Essentials for Life~Book Review

I read the book Essentials for Life by Marcia Ford. This is a collection of 50 chapters that can easily be read in one or two sittings. I recommend making it a daily read at the beginning or end of the day. Each chapter centers around a topic or a life question, I found it to be very challenging, it asks you to ask yourself questions about what you believe and how you think about life.

This book allows you to pick a topic that may be relevant to that particular day or event in your life and read it, you certainly do not have to read it in order. I would also recommend this book to anyone that is questioning things in their own life or just beginning to discover their faith. It has a section in each chapter called "What's Essential", this is a blueprint of what to Do and what not to Do as you move forward in finding what is essential for your own happiness.

I enjoyed the book and have been carrying it around in my purse since I got it referring back to certain sections as I go through my day. I am very comfortable recommending this book as an excellent addition to your collection.

I received this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Book Description

True enjoyment in life is found by focusing on the essentials.

A growing number of people recognize their need for a reliable guide for their life's journey. Essentials for Life fills that need by helping readers get back to the basics of what matters most with a fresh perspective on four core essentials of the Christian life:

* What do I believe?
* How do I grow closer to God?
* What should my character and life reflect?
* How do I live my life every day?

Essentials for Life offers fifty daily or weekly readings that each include a key life-guide principle, scripture and quotes, meditation, an interesting fact, and a unique application suggestion. Each discussion offers hope and a sense of peace and well-being by focusing on life with an eternal perspective.

The content offers spiritual truth while the interior graphic design, which includes sidebars and visuals, enhances the readability and the impact of each core essential.

66 Love Letters~Book Review

66 Love Letters is the latest book by best-selling author, psychologist and Christian counselor Dr. Larry Crabb. Dr. Crabb takes a very interesting approach in this book, he takes every book of the Bible and condenses it down to one paragraph, and then expands it into a love letter from God. There are many Christian leaders who say that the Bible is indeed a love letter from God. Dr. Crabb does a wonderful job translating the bible into an easily readable series of meaningful letters. In the prologue, Dr. Crabb advises to take the book slowly and perhaps only read a chapter a week, I was going to try that but I could not put it down. From the beginning of the book we are shown that God has a plan for each of us and we must trust him to see it through. This book is a great collection, to be kept on hand to read again and again

This book was provided to me for review by Thomas Nelson Publishers.

66 Love Letters

Dr. Larry Crabb

The story of God written in intimate love letters just for you.

Dr. Larry Crabb knows that if we could see the larger story of God and humanity, our world would never be the same. That story is found in large part in the sixty-six letters of the Bible.

Written in a conversational first person, as if God is speaking directly to us, Dr. Crabb looks at each individual book in scripture and boils it down to a one- or two-sentence message to us from that particular book. He then unpacks each sentence in a short chapter answering the question, What does God want me to hear from this love letter? The book's epilogue then fits all sixty-six pieces of the jigsaw puzzle together into one coherent paragraph and reveals the beautiful picture of what God has been about since the creation of the world. Far from being comprehensive, this is a personal approach to helping readers know God and his great love for them, his message for all mankind, and how their lives fit into His larger story.

Saturday Stuff

I was watching Oprah a while back and saw Dr. Christine Northrup with her new book. I just finished it and wanted to share. It is not a book you can sit down and read cover to cover, I skipped around to the parts that were most relevent to me. I will say it is a must have if you are nearing or over 40 and want some real-life tips on your weight, exercise and vitamins. Check it out.

Book Swap

I just got a book I have been dying to read from Bookins. It works like this, you sign up for free and list all your books that you want to swap, when someone wants your book, you get an email, you print the postage off your computer (no charge to you) stick it in your mailbox and away it goes. You get points in your account. When you have a book YOU want, add it to your "wish list", when it becomes available the owner prints the postage, points are deducted from your account, you pay the $4.49 shipping and the book is sent to you. Check it out if you love to read!