Prayers of a Stranger – A Christmas Story – Davis Bunn

An easy read and very enjoyable – sometimes lifes hurts send us into auto pilot.  Feeling anything, is too much to bear.  This was especially true for Amanda who upon the readers entry into the story, is dealing with a deluge of emotion almost a year after her baby had been still born. Going through the motions, helping people in her hospital job environment but not allowing herself to feel anything, changes gradually as she decides to go on a chance trip to Israel and encounters a little girl in desperate need of her help.  She embarks on a journey to reconnect with herself, her husband and with God and in so doing finds the healing she needs in Israel.  A sweet story, well written, the characters are as normal as you or your neighbor and the reader is very quickly transported into the world of Amanda, her husband Chris and the people that there story unfolds around.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Dreams and Visions : Is Jesus Awakening the Muslim World – Tom Doyle & Greg Webster

A collection of accounts of Jesus’ appearing to Muslims in dreams and visions – even in some of the most extreme Islamic countries such as Mecca, where anybody who is not a Muslim would be killed for even trying to get in – I’ve often heard it said that God is not a respector of persons  and it is good to know that He loves all of His children – he appeared to Haggar in the desert when she had given up all hope of life and he spoke over the life of Ishmael and his descendants.

Simple calls of “follow me” from Jesus have seen these Muslim people, turn their lives for him in the most amazing ways.  I have to say that this book really encouraged thoughts of how our Western way of life provides too much in the way of choice and “taking up ones cross” is not fully understood as it is when a Muslim converts to Christianity – these people are persecuted in the most horrific ways for their faith.  Jesus wants them as much as He wants you or me.  Doyle and Webster, set out to highlight Jesus’ love for the Muslim people as our Christian world today is generally suspicious and unwelcoming toward these people. This book highlights how these Muslim converts risk life and limb for the one we call Messiah.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Wild Grace - Max Lucado and James Lund

A book about Grace – for teens – Wild Grace.  With Lucado’s exceptional writing ability and his great wit, targeted at today’s youth, this book was hilarious yet incredibly touching at the same time.  There are so many books written about God’s Grace but in such clear narrative, Lucado portrays the true meaning of Grace and helps teens (and moms and dads) navigate the wild water of God’s Grace.  It’s Wild!!   

There’s nothing God needs us to do, nothing He wants us to do except to believe that Jesus paid the redemptive price for Grace to be released into this world for everybody – including teens who feel like they’ve really messed up – Grace is deep.  Deeper than we can fathom.  

Lucado gives credit to James Lund for his ability to relate to teenagers and much of the metaphors in the book must have been written by Lund – spot on.  This is a book that I would sure like to include in my son’s Christmas stocking this year.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”