Union with Christ

Nothing is more basic or central to knowing and enjoying God than Union with Christ.

Have you ever had difficulty connecting what you know to be true about God with how you feel or how you live each day? Have you ever longed to change but just felt stuck?

The Bible makes a stunning claim: God has provided a way for your life to be united to Christ’s. What does that mean? Is it really possible for me, now? What would it look like?

In Union with Christ, Rankin Wilbourne makes union with Christ accessible and beautiful, for you. Union with Christ is not an abstract idea. It is a powerful reality. And recovering a sense of your union with Christ can change everything for you, like finally putting on a pair of desperately-needed glasses.

Discover how coming to see your life through the lens of union with Christ can help bridge that gap between your head and your heart, between your belief and your experience. Union with Christ is what we most need in order to know and enjoy God.

My thoughts: This book is excellent! More in depth then I originally anticipated, it is a great book for Christians from all walks of life to discover the way to

know and enjoy God

. I love how seamlessly the author works the quotes, scripture verses, pop culture, and his thoughts together. This is an enjoyable book that gives the reader a lot of food for thought. I appreciated the reminders of why it is so important and the benefits of unity. I think this is a book that most all Christians can learn from!
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.

Crossing the Waters

The gospels are dramatic, wild, and wet―set in a rich maritime culture on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus’ first disciples were ragtag fishermen, and Jesus’ messages and miracles teem with water, fish, fishermen, net-breaking catches, sea crossings, boat-sinking storms, and even a walk on water. Because this world is foreign and distant to us, we’ve missed much about the disciples’ experiences and about following Jesus―until now. Leslie Leyland Fields―a well-known writer, respected biblical exegete, and longtime Alaskan fisherwoman―crosses the waters of time and culture to take us out on the Sea of Galilee, through a rugged season of commercial fishing with her family in Alaska, and through the waters of the New Testament.

You’ll be swept up in a fresh experience of the gospels, traveling with the fishermen disciples from Jesus’ baptism to the final miraculous catch of fish―and also experiencing Leslie’s own efforts to follow Christ out on her own Alaskan sea. In a time when so many are “unfollowing” Jesus and leaving the Church, Crossing the Waters delivers a fresh encounter with Jesus and explores what it means to “come, follow me.”

I thought that this book was an interesting mix, part memoir, part scripture. I enjoyed the correlation Leslie draws between her adventures as a professional fisherwoman who has raised her family in the business and the fishermen-disciples in the scripture. I've always been drawn to the thought of visiting Alaska, so I found it engrossing to read what it is like to be a fishing family. The book is set during the course of one fishing season, which made things interesting. I'm having a hard time putting my thoughts into words on this book!
One of my favorite things about this book is the study guide at the back.
Leslie's style flows well and is to the point. If you are interested in Jesus' call to the disciples to leave their nets, then this is an excellent book for you to pick up.
I received this book from Tyndale in exchange for my honest review.

Unblemished

Eliyana has always recoiled from her own reflection in the mirror. But what if that were only one Reflection—one world? What if another world existed where her blemish could become her strength?

Eliyana is used to the shadows. With a hideous birthmark covering half her face, she just hopes to graduate high school unscathed. That is, until Joshua hops a fence and changes her perspective. No one, aside from her mother, has ever treated her as normal. Maybe even beautiful. Because of Joshua, Eliyana finally begins to believe she could be loved.

But one night her mother doesn’t come home, and that’s when everything gets weird.

Now Joshua is her new, and rather reluctant, legal Guardian. Add a hooded stalker and a Central Park battle to the mix and you’ve gone from weird to otherworldly.

Eliyana soon finds herself in a world much larger and more complicated than she’s ever known. A world enslaved by a powerful and vile man. And Eliyana holds the answer to defeating him. How can an ordinary girl, a blemished girl, become a savior when she can’t even save herself?

My thoughts: When I first saw this book and the synopsis of the story, I just knew it was one that I would want to read and review. It was right up my alley: parallel universes, and unlikely heroine, magical creatures. The story is quite engrossing, though I feel like I need to wait to see how the next book plays out to fully give a review. I loved the twists in the plot and getting to know El. I feel like some things could of been better explained, which I hope will happen in the next book, since at times I was like "What?". I like that the plot and world is imaginative and there is a lot going on. If you enjoy fantasy style stories, then I think this is one you will like!
I received this book through Netgalley.

Experiencing God through His names

What’s in a name?

Names are more than groups of letters that represent a person or identify objects. Names are powerful. A person’s character and destiny can be influenced by his or her name. God’s attributes and personality support His unique and distinct names. If we comprehend the meanings of His titles, we can know God more intimately. In Experiencing God Through His Names, Sheryl Giesbrecht walks with you on an exciting journey to discover and absorb the truth about God’s character. In the next 31 days, God wants you to get to know Him. Are you ready?

My thoughts: This book is a fresh way to delve into the names of God, which gave me a whole new perspective! The book is set up well to work as a devotional. I like that the style is easy to read and get into. The book is excellent! I like how it is a blend of scripture, personal stories, and insight. It made the perfect devotional for me.
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.

Jesus and the Beanstalk

What if a fairy tale and ten Bible verses could free you to live an effective, fruitful life in Christ?

We live in unsettling, challenging times. Everywhere we look, we see giant problems: giant obstacles to sharing faith, giant barriers to peaceful lives, giant strongholds of fear. But what if you knew eight small secrets to unlocking a strength big enough to overcome whatever obstacle life may bring?

Using allegory and a bit of humor, Jesus and the Beanstalk explores a passage in 2 Peter 1 to uncover eight truths that will help you unleash a larger-than-life faith:

—Faith
—Goodness
—Knowledge
—Self-control
—Perseverance
—Godliness
—Affection for others
—Love

In this creative, refreshing perspective on spiritual growth, you will discover an unyielding strength when you tap the power of a God who is stronger than any beanstalk and bigger than your biggest giants.

My thoughts: We all have giants in our lives. You know, those things that we want to overcome but have a hard time doing so, or feel just too intimidated to know where to start. This book is an excellent source of encouragement! I love the element of fairy tale tied in with scripture and personal stories. It works excellent to read through or to use as a devotional. I enjoyed this book immensely!
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.

Take the Bible Challenge

How much do you know about the Bible and its influence on our culture, history–and the whole world? Focus on the Family and Bring Your Bible have teamed up to create a quiz to test how much you and your kids know about the Bible. Take the quiz to find out!




Don't forget to mark your calendars to celebrate religious freedom with other students across the U.S. on October 6—Bring Your Bible to School Day! Students from kindergarten to college will be bringing their Bibles to school and sharing God with their friends in just a few short weeks. Sign up to be a part of the movement to protect religious freedom for future generations.

 

By signing up, you’ll receive a free guide with tips, downloadable posters, sticker and T-shirt designs, information on your legal rights, and other fun, interactive activities.




You’ll also be automatically entered for a chance to win a free trip for four to hear the Newsboys, an award-winning Christian music band, in Dallas!

Plus Bring Your Bible to School Comes to Adventures in Odyssey

 

Getting used to a new school isn’t easy, especially for someone as paranoid as Buddy Norman. In “A Predicament of Biblical Proportions” he envisions wacky worst-case encounters with townsfolk who seem like mobsters, snoops and fairy-tale tyrants—until he gets to know them. He’s also a little confused about Bring Your Bible to School Day. What’s it about? Should he participate? See Odyssey through Buddy’s eyes in this witty celebration of religious freedom.




Listen to this story through a two-week trial only on the Odyssey Adventure Club.

Choose and Choose Again

In Choose and Choose Again, the reader will encounter story after story of different people, most of whom are from Hope Community Church of Detroit, where Pastor Butcher has been sharing the healing love of God for thirteen years. They represent men and women, African American, Caucasian, Latino, and Asian, urban and suburban, professional types and prostitutes, clergy and addicts, drunks and lawyers and convicts―wounded human beings who have found themselves empty, dying, and longing to be filled.

The stories are not only about their own healing and restoration but also about how the love of God heals. Butcher hopes that readers will find before them a path of healing that they feel compelled to embrace. He begins with his own story of emptiness and despair, and his journey to healing, but the ultimate power of his message is that this healing journey is for anyone who is willing to own his or her emptiness and hold one’s heart out to God, who is desperately longing to love each person all the way home.

My thoughts: Wow, I needed this book! It is a beautiful reminder of God's love for us and that we need to be living that love. I was so moved by the stories of people who had a rough childhood or adulthood (often both. It's so sad how a horrible childhood can leave people scarred and set the stage for adulthood. But, this book shows the power of God's love), but how they found God's love and how life changing that knowledge is.
It really hit home for me when he talks about seeing others with the love of God when we know we are secure in God's love.
I highly recommend this book, though parts of it are tough to read.
I received this book from Tyndale in exchange for my honest review.