Voices of the Faithful, Book 2

After my husband requested the first volume of The Voices of the Faithful, and I found it so inspiring, I decided to get the second one as well. What you're getting here is a daily devotional based on the lives of missionaries around the world. What I found so fascinating about these books is that they're not focused on the lives of the "Heroes of the faith" type missionaries - the David Livingstones and C.T. Studds - but rather on people today who have answered the call and have given their lives to spreading the good news.

These are real people, who face real, down-to-earth difficulties on a daily basis. They're modern and relatable, and their lessons are easily applied to our lives.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson Publishers through BookSneeze.com - their book review bloggers program. I wasn't required to post a positive review. These are my own opinions on this book.

Heaven is for Real

"Heaven is for Real will forever change the way you think of eternity, offering the chance to see, and believe, like a child." - Book Jacket

That is exactly what this book will do for you if you read it with an open heart and mind. It details the story of Colton Burpo, a four-year-old boy who visited Heaven and was sent back to tell us about it.

I've read several books along these lines - Intra Muros, Embraced by the Light, and others - but none from a child's perspective. The simplicity of this story, explained in the words of a four-year-old, are beautiful and touching.

With the outspoken boldness of a small child, Colton tells of how "really, really big" God is, and how Jesus had to die so that we could all go "live with His Dad." He talks about how "You can't belieeeeve how much He (God) loves us," and how "Jesus really loves the children." He tells of meeting John the Baptist, Jesus' "rainbow horse," and Pop - his own great grandfather.

His candid accounts can leave no doubt in anyone's mind that Heaven is, indeed, for real. This book would make a beautiful and encouraging bereavement gift.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson Publishers through BookSneeze.com - their book review bloggers program. I wasn't required to post a positive review. These are my own opinions on this book.

"Big Red" Holy Bible

I requested this Bible from Book Sneeze initially because I thought it was a picture Bible for real little kids. The description said that it was a Bible with comic book style art, which i thought was pretty cool.

Unfortunately, when it arrived, I found that it was simply a children's translation of the Bible with a few pictures interspersed. It also has a simple paperback binding, which I don't feel would hold up well under the use that a Bible would receive - especially since it's meant for children. This wasn't what I was looking for.

I would recommend this book for kids between 8 and 12, who already have a good reading comprehension level. The translation is quite good, and the pictures are lively and interesting, done in a 3D style which would be appealing for children of that age.

If you're looking for a conventional "picture Bible," then don't go with this one. However, if you're looking for a good children's translation of the Bible to use in a Sunday school, or for reading with your children, this could be just what you're looking for.

The Nativity Collection

It has been a tradition in my family for years to spend evenings during the Christmas season reading Christmas stories. We’ve read from Guideposts, from Chicken Soup books, and from magazines. We’ve pretty much exhausted our library of Christmas stories – reading them over and over, year after year.
When I saw this book up on Book Sneeze, I was flipped! I ordered it right away, and enjoyed it immensely. I won’t be with my family this Christmas, as I recently moved, but I plan on giving it to my mom so that my family can enjoy these wonderful Christmas stories together.
This beautiful gift book is filled with heart-warming short stories that show the true meaning of Christmas. The stories are well-written and the characters are well-developed and truly loveable. This book will make you laugh and cry, and knock any “Scrooge” right out of you.
I was given this book free of charge from Thomas Nelson’s Book Sneeze program in exchange for my honest review. The opinions I have stated here are my own.

The Skin Map by Stephen Lawhead

This fast-paced book – the first of a three-part series – is sure to be another hit for Stephen Lawhead. As with the rest of his books, this one is well researched and put together in such a way that you are immediately drawn into the story. From the clever opening lines to the last sentence, this book kept me hooked. I’m reading it to my husband now!

The story is based around Kit Livingstone – a character with no life and less personality – who runs into his great-grandfather, Cosimo, during a freak thunderstorm. The old man appears, then promptly sweeps Kit into a world of ley lines, alternate universes, and a hunt for the “skin map” – the guide to the roads between worlds.

One explorer of these alternate worlds had discovered the secrets to traveling through the ley lines. Because of his fear of being unable to find his way, he tattooed a coded map into his skin. The map was eventually lost, and now there is a desperate competition to find it.

Think Narnia meets Wheel of Time and you’ll have an idea of what this book consists of. Perhaps as a loyal Stephen Lawhead fan, I’m a little prejudiced, but I would highly recommend this book to others. It’s a fascinating, thought-provoking read. My only complaint is that I have to wait a year for the next book!

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson Publishers through BookSneeze.com - their book review bloggers program. I wasn't required to post a positive review. These are my own opinions on this book.

Everyone Communicates, Few Connect - by John C. Maxwell

I’ve read many of John Maxwell’s books, and once again, he has been a great help to me in both my personal and professional life through his book Everyone Communicates, Few Connect.

I received this book free of charge from the BookSneeze program by Thomas Nelson Publishers, and asked to post a review. I’m so glad that I chose to review this book, as it was very helpful.

Maxwell makes a very good point that we all communicate, but very few of us know how to truly connect with others. Then he goes on to teach the art of connecting, not only one-on-one, but with groups, and with audiences.

The material is well written, compelling, yet stays simple and down to earth. Because he took the time to get feedback from his audience before the final edit and publishing of this book, it ended up being chock-full of very relatable personal experiences that help to reinforce the points he brings out.

Though he is one of the top experts in this field, Maxwell writes with a humility and simplicity that convinces the reader that change is possible.

I would highly recommend this book to just about anyone – not just pastors or leaders. All of us need to learn to connect with others if we truly want to be successful, and this book will get you started on the right road.

The Heart Mender

I had been eagerly awaiting my free copy of The Heart Mender by Andy Andrews. When the package arrived, I was surprised to find not one, but two copies of the book. In order to spread the word about this fantastic book, Thomas Nelson Publishers graciously sent a copy for me, and a copy to give away. I was supposed to give it away here on my blog, but before I had a chance, I talked with a friend who was going through a time of change in her life, and I felt that this book would be a help to her.

The Heart Mender is a true story that took place during WW II. It follows the lives of Helen Mason – an American woman, widowed by the war, and Lt. Josef Landerman – a German U-boat officer. They are thrown together through unlikely circumstances and forced to face the bitterness, anger, and loss in their lives. It is a story of love, loss, and forgiveness.

The message presented in this book is deep. It’s thought-provoking and caused me to evaluate my own life and actions.

While the message was excellent, I felt that the story was rushed along. Characters in the book are charming and well-described, but weren’t given sufficient time to develop. The plot moves along at a good clip and kept me reading, but I feel that it could have been filled out a bit more and still held the reader’s attention.

But overall, the point of the book comes through loud and clear and I will likely read this book again. Thank you, Thomas Nelson, for giving me the opportunity to read and share this book with others.