A Disrupted Journey by Brooks

As someone who lives with a chronic illness, I found "A Disrupted Journey" especially meaningful. Life often doesn’t go as planned, and this book captures that reality with honesty and hope. The author does a beautiful job of showing how disruption, whether from illness, loss, or unexpected detour, shapes us in ways we never expected. It also encouraged my husband, who wrestles with the challenges of caretaking. The book gave him a renewed perspective on the struggles we face together and reminded us both that even in the most challenging seasons, there is purpose and growth. This book pointed us both back to keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus.

One of the things I appreciated most was how it explores the impact of life disruptions and the journey toward healing. It challenged me to think more deeply and gave me a fresh perspective on resilience and hope. Whether you're seeking encouragement, insight, or simply a meaningful read, this book is well worth picking up.

I received an early copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review. 

You can get a copy on Amazon here.

Book Review: Learning to Listen by Hussung

This book emphasizes the powerful role of listening in building meaningful relationships. It argues that to love others well, we must first learn to listen well. As human beings, we are made to be seen and known by both God and each other, yet many of us struggle with being truly understood.

Through a biblical perspective, the book highlights how God, who listens to us with care and attention, serves as our ultimate model for listening. It offers practical steps for cultivating this skill, encouraging us to not only listen attentively but to engage in communication that reflects Christ's love. In today's fast-paced culture, where people often speak without truly listening, the art of understanding others has been lost. To communicate with love, we must listen deeply enough to understand the other person before offering our words.

Listening is a discipline that requires intentionality, but this book shows that with practice, it can transform our relationships. By truly hearing others, we can make them feel seen and valued, creating opportunities to speak life and encouragement into their lives. This book is a timely and important guide to restoring the art of listening in a world that desperately needs it.

Go and pre-order! I received an advance copy for an honest review from the publisher.

Book Review: Grounded in Grace by Holmes

In an age of feelings-driven living, this is a much-needed book! Parents today need help and guidance to discuss the issue of identity. And if we are honest, we all build our identities on something. We can have open conversations about it or let the world inform our kids, either way, they are learning things by observation. This book has a great way of explaining how identities are formed and helps parents understand how and what they are doing when they present certain ideas and give them more weight than they should. For example, kids can learn to build their identity on many things, like what they are good at, but ultimately we need to have a grounded identity in Christ to truly thrive. And as parents, I do not think we often think that through too deeply. We typically just think all is well until it is not. Then we move into a panic mode and react. Or am I the only one who had to learn this the hard way? :)

Jonathan Holmes brings a lot of insight and categories where people can put a false sense of security in their formed identities outside of Christ. This is something we need to read, understand, and use to guide our kids. It is a much-needed work for our culture and our times. I think all parents should read it. 

I received a copy of this book for the purpose of review from the publisher at no charge.

You can get a copy of this book from Amazon here.  

Book Review: Navigating Destructive Relationships by Hambrick

I recently had the privilege of reviewing this new resource, Navigating Destructive Relationships. I found it helpful for an individual for several reasons. I received a copy of this free of charge from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review. 

1- There are corresponding videos that are made to go along with each section. 

2- There are short devotionals that will help someone think biblically and journal through their own issues with a destructive relationship. 

3- It makes it easy to work through a difficult subject for those who struggle to open up to others about it. It is important to have resources available for this. 

However, the better way to use this resource is with a small group. This is written for the purpose of being used in a group that Brad Hambrick calls G4 groups. They are support groups made for people struggling with specific issues of life. Go to bradhambrick.com to see all the group resources available.

This particular group would be for people in destructive relationships. There are questions at the end of each section that help aid group discussion over the material that was read throughout the week. It is helpful to be in a group for support and accountability. 

This resource has many assessments to help you evaluate many things one could be dealing with in the situation of living with or loving someone who is potentially destructive. I found it helpful and will recommend it to people that I counsel. I also appreciate that it has an appendix that discusses what to do if you are lacking safety in your environment and what to do if you need to facilitate an intervention with a loved one. 

Brad Hambrick writes like you are talking with a friend over coffee. He is filled with compassion and mercy. He makes helping a sufferer easy with helpful questions and wisdom. I highly recommend this resource.

You can get a copy from Amazon.com here.

Book Review: Midnight Mercies by Chappell

I was so blessed to be on the launch team for this book. It came to me at the perfect time. I was in a pit of depression, probably the deepest one I have ever been in as of yet. I was stuck in a way. I consumed this book and it helped bring relief. This is no exaggeration. Depression can be long-suffering, so I have reread and listened to the audiobook now that it is also available. It has been and continues to be such a balm to a hurting heart. Especially a mother's heart that is hurting or crushed. In this rough season, this is one of the things that God has used to sustain me.

Why this book? It is because it is written in a way that helps the reader to not feel alone. It is vulnerable and honest. It instills hope, the lasting hope in Christ. It is filled with scriptural and practical applications. It gives action steps and things to ponder.

In any stage of motherhood, this book is helpful. We all go through difficult seasons. This is a book to have on hand for yourself or others you see struggling. 

I received a copy of this book at no charge for the sake of an honest review. 

You can get a copy of this book here. 

Book Review: Proverbs: Stories of Wisdom and Folly by Murray

This is an easy-to-read, realistic daily devotional. I think the age range can be for anyone but I did think it seemed to fit the high school or college age range best. Simply because of the kinds of stories it shared and the writing in general. 

Each devotional directs you to a specific reading in the Proverbs, then it has information and stories about it, then it is followed up with "Changing our story with God's story," a summary, a question to ponder, and a prayer. It is pretty straightforward and interesting to keep your attention.

Proverbs is such a good book for practical living. I believe this book is important for that reason. It will help anyone who reads it live according to the Word of God in wisdom instead of folly. It addresses many relevant real-life categories that are important for our young people today to realize and understand.

This would be a great graduation gift or birthday gift for young people desiring to grow in their relationship and in the word of God. 

I received a copy of this book free of charge from Crossway for the purpose of an honest review.

You can get a copy of this book from Amazon.com here. 

Book Review: Little Prayers for Ordinary Days by Hutson, Oakes, and Warren

I absolutely love this little book. It reminds me of Every Moment Holy but for little ones. It is a wonderful example of how to pray for all of life. It looks at situations in a kid's life ranging from struggling to do what's right to enjoying a good book. Kids really need to learn that God is real and desires to hear from them in everything. This is a great example for them to pattern prayers after. It also has beautiful little pictures that are fun for little ones to look at. 

To be completely honest, I would use this book too. It helps you remember child-like faith and how God really delights to hear from you in every situation of life. It will only help one grow closer to Christ and that is the most important thing. Get this book for your little ones. They will love it.

I received a copy of this book at no charge from the publisher for the sake of an honest review.

You can get a copy from Amazon here.

Book Review: Equipping Biblical Counselors by Kellerman

This book is a must-read if you are contemplating establishing a biblical counseling ministry. It spans from the beginning brainstorming and vision casting to the establishment. It takes you through an easy step-by-step process that takes into account that each church and its people are unique. It gives practical real-life examples and a variety of pastoral advice from different pastors in different types of churches. 

If you are thinking about adding this ministry to your church, this is the resource to have. It is practical and biblical. It gives you many ideas and questions to challenge and grow as you prepare. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for the sake of an honest review. 

You can get a copy of this book from Amazon here.

Book Review: God Hears Your Heart by Fox

I received a digital copy at no charge from the publisher for the purpose of review.

I believe this book is important for parents and children because there are hardly any teaching resources out there about processing emotions in a healthy manner for children. Sadly, dismissing our emotions and being told to just get over them is the standard. This book helps remedy that. It is a very important book for teaching our kids and ourselves how to do this with a God-view in mind. God gives us ways to process emotions all throughout the Bible but the use of story here in this book makes it easier to relate to for children and process through several key emotions that we experience in life like anger, disappointment, guilt, and even joy. God is not surprised by our emotions. He made us emotional beings. It is wise to acknowledge them and work through them. This is an important book in the training and teaching of our children. I ordered this book as a hard copy because I will find it useful as I practice biblical counseling or help parents to teach these skills to their children. It is a valuable and needed resource for today where emotions are either dismissed or romanticized. Both are wrong. This resource helps look at emotions in a healthy way that will help produce healthy adults who understand how to process their own emotions by not letting them control them or keep them in a stoic state of mind. Most importantly it will help children depend and look more like Jesus.

You can get a copy from Amazon here. 

Book Review Companions: Redeem Your Marriage and Reclaim Your Marriage by Curtis and Jenny Solomon

The issue of pornography is all around us in the world today. In fact, it is hurting relationships all around us, including those within the church. The church desperately needs voices to discuss the effects of pornography on a marriage and family. These companion books do just that. 

These are welcome voices that honestly and openly discuss this topic with truth and grace. These are written by a husband and wife duo who have experienced the pain of porn. The first, Redeem Your Marriage is written by the husband from the man's perspective and the second, Reclaim Your Marriage is written by the wife from the woman's perspective. 

As a faith-based counselor, I like these resources for each partner to read so they can gain a biblical perspective on this issue and help promote healing in their lives. I also understand each couple's situation is different. This book is written with specific questions and answers to help with that as well. However, if you are in a relationship that is abusive in any way which involves this topic, it is wise to get yourself to a safe place and involve others in the struggle for the sake of safety and accountability. If this is a sin struggle where someone is not in danger, these books are really helpful for the couple to break free and begin healing and building trust in their marriage.

These are helpful resources that also point you to hope in Christ.

I received a copy of these books for the purpose of an honest review.

You can get copies from them from amazon.com here

Book Review: Before the Throne by Keeth

Personally, I love studying anything on the topic of prayer. This study was no exception. I like how it takes you through the word of God to study for yourself many different recorded prayers through the Bible. The premice of the studied prayers are those that specifically address situations that find you in difficult times. Each example and prayer is paired with thoughtful questions and application. It all points you to God and is good for helping you grow in the discipline of prayer.

I do recommend this study for anyone wanting to grow in God's word, as we all probably do desire this. It helps us to know God better. We could never know Him enough! This is a good one for your Bible study collection. 

I did receive a free copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review.

You can get a copy of this study from Amazon.com here.

Book Review: Like Our Father by Fox

Before I agreed to review this book, I asked myself, "Why do we need another parenting book?" And then I thought that the fact that this book seemed to focus on God and how He parents us would make it different than the others out there. I did not want or desire to read yet another "how-to" book on this topic. I have already raised two children, and have one as a teenager, yet I still have no idea what I am doing. Books tell you so many different things and often feel overwhelming because they leave you feeling like you need to try harder or do better. And what they miss is that each child is a unique creation of the Father. There is no one-way to parenting, if this was the case there would be a perfect family model to follow in the Bible but that simply does not exist. 

However, through God as Father, we do have a perfect parent from whom we can learn. His way and example of parenting us is truly what we need to see for our own parenting. He models the perfect parental example. And it is in seeing that, we can have hope. This book was a breath of fresh air among the others. 

I do not regret agreeing to review this. It kept me interested because it kept me growing in Christ as I saw His goodness while helping me see how I can parent by His example through the grace of Christ as I look to Him and learn from Him. It was deeply motivating and the best book I have read on the topic. 

I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to understand God better as our parent and then how we are to parent our children in light of that. There are also insightful questions for reflection at the end of each chapter that are helpful for thinking deeper or for having group discussions. 

I received a copy of this book at no charge from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review.

You can get a copy of this book from Amazon.com here.

Book Review: Deeper by Dane Ortlund

This book is about sanctification. This is a topic that is important to the Christian walk and life. I do not believe enough people understand the difference between sanctification and justification well. This book helps with that. And is useful for the Christian walk of faith in becoming who they are meant to be in Christ.

It is like a follow-up to Gentle and Lowly (which I highly recommend) on the character of Jesus. You can read one without the other but your study is more enriched by reading both. Both are helpful to read as aids in our Christian walk and growth in Christ.

I received a copy of this book at no charge from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review.

You can get a copy from Amazon.com here. 

Book Review: Raising Emotionally Healthy Kids by Huie

I had the opportunity to review this book prior to release. I love it so much that I ordered my own hard copy to keep and reference in the future. In the practice of faith-based counseling, parents need this resource and reminder. It is a must-read for parents or anyone who works with children because we simply have not addressed enough how important it is to help kids learn how to process emotions in order to be healthy adults. This is a biblical need for a healthy generation. And if this is disagreeable to some, just take a long look at the Psalms, It is an entire book dedicated to processing and recognizing emotions before the Lord. I am not sure exactly how we lost this skill-set but after counseling so many people who were raised to ignore and not process emotions, I see it as a real problem. This book, if practiced, helps make the process simple enough for any parent to follow. 

This book is also a short read so it is easy enough for any schedule to tackle. It is included in a series of other books called, raising kids in (different situations). All of the books would probably be helpful in parenting but I haven't had the chance to read any of the others in the series yet.

If you are a person who interacts with children in any way, this is a must-read. Pre-order it now and you will not regret it.

You can get a copy from Amazon.com here.

Book Review: Trusting God in the Darkness by Ash

This is an incredible book to help one through times of suffereing. This is also a great book that can accompany the book of Job as a light commentary. I say light because it was easy to read and helpful for personal application. The author does have a more academic commentary if that is the interest of the reader.

This book moved me closer to God in many ways. My understanding of the purpose of suffering and who God is has deepened. There are not many books like this out there. If you want to grow closer to God and want help in your suffering, get this book. It will help your biblical perspective be clearer. 

I did receive this book free of charge from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review. 

You can get a copy of this book from Amazon.com here.

Table for Two by Dunham

I received a copy of this book at no charge from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review.

I highly recommend this book to all believers. I do realize it is a book that specifically addresses the topic of eating disorders, however, this book is filled with so many good questions and helps that could benefit almost any struggle that someone has. I found it super helpful and it is a definite go-to reference for me for aiding people in healing. It directs others toward Christ and is completely practical and biblical.

This book also includes the transparent journey of a sufferer and helper through this struggle. That made it more personal and helpful to the reader. I appreciated the transparency and thoughtfulness and self-awareness of the authors. Overall that makes a book more realistic and fruitful.

Get this book. It is one that you want on your shelf if you are a helper of people. 

You can get a copy of this book from Amazon.com here.

Book Review: The Whole Life by Huie and Smith

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review.

I requested a copy of this book because as a counselor, I often am wondering what is the best way to provide myself care when I am hearing people's stories of difficulty all day long. It is a privilege to do this work yet also being a burden bearer can become wearing. I am always interested in learning more about biblical self-care.

This book was filled with biblically balanced information about how to care for yourself by stewarding the body/life God gave you so that you can in turn avoid burnout and best serve Him. 

It is formatted by splitting the book up into 52 weeks of study allowing it to be absorbed little by little in order to really aid one's growth in this area. It includes tips and tricks for practical help. I was encouraged and think this book would be helpful for those that need help in this area. 

You can get a copy of this book from Amazon.com here.

Book Review: Saints, Sufferers, and Sinners: Loving Others As God Loves Us by Emlet

As a biblical counselor, I recommend this book to all who desire to help others in any struggle they may face on this Earth. Mike Emlet writes with great compassion and eloquence on who we are in Christ as image-bearers. Then he helps us understand what it is like to be sufferers and how to help sufferers effectively and with kindness. Then he goes on to address how we help people who are sinning. All categories need to be addressed. I appreciate the care he took in helping us be better people helpers that look more like Jesus if we apply what was written. 

With each category, he addresses possible pitfalls and how we can work with each category biblically and most helpfully. I really appreciate this book because there has been much damage done by well-meaning people helpers who have said damaging things. We need to move beyond that and truly help people in a way that they can actually be helped. This requires looking to Christ, the best example of a people helper, and learn from Him and how He actually helped others.

I received a copy of this book at no charge from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review.

You can get a copy of this book from amazon.com here.

Book Review: The Heart of Anger by Ash and Midgley

I have read many books on anger. It is a topic that I often choose because I also struggle with anger. Of all the books that I have read on this topic; this one is the best. I did receive a free copy of this book for the purpose of an honest review from the publisher. I wrestled with the idea of why? Why would I want to read another book on this topic? Would it honestly benefit me more than the others? I still felt a bit trapped in this knee-jerk reaction of anger so I thought I'd give this book a try. I am eternally grateful for this book. God gave me a new level of freedom from my struggle because of this book. I praise God for that and highly reccomend it to anyone who struggles just a little bit or desires to understand how others struggle.

I do believe we all struggle with anger at times. It doesn't take long when you look at our world to come up with that deduction. It should be one of those books that are required reading for Christians. Anger isn't always sin but it does and can quickly turn to sin so we need to understand it. God was angry at times. It would seem wrong if we felt nothing when injustices occur in this world. However, this book also explores "cousins" of anger like fear and worry. Overall it is a great help in the Christian walk. It helps the reader have a right perspective on it and how God sees it.

What was different about this book? I think it was the fact that it did a lot of focusing on Jesus. Maybe because it just practically made sense to be in a better way. Or maybe it was just the right timing. Either way this book will be the one I reccomend to the clients that I am counseling.

You can get a copy of this book on Amazon here.

Book Review: Restore by Cheong

This is a great book for facilitating real-life biblical change. As a biblical counselor, I appreciate how it makes getting in the word easy and practical so that a person can grow in Christ and learn how to practically change their thought patterns which then results in changed behaviors.

This book is written in a way that you can go through it yourself. You can go through it with a biblical counselor. You also can go through it as a group. It is actually written with a group context in mind. Groups work well when we are looking to Christ together and hoping for healing and change. I facilitate Griefshare groups with people who are hurting and working through healing from grief. This book works in a similar way but works toward life change. It can help any person reach a more robust relationship with Christ. It can be helpful to the person struggling with sin or suffering. I was impressed that both issues are addressed in this book well. 

A biblical mindset can be life-saving and life-changing. This book is highly recommended for groups of people who desire to live in the fullness of Christ.

I received a free e-book from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review.

You can get a copy of this book from Amazon.com here.