Day by Day Through the Gospel of John

During the second half of the nineteenth century, Great Britain was home to some of the greatest preachers, biblical scholars, and Christian writers in all of church history. Legendary names such as Charles Spurgeon, George Müller, Hudson Taylor, Catherine Booth, and George MacDonald stand out as giants of the church. Their predecessors, such as John Wesley and Matthew Henry, left them a rich tradition of biblical and evangelical excellence to follow. Americans R. A. Torrey and Charles Finney and South African Andrew Murray were cut from the same cloth.

From the classic writings of these revered saints, Lance Wubbels has edited and compiled the best of the best of their inspirational insights into this 365-day devotional. Verse by verse through the Gospel of John, readers will gain an unforgettable understanding of the life, words, and ministry of Jesus Christ. Here is a one-year devotional that is packed with profound biblical commentary, brilliant wisdom, and practical application that will enrich readers and be read for a lifetime.

MY REVIEW

This devotional is packed full of wisdom from some of world’s best preachers and teachers. From Charles Spurgeon to Hudson Taylor and many more, this book guides the reader through the gospel of John a little each day. The book opens with a brief biography of each contributor and the sturdy hardback cover makes for easy reading and bookmarking. 

I received this book in September and have read each daily passage since, so my review is based off of my experience thus far. I’ve enjoyed this devotional because it covers one verse a day and the accompanying teaching is short enough to read before work in the morning yet full of knowledge so I learn something too. The wisdom inside is not a new-age take on the Bible. It sticks to the original Word of God from solid biblical teachers. Different versions of the Bible are used at times in the opening text, but I followed along with my King James Bible. This is definitely a devotional I will keep around for years to come. 

I give this book five stars!

Praying God's Promises by Linda Evans Shepherd

The Scriptures tell us that when we pray the will of God, he delights to answer our prayers. But what is God's will in any given situation? How can we know it? And if we don't know it, how can we pray it?

Linda Evans Shepherd shows readers that God's will is not a mystery--it's clearly laid out in his Word through his many promises. Through stories, practical application, examples of prayers, and guided reflection, Shepherd leads readers toward a more powerful prayer life. Arranged by topic for ease of use, this book shows how to pray God's promises

- of his presence
- of love
- of peace
- of joy
- of hope
- for provision
- for health
- for breakthroughs
- for our relationships
- over children and loved ones

Shepherd includes a chapter on God's powerful answers to prayer that will inspire readers to search the Scriptures, pray God's will, and wait expectantly for his promised answers.

My Review

Prayer is such an important part of the Christian life, and I’m always looking for books and lessons on how to strengthen my prayer life. Therefore, I jumped at the chance to read and review Praying God’s Promises by Linda Evans Shepherd. My feelings about this book are mixed, however, and completely my own opinion. 

I love the way the book is set up: short, punchy chapters that each have a different theme and the truth within the verses listed. But I had a very hard time following along with my Bible, as I like to do with these kind of books. This author uses so many different versions of the Bible (to keep the book non-denominational, I’m sure) that it got confusing at times. Some references didn’t even match up with my Bible (I use KJV), or the verse used in the book has a different meaning than my version. 

This review isn’t based on my belief over which version of the Bible should be used but is based on how user-friendly and informational it is (or lack thereof). 

The book points people to the promises of God and that can never be a bad thing. But for me, the book didn’t meet my devotional criteria (which is entirely my own preference and opinion). 

I give it three stars.

Proverbs Prayers by John Mason

Experience the wisdom of God in your life.

The book of Proverbs is a wellspring of wisdom, offering practical guidance for life and the tools to make good choices, withstand pressure, prioritize relationships, and avoid unnecessary trouble. 

Now bestselling author John Mason helps you make that wisdom a part of your inner life. For thirty-one days, he takes you through each chapter of Proverbs, unpacking the wisdom within and providing a heartfelt prayer based on the insights from that chapter. As you read and pray, you’ll discover the principles found in this wisdom-packed book coming alive in your life in ways you may never have imagined.

Publisher: Revell, 2015

Author: John Mason

Cover Design: Paula Gibson

My Review

The book of Proverbs holds an astounding amount of wisdom for all areas of life. To couple that wisdom with the power of prayer is amazing. I highly enjoyed this book. I used it as an accompaniment to my King James Bible, reading the passage twice and then reciting the provided prayer. I recommend this book to anyone who's looking for a deeper study of the book of Proverbs, is seriously seeking wisdom, and to those who enjoy daily devotionals. I give this book 5 stars!

__________________________________________________________

John Mason is a national best-selling author, noted speaker and executive author

coach. He is the founder and president of Insight International and Insight
Publishing Group.
He has authored fifteen books including An Enemy Called Average, You’re Born An
Original-Don’t Die A Copy, and Know Your Limits—Then Ignore Them which have
sold over 1.5 million copies and are translated into thirty-five languages throughout
the world. These books are widely known as a source of sound wisdom, genuine
motivation, and practical principles. His writings have been published in Reader’s
Digest along with numerous other national publications. And four of his books have
reached the #1 spot on Amazon best-seller lists.
Known for his quick wit, powerful thoughts and insightful ideas, he is a popular
speaker across the U.S. and around the world.
John and his wife, Linda, have four children: Michelle, Greg, Michael and David.
They reside in Tulsa, Oklahoma

My Top Book Picks for 2014

January first, I set a Goodreads goal of reading 30 books in 2014. I surpassed my goal by 235% by reading 73 books. (If you're wondering how I did this, I don't really watch TV. I'm able to block out surrounding noises, which enables me to read in the evenings in the same room with my family while they're watching TV.) So, without further ado, here are my top book pics for 2014.

Novels

These ten romances received 5 stars from me because once I started I couldn't put them down, the swoon factor was astronomical, and the story stuck with me for days afterward. 

                  Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck                  

  

Walker's Wedding by Lori Copeland

                                                                                                             

                                         Meant to Be Mine by Becky Wade                                     

Love In the Balance by Regina Jennings

          

                                          

                                                Dancing With Fireflies by Denise Hunter                                                 

 Fair Play by Deeanne Gist

The Wedding Game by Amy Matayo

A Match of Wits by Jen Turano

Five Days in Skye by Carla Laureano

A Most Inconvenient Marriage by Regina Jennings

Series

These romance series are my top pics because once I read the first book, I devoured them all. Each individual book received 5 stars from me. 

*The Witness Protection Program Series is not deemed Christian Fiction. However, these romance stories are clean, though the characters' actions and choices are riskier than Christian Fiction. 

*This series absolutely blew me away. I read all three books in a week. Deep emotional, soul-stirring content. Pair with a box of tissues. 

Novellas

These romance novellas were short yet satisfying. All received 5 stars from me. 

Waiting for Lily Bloom by Jericha Kingston

Appalachian Serenade by Sarah Loudin Thomas

Devotionals

These books challenged me with the Word of God and deepened my knowledge of the scriptures. 

Jesus, the One and Only by Beth Moore

To Live is Christ by Beth Moore

*A study of the apostle Paul

Non-Fiction

These books both taught and challenged me.

Here is Where by Andrew Carroll

*Discovering America's forgotten history

Romance-ology 101 by Julie Lessman

*How to write captivating romance scenes

That's my list! What were your favorite books of 2014?