You First, Me Second by Pam Erickson

I loved reading this book! Before ordering this book, there were things happening in my life which brought to my attention that I was pretty selfish. This has been a troubling discovery for me. So when I saw this book's title I knew it was the one for me. The author shares lots of testimonies about how others have gone out of their way to help others in need. The author gives many ideas about how one can use their own gifts and talents to help others and it still be an enjoyable experience. The author gives many ideas about ways in which one can encourage or help another whether it be a small or a big thing. This has really got me thinking...which I need to be doing. The writing is easy to digest and the chapters not too long that you can't read one before going to sleep. “You have more to offer the world than you realize.” There are 16 chapters in this book and each one holds several nuggets from which one can glean from. I am inspired by this book. It has got me thinking that perhaps...I can really be able to do the things I believe the Lord is calling me to do. Perhaps. I know one thing...reading this book has made a distinct difference in my life. It seems my eyes have been opened to allow the Lord to bring before me needs of others and ways to fill those needs. I am seeing opened doors for ministry. They may be small things...but to me these are huge and I am thankful for the author having written this book and for the opportunity to have read it. Thank you Pam Erickson...thank you. You are making a difference in this world and it all matters!!! God bless you!!! I received this book for free in exchange for a free book review from Front Line Publishing through the www.thebookteria.com book review program. I was not required to write a favorable review.

A Lasting Legacy by Doug Hagedorn

This book is a solid paperback. More like a manual you can refer back to time and time again. It has got me re-thinking how I have been living my life and caused me to make some changes. Changes I am making now are goal setting in many areas of my life. For instance...my husband and I have been having a real hard time getting the get up and go to get our very old house scraped and painted. We know we want to do the work ourselves are are quite able to...that is not the issue. We have procrastinated for years. Now we are setting short and long term goals and for some reason...it has got us over the procrastination hump! I am a grandparent now and not rearing any of my own children at this present time but think this book would really be a good one to have if you were still raising kids at home. Lots of material to ponder and meditate upon. Not a quick read. Quite the opposite. A meaty book which is packed full of testimonies and teachings to learn from. I fully recommend this book to you! I received this book for free from the Future Foundation Builders through the www.bookcrash.com book review program in exchange for a free book review. I was not required to write a favorable review.

A Dream So Big by Steve Peifer

I love the fact that this is a hardcover copy. I love the size of this book and I even love the front and back cover which clearly shows what this book is all about. For some reason I am drawn towards things written about Africa and Africa’s orphan children. Reading this book helped satisfy my need to know more on the subject and from an American’s view point. It has got me wondering whether or not that someone like myself could possibly go to such a faraway place if the Lord were to send me? Could I survive? I have spent literally hours and hours saturated and immersed in the pages of this book. I did not want it to end it was such a good and well written book! I have also spent much time thinking following reading this book…about the poverty and lifestyle of those in Africa and comparing it to the lifestyles of those of us living in the states. Not a pretty picture! Reading this book has changed me…has changed my mindsets. Reading it has caused me to look at my own life and life’s priorities. Is the Lord calling you or I to Africa? Or to some other missionary adventure/ Only time will tell. Meanwhile…I have this incredible desire to know more. To talk to others who have “been there” and “done that.” Or even to talk to others who are even thinking about it as I am. God may just be preparing us. Do it. Read this book. See what happens to your own life and life’s views after reading it. I totally recommend it. I have received this book for free from Zondervan Publishing in exchange for a free book review through the www.booksneeze.com book review program. I was not required to write a favorable review.

Willing To Walk On Water by Caroline Barnett

I love everything about this book including the vibrant and beautiful colors and picture on the cover! I even love the “feel” of this book. For me, receiving and then reading this book was timely. It is an “on time” word for me in this current, anointed of God, season. This is a season for me where I need to be “Willing To Walk On Water” just as the title suggests. I am stepping out in obediance to our Lord in areas of ministry where I have not gone before. I cannot begin to tell you how greatly the author, Caroline Barnett, encouraged me through the words she wrote under the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. I really connected with this book. One of the reasons being, I have already heard about the Dream Center in California which the author speaks about quite frequently. I used to know a woman who told me she was a minister there and she spoke quite highly of it. Having this book in my hands is Divine...so it would seem. I will be adding this book along with others towards a collection which will become books for a future church library that I believe is in my future. I recommend this book strongly for those in all walks of Christianity but especially to those who know they have a calling in Christ Jesus and are about to step out on the waters with Him. You will be empowered, brought up and out...catapulted from those recliners of comfort zones and launched out into your destinies...this is what has happened to me anyway!!! I received this book for free from the Tyndale Momentum Publishers in exchange for a free book review through www.tyndaleblognetwork.com book review program. I was not required to write a favorable review.

"A Time For Every Purpose Under Heaven" A Missions Memoir written by Chris Loehmer Kincaid

The reason I chose to read this book is because it is a “Missions Memoir” and I have an interest in missions work as well as in Africa itself. The title also attracted me....”A time for every purpose under heaven” which is one of my life's bible verses. I also like the front cover as it has a picture taken in Africa and gives one a glimpse of what it must be like to be there! I feel Holy Spirit drew me to this book and so no surprise that it not only held my interest but was one of those “I just can't seem to put it down” sort of books. This is a true story about a woman who ends up being led by God to go on a missions trip. It speaks of the details of her trip including how they washed and used the bathroom. It speaks of the ways of the people and the beauty at times in the scenery. I liked that the author shared things which “took you there” to Africa and being in her shoes. I've often imagined what it must be like to go to a place like Africa and now I feel as if I've been able to take a little peek into what it is like to do so. I have enjoyed reading this book and it has kept me wanting to know more...to read more... each night before going to bed. This is the first book I have ever read on missions work/ministry and I intend now to find and read more on this subject. I highly recommend it to you! I received this book for free from Life Sentence Publishing, LLC through the www.bookcrash.com book review program. I was not required to write a favorable review. Freely I have received and so freely I give.

Unglued Devotional by Lysa TerKeurst

I would like to say that I have completely read this entire devotional before posting my review. Alas, I have not. Reason being...a devotional needs to be read daily and time given to ponder and meditate upon that day's reading. Due to limited time during my days I like to spend the last minutes I have reading while I am in bed. What a luxury this is! Reading this devotional has been such a comforting read for me to go to sleep on. The things I have read so far...have made me feel good...made me feel better about myself and my limits as a human being. Has made me feel good in my spirit while still being in this body and yet on this earth. I feel we all need to read things like this devotional to lift ourselves up in the Lord. Last night's reading taught me not to feel guilty about my shortcomings or what I do not have but instead to celebrate what I do have!!! Indeed, the Lord has given us all different gifts and talents. None of us are the same. What I did not like about this devotional. I did not like that it was a paperback as feel devotionals ought to be hardcover. Why? Because you tend to keep devotionals around a whole lot longer as you can always start over and read it all again, and again and again. The paperback look and feel just did not do this devotional justice. I also did not like the word “unglued” for some strange reason. To the point of irritation. May just be me. All in all this is an exceptionally good devotional and one I recommend. Lord bless you...all His readers! I received this book for free in exchange for a book review from Zondervan publishing through the www.booksneeze.com book review program. I was not required to write a favorable review. Freely I have been given and freely I give.

Proof of Heaven by Eben Alexander, M.D

This is a book about a man who experienced an NDE (Near Death Experience). Now I do realize that many people do not believe in such things, and even feel NDE's are not of God. I am of the belief that they are real and that they do happen. First I had been told by an 80 year old elderly woman of her deceased husband's previous NDE. He had hovered over his own dead body and turned and saw a bright light. He was then told that there was much left for him to do and that he must return. Indeed he did have much to do for he was a farmer who had never given his wife knowledge of any of the books. When he returned he taught her all about everything she needed to know and following this he died. Last fall now...I had a good friend experience a NDE following a heart attack. THEN...one day when I was at the bank...I was compelled to tell a man, “Jesus loves you.” I did just that but then was compelled once again to go back to him and say, “I just want you to know that I am not in the habit of telling just anyone that Jesus loves them.” He got all excited and told me to go outside to his vehicle and to tell his wife this. That he had just gotten her out of the hospital from having a heart attack. Well I went outside and did share this with her. She got all excited and told me that she'd just had a NDE where she even got to see her deceased son!!! So yes. I guess you would say that the Lord has gotten my attention and given me faith to believe in NDEs. I was drawn to this book I believe by the Holy Spirit. A man had requested that the director of the library where I work purchase it. When it landed in my hands I felt it was a “must read” for me. This man, Eben Alexander, M.D is “A highly trained neurosurgeon who had operated on thousands of brains in the course of his career....” So you could say his view of NDE's was quite scientific and he did not believe there was such a thing. Read this book to witness his take on things NOW after having a NDE personally. I highly recommend this book to you. May the Lord bless you!!! P.S. You will find that when you bring up the topic of near death experiences that the greater percentage of people you talk to will give you a look that says you are "nuts" or "out there." You will need to go to the Lord for yourself to see what His take is on this. I have found that those sharing such experiences have wonderful and delightful things to bring back to all of us to share about the Lord.(As in this book written by Eben Alexander) Seems a lot of it is on His Love for us. I have decided to...as I have in the past with many other things others don't like or agree with...hold these in my heart and in the secret place of the Most High God...~