Earth Psalms

Earth Psalms by Francine Rivers is filled with reflections on how God speaks through nature. Accompanied by breath taking photography, ways to apply the week's reflection to your life, and prayers to mediate on. 

As someone who feels the peace, comfort, and awe of God most when I'm out in nature this devotional spoke to me. Romans 1:20 says
"For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God." 

I've often wondered how people can look at the beauty around them and not believe in the God who created it. Wading at the shores of the vast oceans, seeing the sea of color in a wildflower field, watching birds build a nest and care for their young. It is all so awe inspiring. There have been moments when nature has taken my breath away and I have thanked God right then for such beauty. This devotional draws us into these moments and makes us look at God's creation with new eyes. 

This book was given to me by Tyndale Publishing in exchange for my honest review.
 

Starry-Eyed

Starry-Eyed by Mandy Arito is a book of essays on seeing grace in the unfolding constellation of life and motherhood. 

I have a difficult time reviewing this book as the essays are good and do touch on everything a mother encounters. But being written by the MOPS CEO and published by a Christian publisher I was surprised to find this more of a new age zen-like book than a Christian one. While that in itself wouldn't be so much of a bad thing, it is not what the description of the book states, "the brightest and darkest moments of motherhood alike can become a sacred—and sanity-saving— opportunity to encounter God. There is a way to flourish in the midst of it all, and it starts with embracing the light and darkness in life with expectation and awe."

 This book does mention God but also touts astrology, spiritual healers, and many other faith traditions different from Christianity. If it was touted as just a mothering book I would have had no issues, but I expected it to be completely different based off the description so was left confused on how this was classified as a Christian book.

This book was given to me by BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review. 
 

365 Pocket Morning Prayers

There is a saying of "garbage in, garbage out", meaning what we put into our brains will surely come out in our language, actions, and thoughts. Which is why I feel devotionals are so important in everyone's life. Starting the day, or ending the day, with a little prayer and some insights from the Bible really help one center their thoughts in WHO and WHAT are important.

365 Pocket Morning Prayers by David R. Veerman is such a pretty little devotional with a nice leather-like cover. The size makes it easy to slip into your purse or set by your bedside and the devotionals are just one page long, so even if you are in a hurry in the morning you can start your day with some uplifting food for thought.


Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book
 

Dear Mr. M

Sometimes a book will  grab hold of you within the first chapter and not let you go. This is one of those books.

It's the details within the descriptions that made this book a winner for me. I lapped the words up like a hungry dog, the paragraphs making you truly stop and think and nod your head along because you know people like that, you've thought that before, this sentence made you think! Koch is a true artist with his words.

The first 1/3 was thrilling. I begin to get a bit bogged down in the middle. The narration changed to third person and things got a bit difficult to follow, it seemed to drag on slightly too long, I think it could have been wrapped up sooner before the reader lost some interest in the characters. There were times I wasn't sure who was narrating and that became irritating.

I plowed on through the middle section and got the ending which again was thrilling, in a "Gone Girl" type of way. The ending leaves you with a few unanswered questions but wraps things up nicely. It's one of those books (which are few and far between) where you don't see the ending coming. 

Because of the suspense, spot on depiction, colorful characters, and ending I think this would be a great book club book as the discussion would be wild. I know I want to talk to someone about this book, so think I will suggest this for one of our book club picks.

This book was sent to me by Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.    
 

It's Not Fair

Someone once remarked (funnily enough, it was in the comment section of this blog!) that "everything in life is a choice". 

Bull.

Somethings in life are chosen for us, things that no one in life would choose. Melanie Dale does a wonderful job in It's Not Fair; Learning To Love The Life You Didn't Choose explaining how sometimes life just happens and we need to go with the flow.

Backed up by scripture and humor, this book digs deep into pain and purpose. I think by chapter two I was hooked when Dale exclaims "It's not fair! This isn't how it was supposed to happen!" and a shiver went up my spine when a whisper in my head said "Maybe this is exactly how it was supposed to happen." 

Who are we to judge what God places in our path? Is an 8 year old boy dying of cancer fair? No. Was there a purpose? Most certainly. 

Dale tells us it's okay to question God. It's okay to not like his answers or his plan. It's okay to tell Him what WE want. We are human, life is not fair, and it downright sucks sometimes. 

What I like most about this book is that while Dale has suffered different types of pain, and the stories from other women in the book are different than mine, the suffering brings us together. On page 149 she writes, "There's commonality in the ways that we fear, and there's commonality in the ways that we fail, and when we partner in pain, it gives way to sharing in the joy as well." 

Partner in pain. THIS. This is why I read books written by those who have suffered tremendous pain and grew from the ashes. This is why I feel an instant connection to other parents who have lost a child. This is why grief retreats work. Why the pain in a strangers eyes can soften my heart towards them. Because when we partner in pain we heal together.

This book touches on so many subjects that one in pain will experience. "All The Feels", "Coping Mechanisms For The Horribly Mangled", "Hell Is Other People...Or Is It Heaven?", "On God, Suffering, And Other Easy Subjects", and "What's Next?". 

This is a book that will be placed on my bookshelf and pulled out during those "woe is me" moments. It will be shared with friends during their tough moments in life. A little laughter and a lot of support is what I found in this book.

This book was given to me by BookLook Bloggers for my honest review.