Seven-mile Miracle

I have kept up with Pastor/Author Steven Furtick's books since I got his book "Crash the Chatterbox" from the blogging for books program. Each one has had something insightful, and very helpful, I started to read seven-mile Miracle, and I began to think it was for the new believer or someone who hasn't yet received God's grace. It took a few more pages for me to realize I was wrong; it is for the newly saved, the unsaved, and for those of us who are still receiving His grace day by day. 

Summery

"It’s Good Friday. The Son of God is giving up his life. What does he want to say to us in His final hours? What does He tell the people standing at the foot of the cross, to pass down to the ages? He speaks only seven short statements. Words of forgiveness, salvation, relationship, abandonment, distress, triumph, and reunion. Seven statements that mean everything."

Each chapter, or in this case each mile, brought deep truth into what I thought I already knew. This book is insightful, funny, and gets to the heart of these seven final statements of Jesus. On chapters I thought would have no impact on me, after all I already accepted Christ as my savior what could I have to learn about the subject of Salvation?, showed me that we sometimes need to return to the roots. 

The most important part to me in the first mile marker or so was that grace isn't a one time thing, it is renewed every day, because we need it. I loved how Steven put it in the way of it's like being saved again and again and again. I was getting to a point where I thought God wouldn't listen to my pleas anymore, that I had finally done enough to get him to ignore me, but I was oh so very wrong. Boy, I was never so glad to be wrong.

I think this a perfect book for anyone. It is a good introduction into what we christians believe, and gives a solid foundation in The Truth. For those of us that think we have nothing left to learn, pick up this book and see if it has the same effect on you that it had on me. 

that's all for now everyone. I hope y'all have a blessed day.

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.

(Un)Qualified

I became a fan of Steven Furtick when I read his book “Crash the Chatterbox” but with this small book he has blown his other three books out of the water!

I never expected Steven to write anything better then Crash the Chatterbox, it was so good and at the time nothing else compared to it in my mind. Now we have (Un)Qualified. A book that gets you to look not at how the world sees you, not how the person in the mirror sees you, but on who God says you are.

Being overweight makes it hard to feel pretty or loved, I should know, but Steven Furtick’s book makes you look at scripture and truly ask yourself the hard questions we all need to face. Steven opens up on his own trials with self image and self doubt as a pastor and book writer in the same way we have come to expect of him. Steven Furtick bring humor (and a few tears) into his book, but more than anything he brought a new sense of purpose to his book.

It’s hard to explain, but in the past years authors are putting more into their books. If you look at books done by Colleen Coble, Denise Hunter, and a few others out there you will notice a change. You have to read their previous works to understand, but this change has seemed to come about Steven as well. His words are more...confident and powerful. I had a hard time putting this book down after chapter 1.

I am sure there are plenty of reviews out there that rave on about (Un)Qualified, and I guess it is now time to add mine to the pile. I hope all who are reading this review right now will take a moment to pick up this book. It will change and challenge you.

Until next time folks I hope you have a blessed day!

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.

Room for Hope

Kim Vogel Sawyer does not do the tales that are old as time. She finds new topics, ones that are usually hard to swallow, and puts them into a story that can show the love and mercy of Christ.

When I saw that one of my favorite authors was coming out with a new book I was excited. I was even more interested when I read what the book would be about!

Set in the time of the Great Depression, Neva Shilling, along with her two children, look forward to the return of her husband. But on the night of his return instead of his normal wagon she is met with a stranger from another town, claiming that her brother has died and left her all his earthly things and his three children. The only problem? Neva has no siblings. The truth is the man who died was her husband, and the three children before her are the offspring of another woman whom he had married. Shocked by her husband’s betrayal Neva is unsure what to do. Can any light be found through the darkness?

I really could not put this book down from the moment I got it in the mail. Kim Sawyer made a host of characters, and switching from three points of view, this book gives you plenty to think about. And I think what hit me most was the slow change in one of the characters that I thought was a scum bag to begin with. It reminds me of the song “Slow Fade” by Casting Crowns. One little choice here or there can slowly turn your world from black and white to gray. It’s a slow fade to change, but it happens for better or for worst.

I really cannot say enough good things about this book, and I would say more, but I would end up giving away too many spoilers. But trust me when I say you won’t regret picking up this book.

That’s all for now everyone. I hope y’all have a blessed day!

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review which I have given.

Light of the Last

The first two books to this series were like the beginning to a classic song. It starts out a little slow, then it starts to build a little tempo around the middle, by the crescendo you have your breath taken away from you! Light of the Last builds up on where the other two left off, giving us a great action packed novel with twist and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

After an accident left him temporarily blind, Drew Carter didn’t just regain his sight. He now sees what others can’t imagine–an entire spiritual realm of mighty beings at war.

Forget the gift, Drew just wants his life back. Part of that involves Sydney Carlyle, a woman he is inexplicably drawn to. When he’s offered the chance to become a CIA agent, it seems the way to redeem his past. The only problem–his visions of the supernatural realm are increasing in frequency. Surrounded by spiritual warriors and targeted by demons, Drew’s faced with an impossible decision that will forever alter the destiny of America...and his own soul.

Okay, after Rise of the Fallen (that’s book two of this series) I really couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one. A lot goes on in 335 pages, a few time jumps, some flash backs, all of it building up the character Drew Carter is and needs to be. I seriously impressed with Chuck Black on this one.

I also enjoyed looking to the back of the book after each chapter and reading the chapter guide. Each one gives a sort of theme to that chapter, and the Biblical message in it. If you plan to read this book for a book club or with some friends I suggest doing what I did and after each chapter you finish going to the back of the book to read the chapter guide for it. Doing this helped me look forward to reading the next chapter. Each book should have a chapter guide, so give it a look!

I will be giving way only one spoiler here people, and this is it: There are more books to come. If you thought this would be the last we see of Drew Carter and the gang then you are happily mistaken! We will be seeing our hero and perhaps some new characters in the next book.

The plot thickens!

The first two books of this series were a little much to get through, but you’ll be eating up book three. So I encourage you to go to your local bookstore or Library and pick up this series.

Until next time folks I hope you have a blessed day!

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, which I have given