Beverly Lewis "The Atonement" book review

Amazon.com

Our past sins or choices often haunt our present, which affects our relationships with others and our daily life.  Beverly Lewis' character, Lucy Flaud understands this very well. 

Lucy has made some unwise choices in her past, which affected her and her family.  She loses the trust of her family, the inability to love, and lost faith in God.  Within the story, Lucy befriends several people who help shape and restore her faith and bring her to repentance. 

We all have made some bad or unwise choices in our past.  Those same choices that we made still affect us to this very day.  They affect how we live, how we love, who we are around, and our relationships, especially with God.  We must understand that "our burdens are too heavy to carry, and he alone is faithful to cover our sins". 

This book was a great read, not only for enjoyment, but to help guide you toward your true repentance of sins that are holding you hostage.  This is a Christian book and applies some Amish beliefs.  Regardless being an Amish book, anyone who is struggling with anything will be convicted to repent and will bring upon you a peace that you will not be to describe.


This review is based solely on my opinion.  I received this book from Bethany Books to read and give my honest review.  If you are an author, writer, publisher, or editor looking for an honest review, please contact me at jbjari123@yahoo.com.

"Out of Sorts" Sarah Bessey

Sarahbessey.com
 

Rate: ♥ ♥ ♥ / ♥♥♥♥♥
            3 1/2 out of 5 hearts

   Out of Sorts - a state of being in one's heart, mind, or body.  (describes sense of self, things to figure out, and / or coping with change)

Sarah Bessey best explains in her book, "Out of Sorts", how to gain peace in our faith.  This book of course is a Christian or religious book, so the topics that are covered in the book relate to the Christian life. 

I really enjoyed reading this book.  Bessey blends her life stories with biblical scripture to share her thoughts on sorting out our lives.  Bessey states, "Whether its in our relationship with God, or with our own families, at some point we find that it is time to sort."  Sarah uses the analogy of a rummage sale and our faith.  We as Christians, especially women, have so much baggage and stuff that we hold on to despite any real use and despite any negative memories or feelings that are attached with it.  With all the "stuff" that we have, we must come to realize that we need to sort out our lives. The things that we hold on to that has no real meaning, we must throw it out.

The book has many topics that we must sort out in order to gain peace, that include: our faith, our church, our relationships, and ourselves.  We as people and Christians are a hot mess.  We struggle daily (some hourly) with sin.  With the being said, we require a Savior who can pull us out of our mess and help clean it up. 

Sarah Bessey's writing is theology based.  She uses Biblical scripture to back up her points, which I LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!! Many Christian writers lack biblical insight. 

Her love for God, people, her family, church, and of course the Charismatic denomination, drawn me to read her book.  She is not that Christian writer that uses big words, stuck up, or holier than thou.  She but is a writer who is full of grace, truth, and her readers can relate to her.  She writes the things that we think but to afraid to speak on. 

If you are looking for a great book for group studies, there are discussions questions included.  If you are not, but just looking for a book with truth, please check this book out.   I would recommend this book to anyone and I am looking forward to reading anymore of her books as well.


This review is based solely on my opinion.  I didn't receive any monetary reimbursement, books, or any other products for this review.  If you are an author, writer, publisher, or editor looking for an honest review, please contact me at jbjari123@yahoo.com.

For the Love -Jen Hatmaker

 

From amazon.com

 

I have received this book as a gift from a raffle drawing during the IF Gathering 2016 that was held at my church.  If you don't know what IF is all about, check it out here. 

 

First I would like to say that I would recommend this book to anyone.  Christians, non Christians, the young, the old, mothers, wives, etc.  Anyone and everyone should read this book.  Jen Hatmaker's writing includes humor, truth, sarcasm, and honesty.  I mean, in one of her Thank you chapters, she pays homage to spanx.  If that is not honesty, I don't know what is!! (I will not disclose if I wear spanx or not but I guess you will never know :) ) 

 

In the book, "For the Love", Jen includes topics on women, moms, wives, also on friends, enemies, the church, the unchurch, and God.  She applies our everyday life to biblical scriptures, which is important.  Jen reminds us that "we have a free life in Christ" and that we should often remove those things that suck us dry.  She reminds us that social media at times can provide a false positive and we try to reach this impossible perfection that many portray on social media. 

During these current trying times, where we are faced with unloving, hostile people, Jen points out that "thorny people or thorny for a reason" and that we should handle those with grace.  Just as God has shown us his grace. Yes, we at times can be thorny, especially toward the ones we love or even to God.  We as Christians or I as a Christian will be surrounded by hostile people who will need to see our love or God's love. 

 

If you need a book that will have you laughing and thinking at the same time, this is the book.

 

"Love God, Love people

Act justly, love mercy, walk humbly,

treat people as you want to be treated,

If you want to be great, be a servant."

Jen Hatmaker

 

 

 

This review is solely based on my own opinion. I was not compensated for this review in anyway. 

 

 

 

 



To Read List

 

 

 

 

 

"Anything" - Jennie Allen

 

"Jesus Feminist" - Sarah Bessey

 

"Grey Mountain" -John Grisham

 

"Go Set a Watchman" - Harper Lee

 

"Women Living Well" - Courtney Joseph

 

"One Thousand Gifts" - Ann Voskamp

 

 

 

This are a few books on the to read list.  They are not in any specific order. I am looking forward to read these books and once I am finished I will be posting reviews.  I created a reading goal through Goodreads and I have challenged myself to read 12 books this year.  That means I will be reading atleast 1 book a month, and I am already behind.  I need to read and finish 1 book within 2 weeks.  Log on to Goodreads, upload books, challenge yourself to read some books this year.

 

 

Blog Clean up

 

 

You ever just sit and say, "I need to have a cleaning spree"?  Well, I had that idea this past weekend, and did some cleaning and purging. I cleaned my attic and purged a lot of items.  I am getting some items together to either give away, sale, or send to the local goodwill.  

 

Since I decided to clean around my house, I decided to clean up my life a little bit.  I decided to look at my planner, clean up and organize my schedule and priorities.  This blog was on the list to clean up.  I was going back and forth on the idea of deleting this blog, evaluating the content, or just leaving it go by the wayside.  

 

Sunday at church one of the ladies that I adore talking and praying with affirmed to me what I believe I need to focus on.  She explained to me that I have a love for books and reading.  This love is a gift from God and that I should use this gift to help and minister to others.  

 

This had me thinking about a lot.  I decided to devote my "ministry" to reading and books. This blog could be a ministry and help others. I enjoy sharing different content with others, but I feel as though I am sharing "fluff".  So this blog would include many book reviews, to read list, and other topics that include to reading and books.  I will share some personal posts, but not many.  I am hoping that now I have my blog content ideas together and this blog will not go idle and someone will be blessed by the posts!!  

My Ninevah

from readingpa.gov



The content of this post has been on my heart for awhile. During the summer at church we studied and went through the book of Jonah in the Bible.  It seemed as though God had put this on my Pastor's heart to study knowing what all would conspire all over our nation during that time.  Well week and after week after church a question had been popping up in my head.  It was, "What and where is your Ninevah?"  I thought and thought and nothing came to mine.  But after prayer and really seeking out where God wants me, the city where I live kept coming to mind. 

During the summer, I had a wish that we as a family would move and find another home in another city.  One that was already established.  One that many people long to visit.  One where there was always something to do, eat, and hang out with friends.  But my plan was not in God's plan, and I Foam still living in my hometown. 

My hometown has had its downfalls.  For one, being recognized as the top poorest city in the U.S, and another being one of the dangerous cities.  This city is often looked upon as being crippled, broken, worthless, you pick a horrible name, it probably has been said. But despite some of the drawbacks, this city has its good.  Nice restaurants, rich history, beautiful buildings, and of course a few residents who long for a change in this city. 

I am one of those residents.  I would love to see this city go back to where it was years and years ago.  I would love to see visitors come by the bus loads to shop, eat, and entertain themselves.  I know many would say it is hopeless and you have to deal with where this city is and where it is going.  Well, I object.  Being a Christian, I know that at times it seems as though life can feel hopeless.  Life can be unfair and everything that could go wrong, goes wrong.  But, I found someone that I find hope in, and that is Jesus.  He came to not only go through what he did for us, but to provide HOPE!!! There are many churches located within this city, and they forget all about sharing that hope with others.  This is where I feel like Jonah being directed to Ninevah.  Ninevah was a city full of craziness.  Sin, Sin, everywhere, and people who we think don't care.  Lets be honest, we have all said at one time, "those people don't care" "they don't want to change".  Well sometimes we have to forget about what we think how others feel, and think about the things that people need.  For one, people need to know that there is hope.   

I do have a plan and desire of what I would to do to help bring hope back into the city.  I am praying to see if this is what God has in plan.  I know that if it is, the help, people, finances, and property would shown and God would provide.

Sometimes our plans are not what God has for us.  There are times where we might feel hopeless or useless, but we must remember, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Jeremiah 29:11. 

Being an Advocate

It seems as though someone at anytime is standing up for something.  Whether it is for same sex marriage, religious freedom, women rights, discrimination, etc. etc. etc.  Well I rarely see many stand up for education.  Primarily public school education. 
 

Growing up attending elementary school, there were many parent volunteers, the PTO Mommas, and family activities.  As a child, you were excited to go to school.  You looked forward to spending time with friends, playing on a playground without any worries in the world.  You enjoyed the exciting activities that many local businesses provided and looked forward to sharing the excitement with your family.  Now after many years and the changes our society has faced, many parents can not volunteer in the school and with lack of funding from the government, it seems as though the bare necessities are met.  Also, those local businesses are trying to stay afloat themselves.

There have been enormous, important changes to the U.S. laws and the attitude of our society towards those laws.   Some law changes I don't agree with, but look how things can change with a few adamant people who are passionate about their rights.  I am very passionate about children rights and the right to free, quality education.  I am not sure how I can change the lawmaker's views on education or how to prick their hearts to help provide more aid to the school.  But I can try!

Therefore, we (as in I) need to become advocates for education.  We must fight for our schools to have what they may need in more.  Whether its books, appropriate volunteers, programs, air conditioners, or music instruments.  Can we change society's views on education, maybe.  Can we changed the government's views on education, maybe.  

I am praying for a change in the government.  I am praying for the lawmakers and leaders of the city, state, and country to see how important education is and how to important we need to fund schools.

Are you with me???