If a non believer is reading this it might come across as Greek. Mr. Parnell means well and is offering to show there is more to life when you believe in Jesus. I honestly thought I was reading a book about not settling for the norm in life as in think outside the box for your life vs getting a Christianity 101 lesson. If you are looking for a book that breaks down what Christianity is you might find this book helpful.

I received the ARC of Never Settle For Normal from Blogging for Books for free in exchange for my honest review. Sadly, this book didn’t quite hit my spot, but it might yours. It goes on sale July 18. Click here to find out more.

Book Review · Books

Break Open The Sky

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Break Open The Sky, talks about how the culture of fear has invaded our church, faith, and life. It is freezing us up from living out our Christian walk. We grow leery of the other side of the Christian spectrum: liberal vs conservative, etc. Mr. Bauman talks about the Beatitudes and how we can live them out in our lives. He gives different examples of people in other countries and cultures who have gone beyond their fears to make a difference in their communities and homes. Mr. Bauman has also, shared stories of people who have gone out of their comfort zone by going to a different country filled with conflict to make a difference and possibly risk their life by doing so.

I received an ARC of  Break Open The Sky, free from Blogging For Books in exchange for my honest review. This book goes on sale May 23, 2017. For further information on the author click here.

This book was short, but covered important topics. To fully digest all this book covered I suggest reading it a second time a few months after the first reading. I’d recommend this book, but if you are a new believer you may need a Christianese dictionary, or a fellow believer to translate a few words and expressions. It was written with passion, compassion, heart and love. Thank you Mr. Bauman.