Tuesday, August 31, 2010

The Heavens Proclaim His Glory

created and compiled by Lisa Stilwell

Thomas Nelson Publishing

Our world displays the handiwork of God -- in the land and sea, the animals and plants. But in the sky, the heavens, the universe . . . there's a realm of beauty and creation only recently witnessed by man, thanks to the amazing feats of the Hubble Telescope. The Heavens Proclaim His Glory opens the curtain to a stage of unspeakable beauty -- a stage where only God Himself can receive all the credit. It's a display that will leave you speechless and ever-so-mindful of just how small we are in the vast scheme of His power and might.

I didn't quite know what to expect with this book. I heard that it had images from the Hubble Space Telescope mixed in with powems, quotes and other text from people, along with scripture. What I received was nothing short of a book filled with awe-inspiring images and inspirational messages. The truly beautiful thing about this book is that it's a double whammy: the images are much more inspirational than the text. Mix those images with scripture, and you hardly need poetry.

This book has given me a new appreciation for the wonders of space and God's handiwork, and will remain as one of my favorites for a very long time. The collection of quotes from Frank Peretti, Max Lucado, Kirk Cameron, Third Day, Abraham Lincoln, Stormie Omartain, and Franklin Graham (among others) are perfectly paired with scripture and serve as a reminder of His power and might. I highly recommend this book.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. 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."

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Fearless

by Max Lucado
Thomas Nelson Publishing

We fear being sued, finishing last, going broke, the mole on our back, and the sound of the clock as it ticks us closer to the grave. Every season seems to bring fresh reasons for fear.
And it feels dreadful. Fear sucks the life out of the soul, curls us into an embryonic state, and drains us dry of contentment.
Wouldn't it be great to escape it? What if faith, not fear, was your default reaction to threats?

As I picked up this book I already knew that it would be cutting deep within me and exposing things that I didn't want to have to face. I knew that, even though I have been a solid Believer for years, I still had areas of fear that I was unwilling to give to God.
This book has made me stop and realize that, though I may be experiencing trials and situations that deserve a fearful response, I don't have to cave in and react in fear.

Just as the disciples in the boat turned to Jesus, so do I need to cling to Him.

This is a very well written book that draws you in - not because the writing is excellent, which it certainly is, but because Max delves deep into where you are as a believer and a person. His writing style is fantastic and, as this is my first Lucado book, I found myself eagerly turning the pages. If you have never read Lucado, This is a book for you.

Max has written a powerful book that cuts to the quick and, I wholeheartedly believe, it should be read by everyone. I don't care who you are, what background you come from, or even if you think that you can't learn anything new -- you need this book! I sure did!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. 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."