We’ve all been in a situation where a friend or family member was hurting and we didn’t know what to do. Or, we’ve been the one hurting and our loved … Continue reading Book Review: “I Wish I Could Take Away Your Pain” by Brenda Seefeldt Amodea
Category: Book Reviews
Book Review: “52 Weeks of Gratitude” and “Whatever is Lovely”
It can be difficult these days to be intentional about reflecting on my life and encouraging others. Often when I sit down to think (in the rare moments of silence) … Continue reading Book Review: “52 Weeks of Gratitude” and “Whatever is Lovely”
Book Review: One Woman Can Change The World by Ronne Rock
Often when you read books like these you are left feeling inadequate, pressured to achieve a new level of faithfulness or achievement. However, I found One Woman Can Change The … Continue reading Book Review: One Woman Can Change The World by Ronne Rock
Book Review: The Truth About Us by Brant Hansen
I once read a quote that essentially said that you shouldn’t worry about how much – or what -others are thinking about you because the truth is that they are … Continue reading Book Review: The Truth About Us by Brant Hansen
Book Review: May It Be So by Justin McRoberts and Scott Erickson
When this book arrived for me to review, I flipped through the pages and saw it’s simplicity. I admittedly thought, “this is it?” However, after experiencing the book, I would … Continue reading Book Review: May It Be So by Justin McRoberts and Scott Erickson
Book Review: Something Needs to Change by David Platt
It’s rare for me to be torn between savoring a book or reading it all at once, but this book made me feel that tension the entire time. Something Needs … Continue reading Book Review: Something Needs to Change by David Platt
Book Review: The Complicated Heart
The Complicated Heart: Loving When It Hurts by Sarah Mae is a powerful retelling of a complicated mother-daughter relationship and a story of unforeseen redemption that only God could accomplish. … Continue reading Book Review: The Complicated Heart
Book Review: Dear Grandchild, This Is Me
On my mom’s side of the family we’ve been so blessed by what we know as “Grandparent Books” – labors of love created about my great-grandparents, grandparents, great-aunts and uncles, … Continue reading Book Review: Dear Grandchild, This Is Me
Book Review: The Jesus Who Surprises by Dee Brestin
The Jesus Who Surprises: Opening Our Eyes to His Presence in All of Life and Scripture is an excellent study – one I enjoyed from beginning to end.
The author looks at the entire Bible to show us glimpses of Jesus where we may not expect to see Him. She masterfully shows that the Bible is indeed one connected story, one of hope, redemption, and love. She also approaches important topics like suffering, and she shows how those things produce a joy like none other (something I know from experience). I thoroughly enjoyed this study and repeatedly found myself excited and encouraged by her words. That isn’t something I can often say.
Here is one of my favorite quotes:
When we realize that the Lord is in control, a peace comes to us, despite the suffering. We realize that this shaking is temporary and that we have an inheritance that can never be taken from us. (Page 123)
I especially loved – and learned from – the third part, looking at Isaiah and what is in store for us. She summed up the whole study so well in the last sentence:
My hope is that seeing this same story from Genesis to Revelation will give you great confidence in the reliability of the Scriptures and the truths they hold. For the Jesus that surprised the two on the road to Emmaus, and surprises us in our everyday lives, is not at all finished surprising us.”
Dee also challenges the reader to see Jesus at work every day – something I’ve practiced for years thanks to missional training I received. He is always at work, you just have to see it. This practice alone can significantly change one’s perspective.
This beautiful study can be done individually or as a group. Dee provides thoughtful questions to encourage a deeper study of Scripture at the end of each chapter.
I highly recommend this book and I look forward to reading more of her studies.
I was given a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
Book Review: “Blessed Are The Misfits” by Brant Hansen
Have you ever felt like you were alone, like you didn’t fit in? Have you ever wondered why so many people seem to have a different experience in church than you do?
You are not alone.
Brant Hansen, the radio personality and author of Unoffendable (another amazing book), has done it again. He has put into words what so many of us have felt but couldn’t express.
For years I felt like I was failing because I didn’t love evangelism. The thought of talking to strangers about Jesus felt like torture. I wondered if my faith was authentic. It wasn’t until a few years ago, when I discovered that I’m actually an introvert, that I realized it wasn’t that I didn’t want to talk to strangers about Jesus – I didn’t want to talk to strangers at ALL.
And there is NOTHING wrong with that. Chapter Seven told me so (and the Bible, but still 😉 ).
Brant discusses many aspects of life in which people feel like misfits – things that no one has ever really discussed before. And I think you need to read it. You can order it here!
If you don’t feel like a misfit, maybe you know someone who does…so buy a copy or two to give as gifts. Someone you know needs to read this book, and I bet it’s you.
