Showing posts with label book review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book review. Show all posts

Saturday, April 22, 2023

Dwell by Sandra Byrd: Book Review




Sandra Byrd’s new devotional, Dwell: 90 Days at Home With God is a beautiful book. In it you will find 90 individual devotionals, each one centered around themes such as gardening, family, friendship, and food, all under the umbrella of home. Each day contains a topic, short (and warm) devotional, Scriptures throughout and one focus Scripture that ties it all together.

When I came back to Jesus in my early twenties, I spent most of my time reconnecting with Him through devotions in my women’s Bible, and other materials that were devotional in nature. It was a simple and comforting way to learn. It encourages and edifies the Body of Christ and often provides a word in due season. This devotional reminds me of that time in my life.

As I read, I found one devotional that had the theme of marigolds. I was instantly reminded of my childhood, the smell of marigolds and playing in the dirt. I am sure God was there in that experience; it evokes such joy and comfort in my heart.

Dwell has an overall warm and cozy theme. The pictures are gorgeous and it is just a very beautiful book.

If you are looking for a nugget of encouragement each day, I would recommend Dwell to you. You might just be inspired to become more creative in your home, as you grow in your walk with God. Read it with a cup of tea and a cozy blanket or sitting in your favorite chair. It would make a nice gift for a friend or your mom this Mother’s Day.

Blessings to you as you continue to grow in grace, and allow God to meet you in the quiet spaces of home.


*Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of the devotional from the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review. The thoughts and opinions here are entirely my own.


To learn more about the author, please visit her website at sandrabyrd.com.

To order a copy of Dwell, please visit any online retailer.

To read a sample of Dwell, please go here to Amazon.

Tuesday, July 6, 2021

Book Review: Between the Wild Branches by Connilyn Cossette





“My opponent wavered on his feet, catching his breath from the relentless attack I’d delivered to his torso, and in that brief moment, my attention flitted up to the balcony that surrounded this royal courtyard….Surely it was only a trick of the light that familiar hazel eyes gazed down at me…”

-Lukio, Between the Wild Branches


Between the Wild Branches by Connilyn Cossette is the continuation of the duology, The Covenant House series. In this story, we get to experience the continuation of the story of Lukio, and his closest childhood friend, Shoshanna.

At the beginning of Between the Wild Branches, Lukio is back in Ashdod, one of five cities occupied by the Philistines, as a successful fighter, and has achieved wealth and notoriety because of his skills in fighting. Shoshana has been brought to Ashdod as a slave after the Philistines raided the Hebrew land where she lived. They are reunited under some precarious circumstances, and the plot begins.

Between the Wild Branches was a great sequel and wrap up to the first book. It was great to see the characters again because I enjoyed their stories so much.
 I read it in about two days, and a lot of my time was spent fighting the urge to turn to the end and find out how the author resolved everything that was going on. It was that intense!

There was lots of action, unique surprises, and scenarios that I kept wondering how the author was going to work out. The characters got themselves into so many predicaments that you wondered how they would ever untangle themselves. The plot was brilliant!!!

There was some violence in this novel that was not for the faint of heart. The Philistines were brutal and had some horrible practices. I didn’t know a lot of details about them, other than what I have read in the Bible in relation to well known people like Samson and David.

The setting is during the time period of the Judges in the Old Testament. So if you like historical fiction set in Biblical eras, you will enjoy this novel. 

Many blessings as you read!



To learn more about Between the Wild Branches, please go here.


To learn more about the author, please go to her website at ConnilynCossette.com.


To read an author interview about Between the Wild Branches, go here.


To read my review for the first book in the series, To Dwell Among Cedars, go here.



Friday, January 31, 2020

Jesus Heals by Danielle Hitchen



Jesus Heals by Danielle Hitchen is a board book about the healing ministry of Jesus for children. In the book, Hitchen retells the stories of healing found in the Gospels. There is a story for all the major parts of the body, head, ears, mouth, eyes, back, skin, legs, and body. She ends the book with the scripture found in 1 Peter 2:24. 

This is a very unique book. I don’t think I have ever seen a book about healing for children. And this one was very thorough. There are stories from Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, including the raising of Lazarus from the dead. 

Mary fell at Jesus's feet and said, "Lord if you had been here, my brother would not have died." Jesus went to the tomb and said, "Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?...Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out."
-John 11:32, 40, 43-44

The illustrations that go with each story are soft and beautiful.  Each illustration also demonstrates the healing of the individuals found in the stories.

I really liked this book.  I love hearing the stories about Jesus healing people.  It demonstrates the goodness of God and who he is.  He is Jehovah Rapha, the Lord who heals us.

I recommend this book for parents of children of any age. Hearing about Jesus is what produces faith, and it is wonderful to teach them these truths when they are small, so they will know who he is and what he has done and is still doing.

Many blessings as you grow in the knowledge of him.

~Beth




To learn more about Jesus Heals, please visit Christianbook.com. 




Note: This post contains affiliate links from Christianbook.com. This means if you purchase one of these books after clicking on the link, I will generate a commission from that purchase. This does not influence my recommendation of the books.


Monday, July 1, 2019

Until the Mountains Fall by Connilyn Cossette




If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the dead man shall not be married outside the family to a stranger. Her husband’s brother shall go in to her and take her as his wife and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her.-Deuteronomy 25:5 ESV



I love Biblical fiction. You can never exhaust the riches found in scripture. I am always amazed at storytellers who take scripture and teach us something about grace and God. Until the Mountains Fall is one such story.

Until the Mountains Fall, by author Connilyn Cossette is the 3rd book in her Cities of Refuge series. In the Old Testament, a city of refuge was a place where a person could go if they had accidentally killed another person, and are a beautiful picture of the person of Jesus. You can learn more about the cities of refuge in Joshua 20 and Numbers 35. In her latest novel, Cossette tells us the story of Rivkah, the daughter of the head priest, who lives in Kedesh, one of the six cities of refuge.

As the story opens, Rivkah is being given in marriage, a levirate marriage, to her late husband’s brother, Malakhai, and she is not happy about it. Gidal, her late husband, has just recently died, and her father has arranged this marriage very quickly to Malakhai, whom she has known since childhood.

According to Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, a levirate marriage is “a form of marriage prescribed by the Law of Moses in which a man was required to marry the widow of a brother who died with no male heir. The term “levirate” means “husband’s brother.” The purpose of the law was to provide an heir for the dead brother, thereby preserving his name and estate. The law also was designed to provide for the welfare of the widows. (Deuteronomy 25:5-10)”

Because of her displeasure about the marriage, Rivkah takes matters into her own hands, and makes a very poor decision. She doesn’t understand how Malakhai feels towards her, and she flees Kedesh.

I love the story. But at the beginning of the story I did not like Rivkah. She made me so mad! As readers, we can see things the characters cannot see. So, we can sit on the other side of the pages so to speak, and scream, “Noooo! Don’t do it!” But alas, they make their own choices anyway. She was unhappy, which I get. But she was throwing away something that would be good for her, even though she couldn’t see it.

Later on in the novel, my heart softened toward Rivkah. Slowly, the author was able to weave some sympathy and compassion for her into the story and into my heart. I felt very much connected to Rivkah and began to really like her. Just like this story's main character,  I have made my own choices and ran from people who loved me into great trouble and distress. But God was there to clean up my mess, pick me up, and help me start over. God is always looking out for us.

I don’t want to give away all the details or surprises of the story, and there are many, so I cannot say much more. But it is worth it to follow the journey of Rivkah and Malakhai to find out how their story unfolds. I cried multiple times as I traveled the road with them. God is a God of rescue even in our darkest hour.

I recommend this book highly to anyone who loves biblical or historical fiction. Cossette has taken just one small portion of scripture and taught us so much.

I also recommend this book to homeschooling families who have high school age students. If you follow the Charlotte Mason philosophy of education, this could be considered a great living book for studying ancient civilizations and the Bible.

As a way to celebrate launch day, which is Tuesday July 2, I will be giving away two copies of Until the Mountains Fall on my blog! Please leave a comment and tell me if you have ever read any biblical fiction before, and if so what do you like about it.  I will randomly choose a winner from the comments on Friday, July 5th. (Open to U.S. residents only.)

*Update:  The winners of the copies of Until the Mountains Fall are Aryn the Libraryan and Jennifer Hibdon!  Congratulations! Please send your address to bethlisteningtohim@gmail.com, in order to receive your book.  Thank you so much for participating, and I hope you enjoy Until the Mountains Fall!










To learn more about the author, please visit her website at https://www.connilyncossette.com/.

To learn more about all three books in the Cities of Refuge series, please click on each book title.


A Light on the Hill

Shelter of the Most High

Until the Mountains Fall

To read an interview with the author, go here to Library Lady's Kid Lit blog.
Disclosure Statement: I received a copy of this book from the publisher. The thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely my own.


Monday, December 24, 2018

The Minimalist Home by Joshua Becker





Book Description:

A popular minimalist blogger and author of The More of Less shows you how to methodically turn your home into a place of peace, contentment, and purposeful living.


One of today's most influential minimalist advocates takes us on a decluttering tour of our own houses and apartments, showing us how to decide what to get rid of and what to keep. He both offers practical guidelines for simplifying our lifestyle at home and addresses underlying issues that contribute to over-accumulation in the first place. The purpose is not just to create a more inviting living space. It's also to turn our life's HQ--our home--into a launching pad for a more fulfilling and productive life in the world.


My thoughts:

Joshua Becker's new book, The Minimalist Home released on December 18th.  Within a matter of 5 hours, it sold out at all major online retailers.  Currently, there is a wait time when you order it on Christianbook.com & Amazon.com.  I decided it is going to be my manual for decluttering my home in 2019, and it seems like a lot of other people had the same idea too!

Inside there is a room by room guide on how to declutter and minimize each room in your home for optimal living.  There is also a minimalism maintenance guide, financial charts for home buying, and encouragement for exploring new possibilities in your life once you have minimized what is keeping you from those possibilities.

I recommend this book for people who feel like they are drowning in stuff!  I recommend it for that mom who wants to stop cleaning so much and spend more time with your children.  I recommend it for those who have visions of what they would like life to be like, but don't know how to make space or how to get there.

Removing stuff from our lives open up new possibilities and allows us to dream and imagine again.

Many blessings to you in the new year as you remove the stuff,  and discover new life!

~Beth



To read an excerpt, go here to Amazon.com

To learn more about the author, Joshua Becker, you can visit him here at his blog, Becoming Minimalist.

You can also find him at his new YouTube channel, Joshua Becker.


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Disclosure: There above is an affiliate link. If you click on and purchase the Unclutter Course, I will receive a commission from that purchase.

Saturday, December 17, 2016

Finding Father Christmas & Engaging Father Christmas by Robin Jones Gunn



"Come in! Come in, and know me better."
-Spirit of Christmas Present
from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens



"By beloved author Robin Jones Gunn, two timeless, heartwarming Christmas novellas bound together for the first time in an omnibus edition.


In FINDING FATHER CHRISTMAS, Miranda Carson's search for her father leads her unexpectedly to London with only a few feeble clues as to who he might be. Immediately welcomed into a family that doesn't recognize her, and whom she's quickly coming to love, she faces a terrible decision. Should she reveal her true identity and destroy their idyllic image of her father? Or should she carry the truth home with her to San Francisco and remain alone in this world? Whatever choice she makes during this London Christmas will forever change the future for both herself and the family she can't bear to leave.

In ENGAGING FATHER CHRISTMAS Miranda Carson can't wait to return to England for Christmas and to be with her boyfriend, Ian. She has spent a lifetime yearning for a place to call home, and she's sure Carlton Heath will be it, especially when a hinted-at engagement ring slips into the conversation. But Miranda's high hopes for a jolly Christmas with the small circle of people she has come to love are toppled when Ian's father is hospitalized and the matriarch of the Whitcombe family withholds her blessing from Miranda. Questions run rampant in Miranda's mind about whether she really belongs in this cheery corner of the world. Then, when her true identity threatens all her relationships in unanticipated ways, Miranda is certain all is lost. And yet … maybe Father Christmas has special gifts in store for her after all."

-Book description courtesy of Faith Words.



It is always enjoyable to read a novel set during Christmas, at Christmastime.  I have wanted to read these two novellas for a while, so I am glad I finally got a chance.


There were many things I liked about these two books in one.  First, I liked the setting.  It was set in England, although in a fictional town.  The description of the place at Christmas was very warming and comforting. I have always wanted to visit England, and hopefully, one day I will have the chance.


Another part of the setting was the theatre and the Christmas play, a Christmas Carol.  I taught this play when I taught 7th Grade Language Arts.  It is a great story, a story of redemption, one I love to hear again and again. The author, Robin Gunn, found a way within the novellas to tweak the way the story was presented in the theatre and it made it most endearing.  It is also a central part of Finding Father Christmas and Engaging Father Christmas.


Finally, I love the protagonist's journey, because at one point in life, it was my own journey too. In book one, while Miranda is searching for her real father, someone she only knows by an old photograph of him dressed in a Santa suit, she is also on a journey, to know the real Father Christmas and the Son, who is THE central figure in the stage of life.  In book two, Engaging Father Christmas, Miranda's story continues, as her hopes and dreams are revealed and God demonstrates He has good plans for her life.


I recommend this book for anyone who likes to read good stories at Christmas.  If you are a fan of Robin Jones Gunn, you will like this story too.


Many blessings this Christmas!


In Him,
Beth

***Just for fun, and since it is Christmas, I thought I would do a quick book giveaway!  If you would like to win a copy of this book, simply comment below with a favorite story, scripture, or memory you have of Christmas.  The winner will be drawn on Monday, December 19th.

Congratulations to Jen! You are the winner of the copy of Finding Father Christmas/Engaging Father Christmas omnibus edition!! If you could please email me your address to bethlisteningtohim@gmail.com, I will get your book in the mail!! Merry Christmas!

To read an excerpt from the book, you can go here to Amazon.

To learn more about the author, visit her webpage at


P.S.  Finding Father Christmas was made into a movie this year by the Hallmark Channel!   There is another showing on December 20th, so check it out!


Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher, Faith Words, in exchange for my review.  I was not required to give a favorable review.  The thoughts and opinions here are entirely my own.

Monday, April 4, 2016

Counted With the Stars by Connilyn Cossette



He took him outside and said, "Look up at the sky and count the stars--if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be."-Genesis 15:5 (NIV)


Biblical fiction is my favorite, especially when the author does a good job with the research and writing. Counted With the Stars by author Connilyn Cossette is one such book.


Counted With the Stars chronicles the Plagues of Egypt, the Exodus of the Israelites, and the first 50+ days of the Hebrew people out of Egypt, told through the eyes of Kiya, a young Egyptian girl sold into slavery.  Throughout her journey, Kiya comes to learn of Yahweh, and has to make a decision whether to follow Him in her heart as she follows Him with the Hebrews out of Egypt.  The author's foundational scripture for the story comes from Exodus 12:38.


Many other people went up with them, and also large droves of livestock, both flocks and herds.


For me, good Biblical fiction has three major characteristics.  First, it doesn't stray from the main story of the Biblical account. Second, it fills in missing pieces with details that are plausible. Third, it follows the Spirit of the Book.  The Bible is about Jesus, from cover to cover, so good Biblical fiction will be rich with themes of God's goodness and grace and love. For me, Counted With the Stars held all these characteristics.  


I really enjoyed this book, learning about the Egyptian customs, and seeing the events through Kiya’s eyes. Kiya's journey was not just a physical one, but also a spiritual one. It was interesting to go through it with her, to hear her thoughts as she questioned all she had ever known, a life with the many "gods" of Egypt. The struggle she experienced as she wondered who Yahweh really was, what kind of God He was-could she trust Him and surrender her life to Him, is one that I am sure many of us have experienced. It's a constant surrender, a letting go of our feelings and what our senses are telling us, in order to surrender to the truth of God's love for us.


One of my favorite passages speaks not only of the Hebrews, and the people who may have become part of the Hebrew nation in that journey, but what I interpreted to be Believers in Christ as well.


“Elohim, the Creator,” said Eben, “sowed the stars in the sky with his very words.  In Egypt we heard the tales of the stars, the stories of the Egyptian gods and their movements above.  But the true story is much more ancient than the Egypt of old.  It is not Nut who makes the stars twinkle in the heavens, but their Creator.  Elohim tells a story in star pictures that will resonate through the ages, unrolling like a great scroll overhead, telling us the path of Abraham’s sons.  We are walking that path now, and the story will continue long after our journey ends.”


In Galatians 3:29 we are told, “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (NIV)


Counted With the Stars is a wonderful book. There is a richness of God’s Word found within the pages, and a Spirit of grace and truth. The author's interpretation and description of the events in Exodus were thought provoking. I wish I could tell you about my favorite part but that would be an incredible spoiler!!

I recommend it to lovers of Biblical fiction, historical fiction, and those who want to travel on a journey to get to know God.


Many blessings to you as you read, and travel on your own journey to know Him better.

Beth

To learn more about the Out of Egypt series and author Connilyn Cossette, visit her here at www.connilyncossette.com.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my review. The thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely my own.













Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Little One, God Loves You by Amy Warren Hilliker

Little One, little one, do you know?
Do you know God loves you so?


Little One, God Loves You by Amy Warren Hilliker is a board book, written in poetic rhyme for your wee little ones.  The text is set in poetic fashion, with beautiful illustrations of a little bunny and all the elements of his life.  The main theme is God's relationship to the little bunny.  

Ideas covered are how God feels about the bunny, how God made him/her to be part of his family, how God helps him grow, and the love God feels for the bunny. Being a helper and prayer are also mentioned.

The illustrations are sweet.  They include pictures of bunnies, squirrels, family members, the bunny's house, butterflies, fields, and kisses from mom and dad.

This is a great book for bedtime, or for your snuggling with your little ones.  It would make a nice addition to an Easter basket as well.

I recommend this book for little ones, ages 2-5 and also for emergent readers because of the repetition and the rhyming.

Many blessings to your family as your little ones come to understand how God loves them so.

Beth

Disclaimer:  I received this book free from Book Look Bloggers in exchange for a review.  I was not required to give a favorable review.  The thoughts and opinions here are entirely my own.




Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Harvest of Rubies by Tessa Afshar

"Rubies!" I cried. "The look like rubies on the vine.  You've grown a harvest of rubies, Bardia." 


Book Summary:

"On my twelfth birthday, my father discovered that I could read."  This is the opening line in Harvest of Rubies, and probably one of my most favorite opening lines in a book ever. 

Harvest of Rubies, by author Tessa Afshar, is Biblical fiction set in Persia during the time of Nehemiah, during the reign of King Artaxerxes. Sarah, the main character, but a fictional one, is cousin to Nehemiah. As a child she teaches herself to read and write, a skill not common for women, and eventually finds herself as the queen's head scribe.

Early on in the story, Sarah solves a mystery for the queen, and obtains the queen's favor. Because of this favor, she becomes betrothed to the queen's cousin, thus removing her from her position as scribe and placing her in a position of royalty.

Because the marriage is one that is arranged, there are some things to overcome for the couple, and Sarah finds herself in danger arising from her presence at her new husband's estate.

My thoughts:

There were many things I liked about this book.  I really enjoy the genre of Biblical fiction, and the time period was one I am not really familiar with, so it was interesting to learn more about it.  

I liked the main character Sarah so much.  I was so excited that she was a young girl stepping outside of what was generally expected into God's plan for her life.  That fact that she was a scribe (writer) and could read, two of my favorite activities, had me hooked from the get-go. (I won't lie though-I was a little miffed when she had to get married, and lost her position as scribe.)

I identified a lot with Sarah.  She is a Jew by birth, but since the passing of her mother when she was child, that relationship with God was not tended to.  Her relationship with God develops throughout the course of the story and it is a beautiful thing to see.  What happens in that relationship and what she learns about herself, also taught me some things about myself.  I also learned more about the scriptures, especially John 15.  In that passage, Jesus talks about being "in the vine," which is the main premise for this book.

I recommend this book to anybody who wants to become more familiar with the time of Nehemiah, and the culture of Persia, especially the customs of royalty.  If you enjoy the genre of Biblical fiction, you will enjoy this book.  It is also a love story, so if you enjoy romance, you will like this one as well.

Many blessings as you grow in Christ,
Beth


To learn more about the author, the book, and to read a sample, go here to  http://www.tessaafshar.com/book/harvest-of-rubies.html

Disclosure:  I received this book free from Moody Publishers Blogger Review Program.  I was not required to give a favorable review. The thoughts and opinions found here are entirely my own.





Saturday, October 10, 2015

The Berenstain Bears Storybook Bible for Little Ones by Jan and Mike Berenstain





The Berenstain Bears Storybook Bible for Little Ones by Jan and Mike Berenstain is a cute little board book that contains stories from Genesis to the Resurrection of Jesus.

Stories included are:

"Creation" (Genesis 1)
"Noah Builds an Ark for God"(Genesis6)
"David Meets Goliath" (1 Samuel 17)…
"Daniel in the Lions’ Den" (Daniel 6)
"The Birth of Jesus" (Luke 1)
"The Good Neighbor" (Luke 10)
"Jesus in Jerusalem" (Matthew 20)
"He is Risen!" (Matthew 28)

Each story is 2-4 pages long, with about 2-7 sentences per page.  There aren’t human people in the stories, but bear people that act as the people in each story.

This is a really sweet book.  I liked it, and I recommend it to parents who want to teach their children Bible stories.  It is a very eye-catching board book. The stories are also really short, so if you wanted to tell them individually to toddlers you could, or you read them all to older children in one sitting, maybe as a bedtime story.

Many blessings to you as you teach your children,
Beth

To take a peek inside go to amazon.com or christianbook.com.

Disclaimer:  I received this book free from Book Look Bloggers in exchange for a review.  I was not required to give a favorable review.  The thoughts and opinions here are entirely my own.





Sunday, September 13, 2015

Live Love Lead by Brian Houston


"In order to build God's eternal kingdom and leave this kind of legacy, we have to remain pioneers fueled by grace, committed to explore the wild territory to which God calls us, whether that's the kindergarten classroom, the mission field in another country, or the boardroom at our workplace."
-Brian Houston, Live Love Lead

I first became familiar with Hillsong through their music in the 90's when the song "Shout to the Lord" was very popular.  Then, when we moved to Hawaii, the church we attended used a lot of their songs.  Needless to say, the worship was always amazing.  One of my favorites is by Hillsong Young and Free, "Wake."  A word of warning..don't listen to that song when you drive.

Live Love Lead, by Brian Houston, the pastor of Hillsong Church, is an autobiographical book with a message.  In the book, Pastor Brian shares his story, the story of Hillsong, the church and its music, and the life lessons he has learned along the way.

The premise for his book can be found in Matthew 7:

"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the goat and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.  Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."
-Matthew 7:13-14

Jesus is that narrow gate.



Two of the amazing lessons I learned while reading Live Love Lead were:

1. Keep moving through life's trials.

2. Use what is in your hand to fulfill what God placed in your heart.

There were so many good nuggets of wisdom throughout the book.  I spent a lot of time underlining all the things I wanted to remember and refer back to.  Here are some of my favorite quotes.

"Jesus lived fully present in each moment every day."


"Living in the faith lane isn't a paint-by-numbers picture.  It colors outside the lines and sees with different eyes than the world does-eternal eyes with eternal perspective."


"When you live inside your own sphere of grace, when you lose the limitations of living up to anyone else's expectations, then you become comfortable with yourself and your life in a way that feels like putting on your favorite clothes."


"He said, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6)...He said that he is the way.  While I have no doubt that our path to knowing God is found only through Jesus, I also know that the message of the gospel is inclusive, not exclusive. Jesus invites everyone-men and women, Jew and Gentile, rich and poor, young and old, everyone-to accept the gift of grace by confessing that one and only name.  While Jesus declares that he is the only way (exclusive), he opens his way up to all who call upon his name (inclusive)."


"Salvation is something that Christ does in our heart that changes our eternal destiny.  It changes your reason for being, it changes your sense of purpose, it changes the way you live, it changes the reason for our gifts and talents, it changes our families and marriages. Ultimately salvation that starts in the heart has an impact on generations to come."


For me, this was a great book.  Like I said, I underlined so many things. There were some hard parts to read, when he shared some of the struggles he had been through in his life. But, through it I learned to keep moving forward through the struggle, and not be stopped by it and become a victim.

I recommend this book to everybody.  It is encouraging and uplifting and will help you develop a vision for your life.  There is so much wisdom, coming from the life he has lead and the experiences he has had.  It will instill some determination for the things to come, as well as helping you see God's vision and purpose for your life more clearly.

To learn more about the book, and read the first chapter go to liveloveleadbook.com.

Disclosure:  I received this book free from the publisher.  I was not required to give a favorable review.  The thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely my own.