Downside Up: Transform Rejection into a golden opportunity – Tracey Mitchell

An interesting look at rejection and the different ways that rejection shows up in different people.

Mitchell takes you through an interesting and insightful journey into conquering the fruit of the root of rejection.  It’s interesting to understand that the various traits such as perfectionism, dependence, self importance and jealousy stem from a place of rejection.

It is also interesting to know that these things do not necessarily have to own us and Mitchell gives insight, using various examples to show you that overcoming these character traits is possible – not easy but certainly possible.

Going a little deeper into understanding that there is a God who will never reject us and coming to the understanding that human beings will always fail us in some way or another but we have Him and He won’t, is an amazing revelation of truth that this book puts forward.  Continuously pointing us to the truths in the Bible throughout the book and using God’s word as a narrative on this issue, Mitchell has written a great book for most of humanity to understand that we’re not alone in this journey where rejection is inevitable.

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.”

The Passionate Mom – Dare to parent in today’s world – Susan Merrill

There are many parenting books out there aimed at mom’s in today’s world – how to cope with the frantic pace of life that we all lead and to stay on top of raising well adjusted moral children.

I must admit that the idea of Nehemiah being the basis for a book about mom’s seemed somewhat out there for me but I was pleasantly surprised.   Using for P’s as the framework and structure for her book, Susan Merrill fleshes out what it means to be a Christian mom raising children in a world that does not support the efforts of these champions.  Perception, Pondering, Passion and Prayer is  the framework for the walls that we build protecting ad providing for our children.

A well written book.  Very good and highly recommended to anybody wanting to really get to grips firstly with the big job of raising Godly children and secondly a deeper understanding of the book of Nehemiah.

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.”

Who Do You Think You Are - Finding Your True Identity in Christ - Mark Driscoll

We all start our journey with Christ at different stages of “discovering who we are”.  This concept of who am I is the subject of many self help books, many spiritual journeys and yet the basis of who we are in Christ, is all too often hidden from us.  I found this book truly insightful.  A chapter by chapter study of the book of Ephesians which clearly defines all the different characteristics of a Christ follower, finally getting to the core of who we are in Him.  We will never be effective Christians unless we really understand what it means to be a Christian and that our identity as a son or daughter of God means that we truly put off ourselves and take on Christ in every way so that we can be, more than conquerors .  Thank you Mr. Driscoll for this book. I recommend it for anybody who might be wondering truly who they really are.

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.”

Jesus – Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola

Seeing the Bible through the lens of Jesus Christ.   This is not a biography of Jesus, the authors call it a Theography.  In this book the authors seek to explain how the Old and New Testaments link together as a unified story of Jesus, showing that Jesus is indeed, the fulfillment of the Old Testament.

They use several references of Scripture in both old and new to prove this.  We begin with Christ before time – the awesome revelation that time dwells in God (not the other way around -and go right through Jesus’ life on earth, following our Scriptures to the very end, when He returns as King.  The creation of the universe through Christ, His earthly life and Ministry and to the coming of the end and the reconciliation of all things in Christ.

 

I have to admit that I put off reading this book for as long as I can.  The 400+ pages were a little daunting (even for a bookworm such as I) – the idea of big words and difficult to understand theology was not something I looked forward to reading.  However, once I started this book,  the way in which the authors of this book have brought the Bible to life, journeying around the pages of both the new and old testament, seeing shadows and foretelling of Jesus throughout the Old Testament and seeing confirmations of the Old Testament in the New Testament is really such an awesome eye opening, beautifully engaging experience.

Well done to the authors for what is a remarkably researched piece of writing.  I am so glad I started this book.

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.”

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.”