Raising Girls
How to Help Your Daughter Grow Up Happy, Healthy, and Strong By Steve Biddulph Published by:Ten Speed Press I have always been a fan of Steve Biddulph’s very practical books for parents. This one is no different. The book examines the five stages of girlhood, from birth to preparing for adulthood. It goes on to discuss how to navigate through risk areas for girls. From bodies, weight and food, alcohol and drugs, bullying, appearance and dealing with the cyber networks. The third part of the book is addressing for girls and their mums relate, and separately how girls and their fathers relate. This book will give you the strategies to raise a happy, healthy, well-adjusted daughter. Highly recommended for every parent.
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5 things you can do to have a stronger family
By Scott Seidler Publisher: Concordia Publishing House The book starts with the bold heading – No Perfect Families. It goes on to give examples of how families are not perfect, before providing some guidance. I found the start depressing. Digging through a fictional family’s attitudes and problems to life, followed by a lot of words that don’t offer hope. The book discusses families establishing plans, social settings, recognising the strengths and gifting in family members, forgiveness of one another, establishing how you live out the Christian faith, and taking time to rest together and apart from one another. At the end of each chapters are discussion questions and action items, making the book partly a workbook for families. The Book is part of “The You Can Do It Series”, which encourages and equips Christians to live as disciples. While the book is helpful, I felt that is could be better written, and had many of the words removed. It is not the easiest of books around, and there are many better books in the marketplace on strengthening families. Thanks to Netgalley & Concordia Publishing House for my copy. This review can also be found on my blog, Books-Reviewed. There is more
By Brian Houston 4 Stars Subtitled – When the world says you can’t, God says you can. From the senior pastor of Hillsong comes an uplifting book to encourage and focus the reader’s life. Filled with anecdotal and personal testimony, this book will renew your passion and desire to dream of a life possible. It teaches you the principles of working through dark times, into times of blessings. This will be a popular book for Christians and those who love life around the world. Today is the Day
Find and Embrace Your God-Given Dreams By Bil Cornelius Publisher: Baker Books God loves us, and has given us inspired dreams for our lives. This book helps us to recognise those dreams, and fulfil them. In a well set out book, with clear explanations, Bil Cornelius set out to help us discover the God given dreams for our lives, move beyond our insecurities, our fears, our small thinking, our self-doubt, and overcoming a lack of motivation. I found the thinking big chapter particularly helpful, as someone who struggles with pride, and is frequently told to be humble. Cornelius goes on to explain how to establish smart goal setting, including actioning them, role of prayer, risk taking, building momentum, utilising gifting’s, building a team to help achieve goals, and getting the right advice. Each chapter contains action steps to get you on the road to reaching your full potential. These are practical discussion points, and would suit the use in a small group setting. Bill uses encouragement, Biblical stories and real life examples to steer you into making Godly decisions, thus allowing you to achieve God’s design for your life. It is one of the best books in discovering your God given purpose and establishing a plan to achieving your potential. I highly recommend it. The Person called You
By Bill Hendricks 3 Stars The questions of purpose, who we are, and what makes us special has interested people for generations. The Person Called You answers the questions of discovering your identify and your purpose. Hendricks helps the reader discover their calling, their giftedness, so that people can live with purpose. The book devotes considerable time examining and learning how to foster the gifts (physical, spiritual and mental). The ultimate goal, of the book, is to allow people to have a purpose for life, and a plan to fulfil it, so that we do not get caught up in perishing due to a lack of plan. Who’s Got Time
Spirituality for a Busy Generation By Teri Peterson and Amy Fetterman Publisher: Chalice Press 4 Stars A conversation about the busyness of life and its impact on world and its spirituality. This book has been written intentionally for those in their 20s and 30s who just continually run out of time. It is not a time management book, or a book full of hints and tips, more it’s a recognition that life is busy, and that there are many competing time demands. The book gives a selection of spiritual practices that can be incorporated into existing life style, not totally restructuring the current life style. While I found nothing new in the book, many will find the honest of Teri and Amy refreshing, and take some of their ideas for incorporating into their worlds. An easy read, filled with real world examples. Home Run: Learn God's Game Plan for Life and Leadership
By Kevin Myers, and John Maxwell Reviewed by Heath Henwood 4 Stars Many people are missing out on the fullness of life. Not living to the potential that awaits them. Home Run relays some of the struggles that Kevin Myers had personally and professionally. The book outlines how to restore broken dreams, having faith when sitting at the bottom of the barrel. Using the testimony of Kevin Myers, it provides practical steps and questions to explore when facing the wall. Utilising the baseball diamond as an analogy for following God's plan for life, Myers and Maxwell provide a clear path forward while helping you keep your priorities in order and your eyes on the prize. What is that pattern? The four bases represent four elements of life to get right. Connection with God, Character, Community, and Competence. There are no shortcuts or steals in the spiritual journey of life. HOME RUN is a guidebook for living life and learning how to succeed God's way. Made for More
An Invitation to Live in God's Image By Hannah Anderson Publisher: Moody Publishers Anderson freely admits this book, while beneficial for men, is written primarily for women. The book targets women to discover their identity and how women live as a creation made in the image of God. Anderson challenges current thinking about identity and roles, not just current but throughout modern history. It enables women to come to terms with the purposes God has appointed, while encouraging women to live in God’s image, trusting him, and setting aside the worries of the world. Written in an easy to read style, this book gives examples and wisdom for the modern life. Highly Recommended for women wanting to discover their identity and purpose in life. Acts of God
Why Does God Allow So Much Pain? By Bob Russell, Rob Suggs Publisher: Moody Publishers Sooner or later, everyone asks the question, “Why God”. This book attempts to answer the question, although recognising there is no easy answer. The opening chapter tries to answer the question, but fails to give a satisfactory explanation to the reader. I’m not sure there is one. However the book goes, with strategies to deal with the “suicide missions” that life throws at us, and overcoming the pain that crises bring. The book has chapters on dealing with the pain that occurs around the home and with relationships, particularly in troubled homes. It goes on to deal with sin and temptation in other areas of our lives. Written with stories to give examples, and Scriptures to support their advice the book is easy to read. Having said that, I didn’t find it useful, although I am not going through pain at the moment. Neither did I think it would be all that comforting for someone going through suffering. The book does however offer some hope to people, which may make it helpful to those seeking answers. Learn How to Make It Work For You
By Steven Jay Fogel and Mark Rosin Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group Press The concept of the book is good, but it is let down with a lack of detail, and lacks the documentation to be consider a valid text. It is part manual that looks at the theories of cognitive behavioural therapy to resolve problems. Each chapter has some discussion questions to help the reader reflect on topics. The book discusses the authors own testimony, but not over the top as some books do. The book is easy to read, but a bit repetitive at times. Overall, people will read the book because of their desire to improve, however I didn’t feel that it was either educational or life changing. |