Book Review - Revealing Jesus by Darlene Zschech

I broke the cardinal rule of books!

"Never judge a book by its cover."

Too late. This book is beautiful to hold and to skim pages, to touch and also to read. Everything about it is gorgeous which makes it a perfect GIFT book.



Revealing Jesus is a 365 day devotional coming from the heart of acclaimed Worship leader, Darlene Zschech. Each daily entry has a verse to prompt your thoughts. There are a lot of entries from the Psalms, drawing you into honest worship and adoration. Each page then describes a thought or insight or story inspiring you to focus on Jesus and is followed by a short prayer. It was encouraging to see the heart of this woman in her words and stories. (Watch a video on the heart behind her book and accompanying CD.)

The pages are dated from January 1st to December 31st. The actual reading on the pages is minimal - a quick and easy activity for every day - much like reading a Daily Bread entry. Each month has a beautifully crafted cover page with hand-scripted lyrics to hymns and songs. Again ... Beautiful!

Book Blurb:

Powerful Encounters With the Heart of Our Savior For Every Day

Do you long for more of God's presence? Do you ache to see Him at work in your life? Do you desire His peace and rest? Renowned worship leader Darlene Zschech invites you to gather with her around the Word of God. Born out of her own yearnings that she poured onto the pages of journals, these meditations and Scriptures reveal Jesus and speak of His finished work--how He tenderly cares for you and wants you to know Him.

Honest, raw, and beautifully written, these devotions will inspire your journey and encourage you in every season. Come, sit at the feet of our Lord, be strengthened in your weakness, embrace His love for you, and breathe in His peace.

I recommend this book to anyone wanting a brief scriptural reading for each day. It is also a wonderful gift idea for a Grad or on Mother's Day or any day as a matter of fact.

Thanks to Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin for the free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review - What A Son Needs From His Mom by Cheri Fuller

Do you have a son? 

Then you will need this book!  Cheri Fuller's book is a fantastic resource for any mom trying to raise her son.  The back cover copy says:

Ever Feel Like Your Son Is From a Different Planet?

Don't worry, Mom. There's a good reason why your son perplexes you. He's the OPPOSITE sex! Boys really do think, communicate, and process the world differently than girls. But no matter your son's age, he needs you, and he needs you in not-so-apparent ways.

With page after page of use-it-today advice and encouraging stories, this book will help you steer your son toward becoming a caring, confident young man.

From the very beginning of the book I found helpful advice, encouraging words and hundreds of "ah-ha" moments. Fuller's open and honest approach places the reader at ease. She tackles the hard questions with kindness and insight. She balances the technical information with the emotional aspect very well.

Each chapter has Reflection Questions for using in a group setting, or alone allowing you to dig deeper into your own parenting experience. I read the book on my own but

Book Review - Intentional Parenting by S. Goff, D. Thomas and M. Trevathan

This is about you, not just your child.

Regardless of age, parenting requires a certain amount of uncertainty. But you can be certain that your children look to you to help them discover who they are. And you can only offer that to the degree that YOU know who you are.

Over the years, Sissy Goff, David Thomas, and Melissa Trevathan have helped countless families through their ministry known as Daystar Counseling in Nashville, TN. Due to the unique setup of Daystar, each is frequently counseling not only the child but the parent as well. Having both perspectives provides an opportunity to speak into some of the most common struggles that parents face in today's fast-paced society.
Intentional Parenting is built around 12 chapters that each dispel some of the most common parenting myths and reminds all parents of truths that can empower them to be not only the parents that their children need but that God has called them to be. The book helps you discover first who you are and then takes that healthy person into a discovery of being more intentional, playful, consistent, merciful, and connected to your children.

Understanding your child. Understanding you.

*****

I absolutely loved the idea of this book. A healthy parent produces healthy children, right? I had no idea the depth this book would go in with its 229 pages. You are paying for a book to sit on your shelves, refer back to at times as well as your own mini counseling service. It was extremely insightful.

Each chapter focuses on a different aspect of parenting from the general sense. Most parenting books have