Permission to Speak Freely by Anne Jackson

Anne Jackson posed this question on her blog: What is the one thing yu feel you cannot say in church?" brought in an avalanche of responses that birthed this book. In 194 pages, Ms Jackson uses art, anecdotes, and poetry to inspire the reader to tell their story.



I loved the layout and texture of this book. It reminded me of an art book but was inviting and inspiring to me. The beautiful artwork and poetry whet my appetite to digest the meat in the book.



Ms. Jackson writes in an open and honest manner and invites the reader to enter her life and learn from her past.



One truth that resonated with me (because it is a major issue I am faced with frequently) was found on page 4: fear wants to stop our stories." I realized I can't let fear stop me from telling my story if it helps one person to gain freedom from whatever bondage they find themself in.



Reading this book reinforced the fact that it is not only important to tell our stories--it is critical that we do,



I recommend this book to anyone who feels that church is too closed to the daily messes of life. The church should be a safe haven where open and honest communication should be able to take place. After all didn't Jesus communicate to the sinners and outcasts of society?

The One Year Choose Your Own Ending Devotion

I recently received this book from Tyndale in exchange for an honest review.




This is an interactive and engaging devotional geared toward elementary aged children. My kids really enjoyed using this devotional. Each devotional starts with a situation, bible verses, and choices for the ending of the story. My kids have had some very interesting discussions. Through these discussions, each child was able to take something away that will help them in day-to-day life.

This devotional should be helpful for children to learn the right and wrong to behave and know what to do when faced with one of many temptations and pressures kids today face.




I intend to use and reuse this book and recommend it to families with children in this age group.

Seeds of Turmoil by Bryant Wright

This book covers the Middle East conflict. However, it is more than a historical account, although this history is explained. Wright approaches the conflict from a biblical standpoint. It is well-known this is a religious conflict but how did it originate as a religious conflict.




This book begins with the well-known story of Abraham and God's promise to him that a son would be born to Him. This promised son would be the father of a great nation of God's chosen people. I'm sure you are familiar with Sarah's, Abraham's wife, disbelief and offered him Hagar, her maidservant. Abraham had a son with Hagar which he named Ishmael. Fast forward fifteen years. Sarah and Abraham had their promised son and named him Isaac. After Isaac's birth, Sarah had Abraham run Hagar and Ishmael from their home. God intervened and assured Hagar that Ishmael would live but would be a wandering tribe. From the beginning of this turmoil Wright explains how the trials of Ishmael and Issac endured through the years and how it effect the Middle East conflict today.




Wright examines the situation from Jewish, Muslim and Christian points of view. He presents all views fairly and without bias.




I enjoyed reading this book. Although I knew about the births of Isaac and Ishmael and the roles they played, I enjoyed learning about the many splits brought about by their turmoil.




I believe the Bible is clear about Israel and they are the chosen people of God. He gave them the land and it is theirs today.



I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

Outlive Your Life by Max Lucado

Will the world be a better place because you lived?




I have read several books by Max Lucado and enjpoyed each and every one of them. This one is no exception. It is an easy read written Lucado's familiar style of bringing biblical principles to fit out lives today. Lucado uses the book of Acts as the basis for this book. I enjoyed the entire book but Chapter 9 and Chapter 10 really hit home with me.




Chapter 9 challenges us to "Do Good Quietly." When I was in high school (that is too many years ago to remember anything clearly). I do, however, remember one incident clearly. I was valedictorian of my graduating class. Coming from a family of six children did not leave much money for many new clothes. One day while we kids were in school and my parents were at work, someone left a new dress hanging on our door. There was no name of who had left it but it did have a note with my name on it. I still remember what the dress looked like. I never found out who my "angel" was but I do remember her act of kindness. It made a difference in a young girl's life. Because of her kindness I try to pay it forward.




Chapter 10 challenges us to "Stand up for the Have Nots". Sometimes when we see a dirty homeless person we tend to walk the other way. I know I have been guilty of this. We need to step out of comfort zones and do what we can to help someone who does not have as much as we do. Although one person cannot save the world we can help to save one person.




Some of Lucado's other challenges include:

Get out of your shell. We cannot isolate ourselves from the suffering in the world.

Work with others. Individually, we can't do much but as a group of believers working for the same goal we can accomplish much.

Recognize Jesus in needy people. As Jesus said "feed, visit, clothe, and doctor those in need and you do unto me."

Don't give up on people. Don't give up on people. Keep doing good for people even when they seem to be unloveable.




I found this book to be inspirational and motivating. I whole-heartedly recommend this book to anyone who wants to make their life count for the good of humanity. I enjoyed the book so much I purchased the participant's guide to the book.




I received this book in exchange for an honest review of this book from Booksneeze, Thomas Nelson's blogger review program.

The Miracle of Mercy Land by River Jordan

"I was born in a bolt of lightning on Bittersweet Creek." This begins the fascinating journey of Mercy Land. The daughter of a preacher in rural Alabama, Mercy decides she wants more out of life. Her Aunt Ida lovingly encouraged her to spread her wings and move to Bay City, a picturesque little coastal town. Here she finds work as a waitress. She then goes to work for Doc, the editor-in-chief of the town's newspaper, the Banner. She soon masters her job and is known locally as Doc's girl. Her life is fairly routine until one early morning call from Doc.



A mystical and somewhat magical book has appeared on Doc's desk sometime during the night. This book displayed the details of the lives of the residents of Bay City. It showed the choices each individual made and how it had affected the lives of those around them. This book sends Mercy and Doc on different quests to find the purpose the book was left with them. Mercy is searching for the purpose of the book while Doc is trying to rectify a long ago error.



I have never read any of River Jordan's books before but I can tell you this will not be my last. This book was spell-binding and at the same time thought-provoking. What if we were given a chance to see how our choices and decisions have affected our current situations and the situations of the people around us. Perhaps a more interesting question would be: What if we were given a second chance to change our past?



This book reinforces the fact that whatever path we take in life has a lasting impact on the world. That, my friend, is a sobering thought.



I have no hesitation in recommending this book to others. My only advice would be: clear your calendar before you open this book because once you open it you will not want to do anything else until the book is finished.



I received this book from Waterbrook Press in exchange for an honest review of this book. I received no other compensation.