The Edge of the Divine

Any woman who has ever struggled with their weight and balancing work, motherhood, and attempting to diet has something in common with Sandi Patty as she explains the journey she went through after her weight loss surgery in her book The Edge of the Diving: Where Possibility Meets God’s Faithfulness.

The main Bible verse which Sandi Patty continually references is Job 26:14 which states “Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways, And bow small a whisper we hear of Him!” She compares her decision to undertake weight loss surgery as an edge in her life. She makes it clear throughout her book that this decision was not entered into lightly, rather she prayed and looked to God for guidance in making this decision as much as she did with the other decisions in her life. Although this work is clearly about her decision to become healthy, there are other aspects of her life, rather than just focusing on one component. Sandi Patty also spoke about the difficulties her family went through as they relocated to another state, her musical upbringing and career, and some components of her marriage.

This book was a great afternoon read, and I really enjoyed learning about the struggles Sandi Patty went through with her weight, as it is an issue most women seem to struggle with at some point in their life.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their Booksneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Cast of Characters

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if some of your favorite Biblical stories were to happen today. How would Esther’s story be told in the current times...and that of the woman at the well? Throughout the book, Cast of Characters: Common People in the Hands of an Uncommon God by Max Lucado, I kept envisioning what their lives would have been like if they lived today.

The book is broken down into chapters, which each look at the story of a particular person from the Bible. Paul, Peter, Moses, Joseph, and Lazarus are just a few of the many stories which are looked at throughout this book. The set up is that of a devotional, where you can read one short “chapter” which focuses on one particular individual. At the end of the chapter, there are questions which help you reflect on the teaching of the previous chapter and also some Bible verses which should be read in relation to the teaching.

I really enjoyed this book. It was not at all difficult to understand, and all of the concepts the author addressed were straightforward. I found myself relating to many of the individuals and the correlations he made to the reader were insightful. The book is also a quick read, which can be read in one sitting or studied in greater depth as a devotional.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their Booksneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Billy Graham: His Life and Influence

After reading Storm Warning by Billy Graham (which my daughter loaned me after reviewing it for BookSneeze), I became interested in learning more about his life and what shaped his beliefs. Through the book, Billy Graham: His Life and Influence by David Aikman, I was able to learn more about one of the world’s most well-known Evangelists.

The book details the life of Billy Graham beginning with his childhood and the relationship he had with his parents and the influence they had on his decision to become a Christian. I enjoyed reading an honest description of his past which showed his flaws along with all of his positive attributes. The book detailed his revivals and experiences dealing with those countries affected by the Cold War along with his relationships with our past ten presidents.

In addition to the political aspects of the book, there was also a focus on Billy’s wife Ruth, and their children. Whenever anything is mentioned about Billy Graham and his wife, it is apparent the deep love they shared for one another and the sacrifices she made in order to support his work.

I enjoyed this book and learning more about all aspects of Billy Graham’s life. This will be an interesting read for everyone, whether you are a fan of Billy Graham’s work or just want to better understand the life of this man who had such a profound impact on teaching people about Jesus.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their Booksneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Searching for God Knows What

The book Searching for God Knows What by Donald Miller was not at all what I expected when I chose to read this book in return for a review for Thomas Nelson publishing. Although I enjoy reading immensely, I found it very difficult to “get into” the book and found the overall tone of the book to be unfocused.

I felt as if the book took on a rambling tone where there are more personal observations than Biblical Based teachings. In addition to this, I found that I didn’t really enjoy his writing style. I understand he was attempting to connect with a younger reader, but I didn’t like the overly conversational tone. I also felt as if the author was negative toward the Conservative Christian Republican population in general and felt this book gave him the opportunity to distance himself from Conservatives and, in reality, bash Republicans and Fox News. He clearly wants to be read as an unashamedly Liberal Christian who likes to drink and smoke pipes, as he mentions during a few of the stories he tells about his past. He wants to seem worldly throughout the work. I don’t know if that is to appeal to a broader range of readers, but it was definitely off-putting for me.

I would not recommend this book to any of my friends and family. This will definitely not be a book I find myself reading again in the future as I do with so many of my other favorite books.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Heart Mender

The Heart Mender by Andy Andrews was the best book I have read in a long time. I read the book from start to finish in just one day, and I found it very difficult to put down. This book starts with a very common task, removing a dead tree from a home yard, and ended with a great historical story. The author of the book discovered a buried container in his yard containing elements from the German Navy, which set him on a journey to discover where the contents came from.

Throughout a flashback, the story of a German Naval Officer unfolds. He finds himself stranded on a beach in America, and through the kindness of a stranger, he is nursed back to health. Josef (German Officer) and Helen (the woman who finds him on the beach) both face obstacles in their past, and through their new relationship, they are able to overcome these past struggles.

I love any book that deals with history, specifically the time period of World War II, and I was not disappointed with this book. I would recommend it to anyone, even if you are not entirely interested in history. The book also looks deeply at the aspect of forgiveness and the important role it plays in everyone’s life. This book quickly moved to the top of my list of favorite books, and I cannot wait to read more books by the author Andy Andrews.

is book was supplied by Booksneeze without charge with no obligation for me to write a positive review.

Never Let You Go

Never Let You Go by Erin Healy tells the story of Lexi and the turns in her life that brought her to where she is today. Her sister was brutally murdered. Her mother and husband abandoned her. Her father entered a mental hospital. She was left alone to deal with the wounds left by those around her. All at once, her past comes colliding into her present. Her husband returns, with the help of her mother. The man who murdered her sister is up for parole, and a polarizing figure from her past is threatening her.

Overall, I found this book different than anything else I have ever read. I had a very difficult time “getting into” the book at first since there were VERY MANY characters introduced in a short period of time and they all had back stories with Lexi that were not explained the first time we meet the characters. At the conclusion of the book, I enjoyed the overall themes contained within its’ pages: such as the message of the importance of Faith in your life.

Although I don’t know if I would choose to read a book along these lines again, I did enjoy reading about the types of struggles people may face in their life. It made me a little more aware of the devastating effects a life ruled by drugs may have on not only the individual themselves, but everyone involved in their lives.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Essentials for Life

Essentials for Life by Marcia Ford serves as a book which details fifty of the essentials for life. They range from essentials such as spreading the good news, studying the Bible, holding on to hope, setting aside time for worship, and accept who you are, just to name a few. Within each of these "chapters" or short devotionals, there are Bible verses which relate to the specific topic and a breakdown of the two essential things you should DO and those two things which you must not be afraid to do or mistakes you must not make; they are broken down into the DON'T category.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I think I will read through it again in the futre as a devotional, by reading one chapter at a time, rather than the book in its entirety. I also enjoyed the breakouts on the sides of the book which listed quotes that relate to the specific topic, interesting notes, and Bible verses that address the topic. The book was very easy to read and understand, and there were topics that related to everyday life. It also makes you think about topics which all people grapple with such as tithing, integrity, hope, forgiveness, and grace. It serves as a reminder as to how to deal with the essential topics in life.

I received this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.