Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Before Amen By:Max Lucado

Overview: 

We all pray . . . some.

We pray to stay sober, centered, or solvent. When the lump is deemed malignant. When the money runs out before the month does. When the marriage is falling apart. We pray.

But wouldn’t we like to pray more? Better? Stronger? With more fire, faith, and fervency?
Yet we have kids to feed, bills to pay, deadlines to meet. The calendar pounces on our good intentions like a tiger on a rabbit. And what about our checkered history with prayer? Uncertain words. Unmet expectations. Unanswered requests.

We aren’t the first to struggle with prayer. The first followers of Jesus needed prayer guidance too. In fact, prayer is the only tutorial they ever requested.

And Jesus gave them a prayer. Not a lecture on prayer. Not the doctrine of prayer. He gave them a quotable, repeatable, portable prayer. Couldn’t we use the same?

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. Distilling prayers in the Bible down to one pocket-sized prayer, Max reminds readers that prayer is not a privilege for the pious nor the art of a chosen few. Prayer is simply a heartfelt conversation between God and his child. Let the conversation begin.

My Thoughts:

 I have always been a fan of Max Lucado books.  This one is no different.  We all pray in our own way.  I love how Max makes it so simple and easy to understand.  So easy, anyone can understand.   Prayer is about talking to God.  Plain and simple.  No need for some formal prayers or recited out of repetition but prayers that are heartfelt and simple are what God desires.  He wants to hear out hearts. He already knows them but desires our heart to communicate with His.  I recommend this book as a simple read.  It is simple and not deep at all.  Plain and simple.

Friday, January 17, 2014

Turnaround God By Charlotte Gambill

Synopsis:

Don’t settle for less than what God can do.We often face situations in life that are hard. Whether it be a job loss, a difficult marriage, or problems with the kids—harsh storms come, and we can quickly feel overwhelmed, even desperate.

In the beginning of creation, God entered the darkness and void and displayed his turnaround nature. He spoke words that turned darkness into light and filled the emptiness with fruitfulness. His turnaround power brought order into the chaos. In the same way, God enters our lives with the power of his turnaround ability and offers not just a slight improvement but a complete turn around.

Turnarounds by their nature are radical. They bypass nice and sensible, they freak out the orderly, and they do not line up with agendas. But turnarounds reveal our miraculous Savior to a messed-up world.

Using examples from her own life and those of biblical characters, international speaker and teacher Charlotte Gambill offers that God is more than just a little bit of help, he’s all the help; we need. It’s time for us to fully understand that there is nothing that God can’t turn around!

Review:

Turnaround God opened my eyes to the many ways I stand in the way of the turnaround.  I start the process and attempt to do it all myself.  Charlotte tells stories from her life, the life of others and the Bible.  God always allows a turnaround, no one has gone to far and no one is out of reach. The problem for me is I want to be in control, maybe I'm alone in that but God allows me to turnaround time and time again. No questions asked. Arms open wide.

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