Book Review: Endless Grace by Ryan Whitaker Smith and Dan Wilt

About the Book:

Endless Grace helps us rediscover the rich treasures of the Psalms--through free-verse prayer renderings of their poems and hymns--as a guide to personal devotion and meditation.

The church has always used the Psalms as part of its prayer life, and they have inspired countless other prayers. This book contains seventy-five prayers drawn from Psalms 76-150, providing lyrical sketches of what authors Ryan Whitaker Smith and Dan Wilt have seen, heard, and felt while sojourning in the Psalms. While each prayer corresponds to a particular psalm and touches on its themes and ideas, it is not a new translation of the Psalms or an attempt to modernize or contextualize their content or language. Rather, the prayers are responses to the Psalms written in harmony with Scripture. These prayers help us quiet our hearts before God and remember the Lord's daily mercies.

This artful, poetic, and classic devotional book features compelling custom illustrations and beautiful hardcover binding, offering a fresh way to reflect on and pray the Psalms.

Read an excerpt from Endless Grace on the publisher's website.

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My Thoughts:

Endless Grace by Ryan Whitaker Smith and Dan Wilt “approaches the Psalms as literature designed for prayerful meditation (p. 14).” Each free verse prayer of Endless Grace responds to a Psalm with emotion and praise/supplication to God. New Testament phrases and teachings pepper the prayers, and I enjoyed the connections between the Psalms and teachings of Jesus.

Personally, I like to read one Psalm and the correlating selection from Endless Grace per sitting. These entries invite unhurried meditation and offer concepts that merit consideration. Often, the entries present historic ideas in fresh, lyrical wording that hooks my attention and renews my appreciation for such tenets. An example from the first prayer (Psalm 76 response): “Your peace is stronger than violence; / Your mercy fiercer than judgment.”

With its sturdy hardcover and lovely illustrations, Endless Grace: Prayers Inspired by the Psalms by Ryan Whitaker Smith and Dan Wilt can be a gift. It’s appropriate for any Christian desiring meditative readings with a strong prayer emphasis.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

Blog Blitz: Battle Prayers by Michael Klassen and Thomas Freiling

 

Welcome to the Blog Blitz for Battle Prayers by Michael Klassen and Thomas Freiling, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Battle Prayers 

Author: Michael Klassen and Thomas Freiling 

Publisher: Thomas Nelson 

Release Date: Feb 15, 2022 

Genre: Christian, Spiritual Growth, Prayer 

Do the unending obstacles you face make you feel like you’re in a constant spiritual battle? Arm yourself with 100 prayers that will uplift and encourage you during the difficult moments of life. 

It can be difficult to find the right words when you’re praying through hard times. In Battle Prayers, find a classic model to lift your prayers to God, not only for yourself, but others. 

Each prayer is woven together with Scripture, reminding you that the answers to your struggles can be found in God’s Word and by listening to Him. Battle Prayers: 

1. Shows how the power of prayer can lead you to find lasting encouragement 

2. Provides inspiration and theological accuracy 

3. Offers prayers ideal for helping move the mountains that can sometimes stand in between us and God 

Whether a gift or for yourself, this volume of 100 prayers features: 

1. Specific Scriptures and cross-references to other prayers in the book for additional encouragement 

2. First-person prayers addressed directly to God, ideal for reading aloud during morning, evening, or devotional prayer time 

3. A helpful and encouraging Appendix: "The 10 Essential Qualities of an Effective Battle Prayer" 

Prayer doesn’t stop with the “Amen,” and is merely the beginning of deeper, daily, more meaningful communication with our Creator. Find peace in stress, healing for broken relationships, and protection for your loved ones in this essential volume of prayers.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | IndieBound | ChristianBook | BookBub

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a print copy of Battle Prayers!

Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight March 23, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 30, 2022. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

 

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Book Review & Giveaway: Praying With Jane by Rachel Dodge

Welcome to the Blog Tour and Giveaway for Praying with Jane by Rachel Dodge, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Praying with Jane
Author: Rachel Dodge
Genre: Devotional
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Release Date: October 2, 2018

Daily Encouragement for Your Soul through the Prayers of Jane Austen

For more than two hundred years, Jane Austen and her novels have charmed readers from around the world. While much has been written about her fascinating life, less is known about Jane's spiritual side. In this beautiful 31-day devotional, Miss Austen's faith comes to life through her exquisite prayers, touching biographical anecdotes, and illuminating scenes from her novels. Each reading also includes a thematically appropriate Scripture and a prayer inspired by Jane's petitions.

May this journey into Jane Austen's life of faith and prayer ignite and deepen your own relationship with the Father who loves you.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Christianbook

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MY THOUGHTS

Praying with Jane: 31 Days Through the Prayers of Jane Austen by Rachel Dodge offers readers a daily devotional based on the three known prayers written by Jane Austen. Each prayer receives ten or eleven days of attention, effectively immersing the reader into the prayer.

Having recently reread Pride & Prejudice, I was delighted to start into Praying with Jane. Each devotional entry begins with an examination of a portion of one of Jane’s prayers. Jane’s personal life and literary works appear often as the author brings together Austen’s prayer and the devotional thought. All six of Austen’s published novels are referenced in various points. Naturally, many Biblical principles and Scriptures were included. The second section offers a brief invitation to pray that encourages personal introspection and honesty. Lastly, a pre-composed prayer leads the reader in communion with God through prayer.

Two of my favorite devotional entries in Praying with Jane were: (1) Every Good and Perfect Gift (Pg. 39) which focused on thankfulness. (2) A Benevolent Spirit (Pg. 77) which encouraged generosity toward others. This book spoke to me as it offered reminders of God’s love as well as instruction on the Christian life. I highly recommend Praying with Jane: 31 Days Through the Prayers of Jane Austen to Jane Austen fans. It has a permanent home on my bookcase and I expect to read it again in the future.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author. All opinions in this review are my own.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rachel Dodge teaches college English and Jane Austen classes, gives talks at libraries, teas, and Jane Austen groups, and is a writer for the popular Jane Austen's World blog. She makes her home in California with her husband, Robert, and their two young children. A true kindred spirit at heart, Rachel loves books, bonnets, and ball gowns. When she’s not reading or writing, you’ll find her hanging out with her husband and kids, serving at her church, or watching period dramas and food documentaries

CONNECT WITH RACHEL: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive 2 gift sets that include a copy of Praying With Jane as well as a matching journal and stickers (1 for you, 1 for a friend!)!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule shown below. Giveaway will begin at midnight December 4, 2019 and last through 11:59 PM EST on December 11, 2019. US only. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Book Review: 100 Extraordinary Stories of Prayer for Courageous Girls

About the Book:

Praying girls are world-changers! And this deeply inspiring storybook proves it!

Just for the girls in your life, ages 8 and up, this collection of 100 extraordinary stories of praying women of faith--from the Bible, history, and today--will empower girls to know and understand how praying women have made a difference in the world and how much smaller our faith (and the biblical record) would be without them. Featuring full-page, colorful illustrations alongside the true stories of praying women like Anna, Esther, Hannah, Anne Bradstreet, Shirley Dobson, Lottie Moon, Ida Scudder, Corrie ten Boom, Phyllis Wheatley, and dozens more, the stories of these 100 women will encourage and inspire girls to become the praying world-changers God created them to be!


My Thoughts:

I read through 100 Extraordinary Stories of Prayer for Courageous Girls: Unforgettable Tales of Women of Faith by Jean Fischer without my daughters. Normally, we’d sit down together and read through, but I plan to give it as a Christmas present.  Both of my daughters (ages 7 & 4) enjoyed its predecessor 100 Extraordinary Stories for Courageous Girls and I’m pretty sure they’ll enjoy this as well.

While reading though 100 Extraordinary Stories of Prayer for Courageous Girls, I noticed some overlapping stories between it and its predecessor. So, I pulled out my daughters’ copy of 100 Extraordinary Stories for Courageous Girls and compared the two.  It’s the same format with a story on the left page and an illustration on the right page. While some of the stories are basically the same, the narrative is worded differently and the illustrations are different.

Things I liked:

• The built-in bookmark!
• The emphasis on prayer. Some entries focus on a woman’s specific prayer that was answered. Others focus on someone who was known for praying, but are more biographical rather than citing a specific request and answer.
• The diversity. The stories included people from different faiths – Evangelical Christians, Catholics, Quakers, and Puritans. It included several women who stood up to racism and fought for racial equality. It advocated for gender equality and cited examples of female preachers. (Which some readers may disagree with.)

Things I did not like:

• In the original 100 Extraordinary Stories for Courageous Girls, it would give the story and usually ask a question for reflection. However, in 100 Extraordinary Stories of Prayer for Courageous Girls, there was often an imperative at the end of the narrative. I felt like the author took these women and their personal callings and twisted it to create a principle that applied to everybody. Because of that, when I read through this with my girls, I will be sure to examine and discuss those statements with them.
• The story of the Canaanite woman who cried out to Jesus to heal her daughter. This story has been interpreted in many different ways and I found the message in this book pretty revolting: “Sometimes when you pray, God will ask you to be like the Canaanite woman, to be like a patient dog at a dinner table.” (Pg. 30). This just didn’t sit well with me. If I’m a child of God, then I’m a child of God – not a dog (even if it’s a beloved lap dog).  Frankly, I don’t like the message it sends to my daughter and I really wish the author had left this story out. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of the book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

Book Review: When I Pray For You by Matthew Paul Turner

About the Book:

From the moment I saw you,
I started to pray.
Big prayers and small ones 
I have sent God's way.

I prayed you felt safe,
full of joy and content.
When I whispered "I love you,"
you knew what I meant.

From the author and illustrator of the best-selling When God Made You comes a new illuminating message about God's design affirming young readers.

With lyricism, whimsy, and heartfelt emotion, Matthew Paul Turner reveals the tender emotions connected with watching a beloved child grow up and experience the world. Paired with Kimberley Barnes's vivid and playful illustrations, When I Pray for You is a beautifully affirming book, in which children and parents will see their own stories come to life. 

When I Pray for You celebrates the dreams, hopes, and longings parents pray over their children, and shares with the little ones how much care and concern a loved one feels for them. 
This is a book you will read to your child again and again. Perfect for any occasion, as well as for milestones including baby showers, birthdays, and graduations. 

My Girls' Reactions:

My girls are always excited to get a new book and as soon as they saw the cover of When I Pray for You, they asked me to read it. Our first read through took awhile as they loved the illustrations and wanted to point out all kinds of interesting things. My three year old especially liked the puppy and the page where the girl jumps out of bed. I'm not sure how much of the story they absorbed at first as they were completely captivated by the illustrations. However, now that I've read it to them a few times, I think they are enjoying both the illustrations and the narrative.

My Thoughts:

I enthusiastically recommend When I Pray for You, written by Matthew Paul Turner and illustrated by Kimberley Barnes, to anyone with a child in their life. The poignant prose had me tearing up the first time I read it to the girls. The book is well-written and perfectly captures so many of the moments and stages children pass through as they grow up.

My favorite sentence (coming from a mom-perspective) is: “'Cause when I pray for you, / God knows this is true, / every word I whisper / is a prayer for me too.” Isn't that so true? To be the mommy God wants me to be, I need prayer just as much as my girls do.

While When I Pray for You affirms to children how much we love and pray over them, it also challenged me to pray more in those little moments of the day, not just during bedtime prayers with the girls or my personal prayer time.

Lastly, the illustrations in When I Pray for You are absolutely beautiful – bright and whimsical. I especially like the little girl's wild, curly hair as I've got one with hair just like that.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. 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: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

The Prayer Box by Lisa Wingate

Just when Tandi Jo Reese has found a safe place for herself and her children, her landlord, Iola Anne Poole, passes away. Desperate to find income and stay in the rental cottage, Tandi agrees to clean out Iola's home. To Tandi's surprise, she finds beautifully decorated prayer boxes that contain prayers and a life story. She finds unexpected connection with the author of the prayers and healing begins to take root. Read more in The Prayer Box by Lisa Wingate.

Once again, my book club has introduced me to an amazing book that wasn't even on my radar. It's one of the best books I've read this year. The novel held my attention from the beginning, was well-written, and progressed at the perfect pace. I was intrigued by the prayer boxes and the characters pulled me in, making me wish they were real. Tandi's character development was phenomenal. I loved watching her grow, change, and open her heart to the right people. Prayer is a prominent theme in the novel, but there were other secondary themes about grace, empowerment, and helping others.

The Prayer Box by Lisa Wingate is the first full-length novel in the Carolina Heirlooms series. It has a prequel novella, The Sea Glass Sisters, and a postlude novella, The Tidewater Sisters, which appears to continue Tandi's story. Neither of these are required to understand and enjoy The Prayer Box. I highly recommend The Prayer Box to anyone who enjoys inspirational fiction.

Read an excerpt from The Prayer Box on the publisher's website.

Before Amen by Max Lucado

In Before Amen, bestselling author Max Lucado introduces readers to the power of a simple prayer:

Father, You are good. I need help. They need help. Thank you. In Jesus' name, amen.

As Jesus gave a model prayer to his disciples, so Lucado is giving a prayer that can be used quickly when time is short or used as the basis for a longer prayer. Each phrase has a correlating chapter to expound on the Biblical background of the thought, the appropriate application of the idea, and the spiritual blessings and possibilities that prayer can bring.

Lucado's emphasis in Before Amen is on making prayer approachable and simple for anyone. One of my favorite quotes was: “We Speak. He listens. He speaks. We listen. This is prayer in its purest form.” (pg.11) Throughout the book, I felt like Lucado reiterated the approachability of both God and prayer as well as advocated prayer as a means of experiencing deeper intimacy with God.

Before Amen is mainly targeted to Christians who desire to pray, but struggle with consistency or insecurity relating to prayer. Christians who already have a strong prayer life will likely find it minimally helpful as it is simplistic. However, I think that everyone could find encouragement in this book as Lucado often reminds the reader of Biblical truths and promises. For me, reading the chapter about God as Father was a refreshing reminder of God's love and care for each of us.

Don't forget to enter the Before Amen giveaway!

And visit the blog tour hosted by Litfuse Publicity to read more opinions on Before Amen by Max Lucado.




Disclosure of Material Connection: I received an Advance Reader Copy of Before Amen from the publisher via Litfuse Publicity. 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: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Pre-order Max Lucado’s BEFORE AMEN and receive a FREE book. And, Enter to WIN an iPad!

Prayer is simply a heartfelt conversation between God and his child. In Before Amen, best-selling author Max Lucado joins readers on a journey to the very heart of biblical prayer, offering hope for doubts, and confidence even for prayer wimps. Let the conversation begin.

I got my review copy of Before Amen by Max Lucado in the mail on Saturday and I've already started reading it. Look for my review to come soon.

Be sure to enter the Before Amen iPad Mini giveaway. AND if you pre-order a copy of Before Amen by 9/29, you'll receive a FREE ebook copy of Max’s best-selling Second Chances: More Stories of Grace.

One grand prize winner will receive:

• An iPad Mini
• Before Amen by Max Lucado

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on September 29th. Winner will be announced September 30th on the Litfuse blog.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit the Litfuse blog on the 30th to see if you won! (Or better yet, subscribe to their blog and have the winner announcement delivered to your inbox!)

The Power of a Praying Wife Devotional by Stormie Omartian.

Do you aspire to be a wife with a powerful prayer life? The Power of a Praying Wife Devotional by Stormie Omartian teaches new ways to pray that contribute to a healthy and fulfilling marriage. The Power of a Praying Wife Devotional features 100 insightful devotions and related prayers that are easy-to-read and convenient for busy schedules. The devotions vary in topic, but one-third of them focus on praying for yourself, one-third focus on praying for your husband, and one-third focus on praying for your marriage relationship. The devotionals are not grouped by prayer focus and do not have to be read in a specific order.

In the interest of reviewing The Power of a Praying Wife Devotional by Stormie Omartian in a timely manner, I did not read the entire book prior to writing this review. However, I have been reading it for nearly three weeks and have finished a substantial portion of the book. Everything appears to be correctly aligned with Scripture and the pre-prayer devotionals are filled with wisdom.

I used this book to supplement my daily devotions and read between one to three of the devotions per day. I can see myself reusing this book over and over. I found that the prayers helped me to learn a new pattern of praying and provided ideas of ways to pray for my husband. I've even found myself praying for my husband more throughout the day. While I don't remember the exact words from the prayers at those times, I do remember the pattern I've learned.

I highly recommend this book to any woman who is a wife or soon-to-be wife.

Click here to read an excerpt from The Power of a Praying Wife Devotional by Stormie Omartian.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Harvest House Publishers. 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: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Amazing Love by Corrie ten Boom

As youth, Corrie ten Boom and her sister suffered imprisonment in a Nazi concentration camp. Treated harshly, her sister escaped the concentration camp by way of the grave. Corrie, however, was released and eventually recovered from the traumatic experience. In Amazing Love, Corrie recounts twenty-seven of her life experiences. Rather than remain bruised and scarred, Corrie gave her pain to God. In return, she received personal healing and opportunities to share the gift of healing with others. Corrie uses her trials and triumphs to encourage Christians from all walks of life.

Listening to Amazing Love was entertaining and encouraging. The stories challenged me spiritually while distracting me from the tediousness of laundry. I found listening to this audio book while doing chores quite enjoyable and I would definitely do it again.

Some of my favorite things in Amazing Love were: The discussions about the power of prayer and the different forms of prayer as well as the recurring theme of victorious living through Christ. Corrie used stories of personal victories in her own life to demonstrate her beliefs. One powerful statement was: “The promises of God are greater than the realities of our problems.” What a thought. I also enjoyed “The Chocolate Sermon.” I won't spoil it by explaining too much. However, the simple truth illustrated in that particular story has the potential to change lives. It doesn't hurt that I happen to love chocolate and can relate to the women in the story. I would not consider this to be a devotional, but it is spiritual uplifting.

Regarding the narration, the narrator's voice matched what I imagine the author's voice to sound like. It was distinguished with an interesting lilt. Vocal intonations, such as loudness, excitement and sadness, were utilized appropriately.

Amazing Love is available from christianaudio, please click here to visit their website.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this audiobook free from Christianaudio as part of their Review 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: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

That's When I Talk to God by Dan & Ali Morrow

When should I talk to God? Can I only talk to him at bedtime or when I am at church? Does Mommy have to be with me?

Such questions can easily go unspoken or unaddressed. However, teaching a child to pray is one of the most important spiritual duties of a parent. That's When I Talk to God by Dan and Ali Marrow is an entertaining tool that a parent can use to teach a child that is is always appropriate to talk to God. As the little girl journeys through her day, she finds multiple opportunities to speak to God. A visit with a friend, a fear of heights, and an act of disobedience are a few examples of her encounters. The little girl also discovers that God speaks to her daily through the Bible, her conscience, and other people.

Illustrated children's books can sometimes capture a child's attention in ways that regular conversation can not. That's When I Talk to God teaches an important lesson by appealing to the mind and the sense of sight. I particularly liked how the authors made a point to mention that God not only hears, but also communicates with children. The book includes verses about prayer and The Lord's Prayer at the end. These could be used for further discussion and learning. I can confidently recommend this book to any parent looking for a book to help teach important lessons on prayer.

That's When I Talk to God is recommended for children between 4 and 8 years of age. I thought the illustrations were beautiful and engaging. However, I suspect that girls may reread this book more than boys. The main character is a girl and many of the illustrations use so-called “girly” colors like pink and purple.






Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from The B & B Media Group, Inc. 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: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."