How to be Rich

How to be Rich by Andy Stanley is not the type of manual you may think it is. It is not a manual to help you earn more money. It will not talk about portfolios or investments. In fact, the book actually assumes you are rich already. Now, I know I often do not think of myself in that way. I worry about my finances, I cut coupons, and I do not have a large savings account. However, according to Andy Stanley, I am rich. And when I look at the facts he states, I guess I would have to agree. I live in one of the wealthiest societies ever. I have enough money to provide for my family, and I have a roof over my head. Stanley says if you have ever had to decide whether or not to upgrade your cell phone, or choose which restaurant in which to have dinner, that you are rich. So following Stanley's logic, if I admit to being rich, what does this mean for me? This book is a guide to help you become more generous. To learn how to handle your riches in a way that is honoring to God. The Bible tells us to store up riches in Heaven, and Stanley argues that the way to do that is to be a good steward with the materials you have on earth. Stanley reminds us that everything belongs to God. The money I have in the bank, the house I live in, even the food I eat, is not mine. God provides all of it. I could argue that I work hard for those things, and that may be true. But in reality, God gives me the ability to do that hard work. He provides the job, the intellectual and physical ability, and the means for me to do those things. When I look at my possessions and money in that mind-set, I realize none of it is mine. When I tithe, I am not giving part of my money to God. I am honoring Him as the Lord of my life by returning what is His to Him. However, Stanley says tithing is not enough. God does not want us to simply obey a principle and then feel we are free to do whatever we wish with the remainder of our money. Stanley says generosity is a lifestyle that stems from the right understanding about God and our role as stewards. When we realize what God has done and continues to do for us, we want to honor Him by acting in a similar way. We want to share His blessings with others. The heart of being rich then, is to be generous. God never says money or possessions are evil. But what we do with them matters. God gives us things so we may bless others, so others may see a generous God. Our actions need to be a reflection of understanding His blessings toward us. Stanley incorporates true stories and Scripture to make these truths understandable. His writing style is appealing and draws you in. It is like listening to a true friend who loves God with all of his heart. And it makes you want to live that type of lifestyle too. If you don't feel rich, or you worry about finances, but you love God and want to share Him with others, this is a wonderful book to help you see how all of those thoughts and feelings can go together. 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.”

The War on Christmas edited by Bodie Hodge

The War on Christmas was a book I received from Handlebar Publishing. This is an interesting book, as it addresses many concepts of Christmas within the Christian tradition. When I first received it, I imagined it to be about pagan culture and how it is attempting to remove the traditional idea of Christmas from society. In some ways, I was right. It does discuss cultural ideas and issues Christians may deal with while celebrating Christmas. But it does much more than that. The book begins with the concept of Christmas itself and why it is important. There is a lot of history in the book to remind us of the origins of Christmas. Overall, it reminds us that Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Christ, regardless of any other associations we may have with the holiday. Culture often overshadows the purpose of Christmas. Sometimes even Christians are known for focusing solely on Christ's birth, rather than His entire purpose. Christmas, as any other day, should be a time for gratitude, reflection, and acknowledgement of the Christ. It is much more than His birth. It is a celebration of His willingness to be a sacrifice for us, and to come to earth in the form of an infant in order to fulfill His purpose. The book walks through many of Christmas's traditions and gives the history and explanations for them. For example, the book discusses the date of Christmas and why it is celebrated in December. This book also discusses other parts of the Christmas tradition, such as the wise men, the manger, and whether or not X-mas is an appropriate way to write Christmas. The book did seem repetitive at times, and sometimes asked questions in an attempt to move the narrative forward. Overall, though, the information made me examine my celebration of Christmas more deeply. It made me stop and reflect on my motives during this time of year, and helped me focus on Christ as the purpose of celebration. I think it is a worthy read.

31 Days to Happiness

31 Days to Happiness by David Jeremiah is a study of Solomon's words in Ecclesiastes. Jeremiah walks readers through Solomon's thoughts and musings from Ecclesiastes 1-12. Jeremiah uses personal stories, biblical stories, and commentary to explain the process Solomon goes through to understand the meaning of life and happiness. Solomon was given the choice of a gift from God, and he asked for wisdom. Because of this, he enjoyed a blessed life, yet as he reached the end, he felt devoid of meaning. He began pondering all of the blessings he had witnessed and all of the tragedies in life to find the true meaning of all it. Jeremiah walks readers through 12 chapters of Solomon's thoughts on vanity. Foe each area of life where Solomon feels there could be meaning, he finds it empty without God. Solomon looks for meaning in his career, justice, government, finances, questions, misery, rebuke, pleasure, humility, wisdom, the little things in life, and leadership. For each of these areas, Jeremiah shows how Solomon examines them and decides each one is nothing but vanity, a short span in life, that is here one day then gone like a vapor. Instead of looking for happiness in these vain pursuits, Jeremiah says Solomon realized true meaning comes from the giver of life, not from aspects of life itself. Instead, people can find happiness by knowing they are living a life for the Lord. He concludes that life is uncertain, but we are to embrace it. Because life is short, we need to enjoy it, and look for the blessings from God. We are to examine life because it is mysterious. Everything comes from God, and the only meaning we can find, must come from living for Him. Jeremiah takes readers through the journey made by Solomon to show the wisdom in his conclusion. The book is easy to read and follow, although if you are looking for a how-to manual, this is not it. Instead, Jeremiah explains Solomon's conclusions and allows the reader to decide how to adapt these ideas for themselves. It is a worthwhile read, although not what I expected based on the title. This is a book one must read carefully and thoughtfully, allowing each chapter to be absorbed and digested. Although the title suggests a monthly reading plan, I think to get the most from this book, one may need to re-read or allow several days per chapter to take it all in. It is not meant to be light reading. 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.”

You'll Get Through This

Can I just say I love the way Max Lucado writes. Lucado can weave interesting stories, share Scripture in a wise manner, and still sound as if he is sitting across from you at your kitchen table. His writing is that of an old friend, one who is wise and honest, ready to support you in the suffering you face. Lucado does not sugar-coat the truth, but he is encouraging, because his message is one from Scripture, and it is one of encouragement. In this book, Lucado tackles the suffering we all face. Whether it is a job loss, a relationship loss, a disappointment that is difficult to get past, or any other tragedy of life, he does not try to gloss over it. The reality is that we all face personal tragedies. We all feel pain. Lucado does not try to diminish this, nor to deny our feelings. However, he does remind us that the reality is so much more than that. Although we have struggles, we will get through them. We will feel pain. We will learn tough lessons. But the reality is that God is there for us through it all. He will be the One we can turn to, lean on, and call out to in those times. The problems we go through will not be easy and cannot be wished away. But in the midst of them, we can draw closer to our God, who has experienced everything we will experience. There is nothing that is beyond His reach. Lucado shares personal stories, as well as Scripture, to remind us that we are not alone. His writing is realistic and inspirational at the same time. He writes simply, yet profoundly. The truths in his book are ones we need reminding of, particularly when our lives seem to be spiraling out of control. There is comfort in the words of this book, and the words of the Bible. Lucado strives to remind us to focus on God, not our circumstances. His writing will encourage you in today's troubling times. 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.”

All In by Mark Batterson

All In is an invitation of sorts. Batterson points out that the Gospel of Jesus invites us to be followers of Christ. We are given the right to accept this invitation and live differently, the way Jesus calls us to live. However, Batterson explains, most Christian think they are following the Gospel, when really they want Jesus to follow them. They want to be able to live the way they choose, but have the benefits of the Christian walk. They want to be blessed and have a prosperous life, but they want it on their terms. In this book, Batterson talks about what it means to be all in with Jesus, to be willing to live in the way He invites us too, and why that is the best decision we can ever make. He begins by telling us that our priorities need to line up with God's priorities. To see if they do, we need to look at how we spend our time and money. Resources are gifts from God, and if we are not using them to promote His kingdom, then we are using them selfishly. Instead, we are called to be servants in all of our resources, as Jesus became a servant to help us understand this concept. We go all in by serving rather than looking to others to serve us. Batterson goes on to say that our potential is also to be used for God. God gives us talents and potential as a gift, and how we use that potential to help others is our gift back to God. We have a responsibility to devote our talents to God's kingdom. When we do, we will be blessed. But if we only use our resources and talents because we want to be blessed, we miss out on the true blessing. We are truly blessed when we know God, not just when we know about Him. To know Him, we must be all in, all the time. There are many more examples throughout the book of how we can be all in with God. The main idea, though, is that God is the priority and a relationship with Jesus is the most important relationship we can have. To be all in, our lives must mesh with the Gospel. God must come first. He is not something we tack on to our lives; He is the reason we live. Batterson's text is easy to read and follow, as well as to understand and apply. He speaks plainly and passionately about his subject. He makes the reader excited to be part of this journey. This is definitely a book I will revisit to help me remember what it takes to be all in. Batterson encourages total surrender to Jesus, and he reassures the reader that surrender is worth it. The book does not read like a sermon, but more like a friend with a passionate plea. I look forward to reading additional titles by this author. 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.”

Boundaries for Leaders

Boundaries for Leaders is the second book on boundaries that I have read from Dr. Henry Cloud. Rather than focusing on our own individual boundaries, this book looks at leaders and the boundaries needed within leadership. Dr. Cloud examines seven leadership boundaries throughout the book, ranging from helping others focus on what is most important, to creating thought patterns that limit negativity and helplessness. Basically, Dr. Cloud asks leaders to understand that boundaries are structures that determine what is allowed to exist and what will not. Each leader needs to be aware of what they will accept within their organization and/or team of people, and what cannot be tolerated. These limits need to be addressed up front and need to be clear to all involved. The leader has to set the stage for everyone. A team needs clear limits to demonstrate where the boundaries are, so that there can be no question of what is acceptable. Leaders need to be willing to establish these structures and stand behind them. The leader sets these boundaries and they determine whether the vision and the people involved will thrive or fail. The leader needs to be willing to take this responsibility. Leaders have to be willing to assume the role of motivator. They determine whether their people are motivated or not. It is essential for leaders to understand that as a leader, they will always get what they create and what they allow. If something is not going the way a leader wants it to, then he needs to be willing to take responsibility for changing it. This book talks about ways the leader can move from vision to reality. A leader needs to establish the vision for the people, and then help provide support for them to make that vision a reality. Leaders need to invest in people, as they are the ones in charge of building an emotional climate. They are responsible for the overall context of their place of work. The book continues by explaining how to set boundaries and take responsibility for them. It gives details on things like nonverbal clues, a shared purpose, and ways to keep everyone aware of the boundaries and the vision of the team. The book is insightful and straight-forward. Dr. Cloud includes personal examples and stories that keep the reader's attention, while building on the role of the leader. The book includes personal questions to mull over about leadership styles and methods. It also gives practical step-by-step advice to help leaders build up the climate and vision of their company. Overall, I found the book easy to read and follow, and it motivated me to take responsibility for the leadership roles in my life. I would recommend this book to anyone who has any leadership role, whether big or small, in their workplace. 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.”

Prayer Warrior Mom

I picked up a copy of the book Prayer Warrior Mom: Covering your kids with God's blessings and protection by Marla Alupoaicei because I wanted to learn how to intentionally pray for my child. It felt like my prayers had been stale and repetitive, and I wasn't even sure if I was praying God's will for my daughter. The first lesson I picked up from this book was that my grateful attitude has power in my daughter's life. I didn't think about the effect of my gratitude versus my complaining. I am grateful for many things in my life, but didn't ponder whether or not I demonstrate this on a regular basis at home. Nor did I think about how my attitude in this area can influence my child's attitude toward materialism or the blessings in our lives. As the author says, "An attitude of thankfulness does not just happen to us; we must learn to intentionally cultivate it." The author goes on to explain that although the husband is the head of the home, the mother is the heart of the family. It is within my power to influence the mood and tone within my home, and that has to start with prayer. I need to be clean before God and focus on His Word and goodness in order to cultivate my relationship with Him. It is only within this relationship that I can find power for my prayers. And in that power, I can be a positive influence on my daughter. The book is broken up into easy to understand sections that build upon one another. The author talks about the conditions for answered prayer as she leads you into persistence and praying God's will. I enjoyed how each chapter ends with quotes and scripture for further thought. This led me to dig into the Bible on my own to find more about prayer and being the heart of my household. After the scripture passages, there are also questions designed for small groups. I felt these served well for reflection and journaling on my own. Overall, the book was well-written and easy to relate to. The author felt like a neighbor with whom I was having coffee and discussing our children. She tackled the subject with ease, while inviting the reader to take the matter seriously and stay connected with God while working toward spiritual breakthroughs for your children. I enjoyed this book, and imagine I will return to its wisdom throughout my daughter's adolescent years. 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.”

Gods at War

Not too long ago, I read a book called Not a Fan by Kyle Idleman. It took me quite a while to read that book because it challenged me to look deeply at my relationship with Jesus and to analyze my motives. It helped me to understand the difference between a fan and a follower, someone who admires Jesus and someone who strives to be His disciple and to live like Him. When I saw Idleman had a new book, Gods at War, I knew I wanted to read it. His message is again profound and challenging. Idleman makes the claim that Christians (and non-Christians) are idolators. We may not even realize it, and we may try to justify it, but there are many gods in our lives that take the place of God or that draw our attention away from Him. The Ten Commandments tell us we are to have no gods before God, and that He needs to reign in our hearts, minds, and souls. Unlike pagans in the Bible, we do not create idols to worship. We do not have statues in our houses that we bow down to. We do not pray to material items we own. But does that mean we do not have idols? This is the question Idleman addresses. He begins by explaining what an idol truly is. An idol is anything that takes away from our worshipping of God. It is anything that replaces His importance in our lives. To see if we have idols in our lives, we need to honestly examine how we spend our time, how we spend our money, the people we spend time with, and the beliefs that motivate and drive us. When we really stop to think about these things, there are more possible idols in our lives that we want to admit to. For example, if I say that God is the priority in my life, but I only spend a few minutes of my day in His Word or in prayer, but I spend 10-12 hours working, is He really the priority? Or do I depend on my work to bring me security and satisfaction? Idleman says that working is not a sin, of course. We are called to do our part and allow God to do His. However, if our work takes the place of our relationship with God, or if we look to our work to be our satisfaction and security in this life, then it becomes an idol. In the same way, Idleman talks about other possible idols in our lives: food, sex, entertainment, money, achievement, family, romance and our own selves. These are things that God puts in our lives as gifts, and as long as we see and understand them that way, we can be in right relationship with God. But if these things become an end unto themselves, we are in danger of making them idols. Idleman's style is easy to understand and follow. As you read, you feel like you are talking with a friend. He shares personal stories to help us relate to each of these possible idols, and he connects these stories with biblical truths and Scripture. Ultimately, he wants us to understand that life is about God, and everything we have comes from Him, with the purpose of drawing us to Him. This book leads me back to God's Word with a new outlook. 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.”

Draw the Circle

Draw the Circle: The 40 Day Prayer Challenge by Mark Batterson is a 40 day devotional based on his book, The Circle Maker. I will admit that I have not read The Circle Maker, and I normally do not read devotionals. However, the concept behind this book caught my attention. In this book, Batterson discusses the principle of circling our prayers. He uses the story of Rodney "Gypsy" Smith to explain the idea of drawing the circle. He talks about Smith being used by God and helping start a revival. Smith said his secret to preaching that led people to surrendering to God was his circle. He said if you want to hear from God, you need to go home, kneel on the floor and draw a chalk circle around yourself, then pray that God will use you in that circle. Batterson says using this idea, we can circle our prayers. We can allow prayer to be our connection to God, to show our faith and dedication to Him. When we draw a circle around our prayers, we commit to praying until God uses us and we see an answer. But we have to be willing to follow God's will, and we may not receive the answers we are seeking. However, we will find answers when we commit to circling our prayers. Throughout the devotional, Batterson uses real-life stories and Scripture to support his ideas on prayer. He reminds us that our job is to submit to God, listen for His voice, and pray His will. Our focus in prayer must be on God, and establishing our relationship with Him. Prayer is not about getting what we want, but realizing what we need. We need God. Only then will we hear His voice, and our job then becomes to obey. Batterson's stories within this devotional are motivating and touching. It is easy to relate to his stories and he writes in a friendly way that inspires the reader to draw closer to God. He reminds us that God is constant and unchanging. His love for us never diminishes, but we can lose intimacy with Him when we pull away. Batterson reminds us that praying on a regular basis will change us and we will see things we could only imagine. If we seek God, we will find Him. I would recommend this devotional as a way to daily place oneself in God's presence. The advice and stories in this book help remind readers why we need to be close to God. This book has helped me focus my thoughts on God during my daily quiet time. It has been a great devotional for the Lent season. 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.”

Grace by Max Lucado

First of all, I have to say that I greatly enjoy reading anything by Max Lucado. To me, reading one of his books is like sitting down in a comfy chair with a good cup of coffee and listening to an old friend talk. Lucado employs down-to-earth, straight forward talk. He breaks down information and uses biblical references to help me understand theological ideas. Grace is the unmerited, undeserved favor of someone who has every right to make a judgement against you. None of us deserve grace; that is the entire concept behind grace. In this book, Lucado explains God's grace and our unworthiness of it. When God gives us grace, Lucado says, we receive a new heart. We cannot understand and receive God's grace without it affecting every aspect of our lives. And as we do, we learn how to extend grace to others. Lucado tells us that because we sin, we feel guilt. Guilt lets us know that we are sinning. But God does not want us to end with guilt. The guilt helps us turn to God, but we are not condemned by our sin. When God looks at us, he sees Jesus, and we receive His grace. This book makes me understand this concept so much better. There is a study guide at the end to take an even more in-depth look at the range of grace demonstrated in the Bible. Just like the heroes of the Bible, my mistakes do not define me. I am being remodeled and growing because God has given me His Son. 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.”