God Gave Us Love by Lisa Tawn Bergren

God Gave Us Love
by Lisa Tawn Bergren
Illustrated by Laura J. Bryant

From the back of the book, "As Little Cub and Grampa Bears fishing adventure is interrupted by mischievous otters, the young polar bear begins to question why we must love others...even the seemingly unlovable."

This is a small cardboard book that children will enjoy looking through. The illustrations are cute with a family of polar bears dressed in little winter scarves and coats.

The book is easy to hold for toddlers but the words are definitely for adults to read aloud to the child. The book is well done as it talks about love and loving others. I like that this book discussed how we don’t always like others or feel like loving them but even when we know that we should.

For being a simple cardboard book this book is a great teaching tool for all ages about love and God’s love that lives through us and our actions.

I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review form WaterBrook Press.

Spiritual Warfare for Women: Winning the Battle for Your Home, Family, and Friends

Spiritual Warfare for Women: Winning the Battle for Your Home, Family, and Friends

by Leighann McCoy

This book came to me at a time where I was just swamped with life and had to put it on the shelf to review later. Then, some things happened that knocked me spiritually off my feet. I was groping for help. I remembered this book. So I picked it up and decided to fight.
What a blessing this book was. I recommend this book to anyone who is struggling with an attack in their lives. It could be an attack to their personal lives, their church, family, friends, etc. This book grounds the reader in God’s love and promise for their lives and then helps the reader know how to fight their battles.
As women we might feel helpless and weak, but through McCoy’s transparency in her own life, she enables others to fight in Christ’s strength. None of the things she shares in this book are done in our own strength, but in reliance on Jesus’.
A part that I particularly found powerful was the sections at the end of each chapter. This is where you took what McCoy had been saying and applied it to you own life, in prayer, journaling, and memorizing of God’s Word. This takes the book to a deeper level. It is one thing to read a chapter but to apply it to your life and have the deeper connection really sets this book apart.
I was incredibly strengthened and blessed by this book and I know others will be as well.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes by the publisher. The review written was my opinion and I was not required to write positive review.

Three Cups

From the publisher:All parents want to teach their children good money habits from an early age. Many start by giving them an allowance. But it’s equally important to teach children a positive, generous attitude as they learn to use money responsibly.

This is a wonderful book. As an adult I have learned the adventure that comes from having giving, saving, and spending in my life. This book is agreat way to not only introduce to concept but have your child(ren) begin to practice it.

What I really liked about this book is that it didn’t say that spending was a bad thing, but rather that all three cups (give, save, spend) were all part of the adventure.

I have been wondering how to teach my students (I am a teacher) how to see the importance of giving money to help others (we already talk about saving and spending) and this is a great way for me to introduce it.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to teach a child about life and money and the adventure that can come when all three are in their lives.

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.

Mikasa Giveaway

I know this blog is for book reviews but I saw this Mikasa giveaway on a friend's facebook page and wanted to enter.

http://stonegable.blogspot.com/2011/10/on-menu-monday-week-of-october-24-2011.html

This is a link to the Stone Gable blogspot and the giveaway information is at the bottom of the blog. The contest ends tonight, so enter quickly if you want to!

Thank you, God for loving me by Max Lucado

From the publisher: Little Hermie and the baby bug garden friends teach little ones about God’s love for them.

God loves all of His creatures. Little Hermie explores all of the ways God loves him and his friends in this sweet board book with glitter on the cover.

I had my husband read through the book and then he asked me, "What did you like about it?" I told him that I liked how siimple and sweet the book was. It is for younger children, but I liked the simplicity of it. What I really liked about this book and the other one about Hermie that I reviewed was that I feel that this is teaching children to look at their lives and see how God loves them. God loves us in so many ways that we just take for granted. I like that Max Lucado took the view point of Hermie thanking God for loving him in all different kinds of ways.

I would definitely recommend this book.

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.

Thank you, God for Blessing Me by Max Lucado

From the publisher:

Meet Little Hermie—the cutest baby caterpillar in the garden! Little Hermie’s thankful heart shows toddlers how to be thankful for God’s blessings.

Little Hermie is thankful for everything God has given him. He goes through his day thanking God for his many blessings in this adorable board book with flocking on the cover!

This really is an adorable and sweet book about a little caterpillar who is thanking God for all he has. I think this should be read to children and discussed with them about how to be thankful for all that God has given them. I love this book and would definitely recommend it to others. I am looking forward to other Hermie books!

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.

Women of Faith Event Part 2

My aunt and cousin weren't able to go on that date because of a school concert.

But my mom and grandma were able to go. She called me afterwards and was raving about how wonderful it was. Here is what my mom wrote about the event:

Women of Faith: Sept 10, 2011 – Philadelphia, PA

To worship with 10,000 other women was a fantastic experience! This was my first time at a Women of Faith event. My daughter won the tickets through Booksneeze. My mother and I attended.

It was a tremendous blessing to hear Lisa Harper, Angie Smith, Sheila Walsh speak'

Lisa's message focused on the scripture story of the widow of Nain. She was so consumed with her own grief that she didn't even see Jesus. But He saw her. He moved into her life with mercy and compassion and gave her the miracle she had stopped praying for. He brought her son back to life. Lisa emphasized that whether you made a mistake or something was done to harm you God could still give you a miracle to recreate your life.

Angie went through a personal tragedy that left her feeling beneath the waves like Peter. As a brand new Christian she was walking on the water, her eyes unwaveringly fixed on Jesus. But when her infant daughter died only 2 ½ hours after she was born Angie sunk to the bottom of the ocean. She was a fairly new Christian when this happened and all she knew to do was say: Jesus save me. She said she had only told this story publically 5 times and she was telling it to us to let us know that Jesus wrapped her up in His arms and held on to her during that unbearable grief and He did save her.

Sheila spoke of a time when her depression overwhelmed her and she ended up in the place she feared most – a mental hospital. Her first night there she sat in a corner shaking and crying. Someone came into the room and gave her a little stuffed animal lamb and said: “Don't worry Sheila, the Shepherd knows where to find you.” She said there is the verse that says, “In this word you will have many troubles, but fear not I have overcome the world.” She said even if the trouble is INSIDE you, Jesus knows how to heal you. He will walk with you to the very gates of hell, you will never be alone and no place is too dark for him to find you. He knows where you are and He will carry you home.

Other highlights of the weekend included music by Mary Mary and Natalie Grant! And also dramatizations by Nicole Johnson that had me laughing and crying and praising God all at the same time. Luci Swindoll gave a wonderful testimony about the joys of sponsoring a child through World Vision. She sponsors 14 children at this time. Hearing 10,000 women's voices raised in praise to God as we sang together was another awesome experience.