Battle Ready Moms Raising Battle Ready Kids, by Reba Bowman

Battle Ready Moms Raising Battle Ready Kids, is written by Reba Bowman, and is an outgrowth of her ministry Dare For More Ministries. Through her ministry and work as a coach, professor, and dean of women, she has had opportunity to interact and disciple women of all ages and is excited to challenge them to a deeper walk with the Lord.

Written for mothers, particularly those who have children in the younger formative ages, this book is an encouragement to seek after the heart of your child and lead them in God’s ways as we view parenting in our culture from a biblical mindset. I appreciated how she spoke from her heart about the importance of training up our children to “fight the good fight” with wisdom and very clear godly directives for their life. In this book, you will read about the importance of discipline, the importance of rules and guidelines (and a mutual understanding between a parent and child as to why they exist), the importance of honest and open communication about friends and morality, and the importance of encouraging character in our child’s lives. Our children are precious gifts from the Lord and nothing is more important than their souls. I appreciated how this book reinforced the earnest necessity of our relationship with the Lord, as well as praying for our children that they would have a personal and vibrancy as they recognize their sin and their need for the Lord as Savior.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Xulon Press. 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.”

City On Our Knees, by TobyMac

City On Our Knees: If We Gotta Start Somewhere Why Not Here, is a collection of stories compiled by TobyMac, a Grammy Award-winning artist, producer, and songwriter. His desire through this book, and the song of the same title, is to inspire a passion in believers to take on our communities for Christ - regardless of position, ethnicity, social or financial statues, or life choice.

Each story is actually a mini-biographical sketch of someone who was willing to sacrifice, or use whatever the Lord had given to them, in order to make a difference for the Kingdom. The stories chosen span history, bringing the reader to early church history, to the Welsh and early North American revivals, to college youth willing to give their lives to reveal the atrocity of Hitler’s regime and save lives, to a young girl battling a life-long terminal illness who through her lemonade stands (and the ones it encouraged) continues to make a huge contribution to finding cures and relief for other children even though her condition claimed her life at age eight, to a wealthy family who was willing to adopt one who was a social minority in their community, to a family adopting an African child and taking on the task of financially supporting his whole orphanage with the help of others, etc.

This book has a very contemporary feel to it (the cover and slipcover made me dizzy), and I can see youth who are familiar with his music (I actually didn’t know who he was), showing keen interest in it. However, all of us ought to take its message and words to heart and honestly, I really enjoyed reading the stories he compiled and was greatly challenged by them. His heart for people exudes through this book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers (A division of Baker Publishing Group). 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 Strategically Small Church, by Brandon J. O'Brian

The Strategically Small Church, written by Brandon J. O’Brian, is a vividly marked difference from the popular church-grown strategies developed or popularized by America’s mega churches and dreamed of or wished for by smaller churches. But is it God’s best for a church to be large? Could it be that a smaller church may be a better expression of God’s heart for our current world and better equipped for both believer discipleship and outreach for the salvation of the unsaved? What ought a pastor to be striving towards in regards to the people, and even more, the Lord, whom he serves?

The author speaks from his experience as a twice-former pastor to small congregations and is currently editor-at-large for Leadership Journal and their accompanying blog, Out of Ur. He is also working toward his doctoral degree in Church History, studying at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

I found his book, The Strategically Small Church, to be well-written and based and believe that it will be a welcome encouragement to the small-church pastor who is striving to serve the Lord wholeheartedly along with a congregation who keeps the Lord at the center of their worship, lives and outreach. For truly, their work is not in vain! Nor are they in the wrong, regardless of whether they experience any large measure of growth. For even though overall, there are small churches to be found that are small due to pride, a failure to keep the Lord at the center, or lack of God’s Word alive through message and lives, numbers alone cannot state the health of a church body. A church can be vibrant and God-glorifying even if the count on Sunday may only be 150 or even 20. This book also gives suggestions to the pastor who finds himself serving a larger congregation, giving him ways to keep their ministry and worship authentic and God-focused and their ministries relevant to the needs in their particular community.

A worthwhile read for every pastor or layperson desiring to serve the Lord through church involvement.



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers (A division of Baker Publishing Group). 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.”

Becoming a Woman of Faith, by Cynthia Heald

Becoming a Woman of Faith, written by Cythia Heald, is a devotional study for women of all ages and walks of life who desire for their faith to be challenged, strengthened, and encouraged. Basing the text and chapters primarily off of Romans 12, she walks the reader through many Scriptures, quotes from great Christians, and attributes of faith.

I liked the 11-week study format the author chose, in that each chapter begins with a brief lesson or message, and is followed by application as you delve into selected Scripture passages, questions for personal review and consideration, and a time of focused prayer. Although the topic and concept is a deep one to be sure, the study allows for anyone to participate, as it seems to me that the study parts of it could be completed in a rather short time, though one certainly wouldn’t want to rush through it as much insight could be gained by putting a fair amount of time towards the study of God’s word as she has prepared. As written, this study would be easily incorporated into one’s personal devotional time, or studied alongside others (which would also offer the added benefit of accountability to finish!).

This study is one of several written by the author, the others being: Becoming a Woman of Simplicity, Becoming a Woman of Excellence, Becoming a Woman of Freedom, Becoming a Woman of Prayer & Becoming a Woman of Purpose.



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress 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.”

Money Strategies for Tough Times, by Matt Bell

Money Strategies for Tough Times, is written by Matt Bell, an author and speaker who also serves as director of Willow Creek Associations Good $ense financial ministry. Having experienced times of financial distress in his own life, his passion for leading others to discover freedom in personal finance stems from the lessons he learned along the way, and of the joy that being debt-free has brought to his life, family and ministry.

I found the concepts he presents to be sound and realistic. He gives brief overviews of financial struggles he has helped with through his ministry, and used them to springboard topics of financial interest and concern - whether it be student loans, emergency reserve, credit card debt, medical debt, bankruptcy, etc. He challenges the reader to view their personal responsibility for the incurring financial trouble, gives points and encouragement to overcoming, and then recommendations to protect against repeating the painful journey.

However, this book wouldn’t be on the top of my list of personal-finance recommendations. During this time of economic downturn and turmoil, it seems that everyone who can spell is writing a book on finances, and even though what they say may be true – there are, in my opinion, better resources already available.



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress 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.”

Love and Respect For a Lifetime, by Dr. Emerson Eggrichs

Love and Respect For a Lifetime, written by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs is a compilation of excerpts from his best-selling title Love and Respect, alongside Scripture quotations in a beautifully designed gift album edition. I loved how they made this entire book so easily read and beautiful, using creative design to highlight the truths so vital to a marriage that satisfies and brings joy to the couple and furthermore glory to the Lord – that being a husband needs to know he is unconditionally respected and a wife needs to know she is unconditionally loved (by each other).

Having been familiar with these marriage truths prior to my own wedding, I was eager to see how this gift edition would “measure up” to the real book. I was not disappointed. Even thought I will continue to highly recommend his original writing of Love and Respect, I will also be delighted to give this edition as a wedding gift to friends as well as to have in our own personal library for quick reference and reminder. I am so grateful for Dr. Eggerichs’ teaching, taken straight from Scriptural teaching and years of marriage counseling, for how it has impacted my own view of marriage – particularly how I view and relate to my husband. I think this book is an excellent resource for wives like myself who desire to be more than simply their husband’s lover, but also a true friend and companion, building him up to be the man of God the Lord has called him to be.

*This book was gratefully received from Thomas Nelson at no cost in exchange for my agreement to post this review.

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The Nativity Collection, by Robert J. Morgan

The Nativity Collection, written by Robert J. Morgan, is a heart-warming selection of original Christmas stories penned by the author and read to his congregation during the yearly Christmas Eve service, one story each year. Bound in a beautiful gift-edition are six of these stories, together forming a collection that would be a welcome gift or a wonderful addition to one’s one holiday coffee table or bookshelf. As one who gleefully collects Christmas books ranging from serious to whimsical, I was excited when this particular volume became available for review.

I enjoyed reading the stories, beginning with the tale of how Ollie acquired his World War II era nativity snow-globe, to the grandfather and grandson braving an Appalachian blizzard during the Depression, to the newlywed couple rediscovering love and tenderness, to the Swiss woodcarver who discovered the Judean Lamb of God as Savior. Each story is a beautiful reminder to cherish the simple things of life that the Lord has given to us in family, health, and most of all, Himself. I also enjoyed the charming illustrations scattered throughout the book as well as the artistically designed glossy pages with easy to read typeset. Wonderful Christmas edition that is sure to be enjoyed by all ages! 

*This book was gratefully received from Thomas Nelson at no cost in exchange for my agreement to post this review.

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