Unexpected Love

Imagine for a moment living in Biblical times. Imagine even further yet being a Disciple walking with Jesus. Go even further yet to living in the time of Jesus and His Disciples as a WOMAN. What might you expect? Women weren't so revered back in the day. But Jesus had a different view of women. 

In Unexpected Love, the stories of Jesus and women come alive. What a wonderful way to experience nine different stories in which Jesus associated with women of his time. We are not talking royals or socialites of our day. We are talking poor, unacknowledged, and even messed up women. We get to take side seat with Jesus and spend some time with these women learning more about them and digging deeper into the mind of Jesus and what He could have been thinking. 

In closing, we bring it back to us, and how seeing these stories of these women can relate to us. None of these women were perfect. None of these women were "special" in the eyes of their world. But they were CHOSEN. Just as we are. And God loves them, just as He loves us. What a wonderful story.

It's time to grab a cup of coffe or tea, and have a conversation with Jesus and the women in His life.

 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. 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.”

The Respect Dare

I may not be married, but I think as a woman and as a Christian woman as well, it is very important to learn how and understand the respect it takes in a relationship. Whether it be marriage or in a friendship or family relationship. I think so many people have forgotten what it means to be respectful to others, myself included. We are so concerned about our needs that we forget about others feelings and putting their needs above ourselves. After all, isn't that what it means to serve?

The Respect Dare is about what works. It is based off many relationships of what works and what doesn't. Nina makes a few suggestions to help soak in what you will read about and learn in this book:

*Take one day at a time.

*Have no expectations of your spouses behavior, or you will experience discouragement and resentment.

*Measure your progress in terms of spiritual growth. 

*Keep a journal.

*Remember that this is a journey.

*Do the book with a few friends, and meet once a week to encourage each other.

The journaling comes in handy with the questions of meditation and thought at the end of each section. Now, I'm a journaler and I love to keep record of my thoughts so I can go back and see how I've grown or not grown and where I can improve. I think journaling is a very important part of learning and growing and I would highly recommend it as well, just like Nina did. This book covers a lot of subjects and supplies a lot of thought provoking questions. 

 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. 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.”

Who Do You Think You Are?

To be honest, I was so ready to read this book. I have loved Mark's videos I've seen on Mars Hill Church website as well as the videos from Right Now Media. I also thoroughly enjoyed reading his previous book "Real Marriage".

The beginning of this book crept very slowly for me. I have a very hard time getting into it and was almost ready to put it down. There was a huge history lesson about Ephesus and the people of that time. I'm not saying that was bad. But, I just finished a Bible Literature class for college that was more exciting and engaging than the first couple chapters. But, I pushed through.

The final chapters are broken down into descriptions of your identity in Christ: a saint, blessed, appreciated, saved, reconciled, afflicted, heard, gifted, new, forgiven, adopted, loved, rewarded and victorious.

The thoughts and ideas expressed in the book were not really anything that I had never heard before. For someone that has been struggling in their faith, or have never read any books on "Who are you in Christ" kind of thing, this would be a good read. This would also be good book for someone that is starting out in their faith and they have no idea where to begin in the Bible or in their walk with Jesus. For those of us that have been in this faith journey and have read many "Jesus-help" books, this is a good refresher and reminder. The text is easy to read and easy to follow.


 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. 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.”