NLT Giveaway!

We wanted to let you know about a great giveaway happening over at the New Living Translation Facebook page, and also give you a chance to enter a Tyndale Blog Network exclusive giveaway.

Here are the NLT Facebook page giveaway details:

Starting on November 29^th until December 24^th at the New Living Translation Facebook page we're giving away lots of great prizes and something free for you just for singing up.

By visiting the giveaway entry page (located on the NLT Facebook page, the link is under the profile picture) and entering your name and e-mail address you'll be entered to win the following prizes:

• One random person each day will win a Life Application Study Bible Family Pack (Guys Life Application Study Bible hc, Girls Life Application Study Bible hc, Student's Life Application Study Bible hc, Life Application Study Bible hc, Life Application Study Bible Large Print hc).
• One Random person each week will win an Apple iPad 2!

Everyone that signs up gets a free download copy of the Life Application Bible Study – Book of Luke!

A Must Read!

When I saw that Billy Graham had come out with a new book, I knew I had to read it. Nearing 93 years old, this minister has biblically discussed so many issues, and now he was willing to tackle a topic that is often ignored or dismissed by society - what it is like to age and daily grow closer to death.

This book discusses how to age and live one's final years for God's complete glory. In his book, Billy Graham speaks with such a peace about growing old and the way he writes makes the reader feel as if they are simply having a conversation with a close friend.

Even if you are young, this is a book I would highly recommend adding to your library. It is a beautiful book that reminds us that growing old is a blessing not a burdened!

Great book to better understand your wife!

When my wife and I were first married, we received these books as a gift. We both read them within the first few months of marriage and really enjoyed them, as neither one of us knew too much about the opposite sex. Somehow in the shuffle of our move, these books were somehow misplaced and forgotten about. I was excited when the opportunity arose though to review this book! I knew that my perspective had changed on women since we had now been married for almost 2 years and anxious to see if I would learn anything new from this book. I was so glad I reread it!

Even after reading this book once and being married for a couple of years, I keep asking myself, "why didn't I know this" or "I wish someone had told me (or reminded me) of this."

This book includes a good deal of statistics from polls taken so it gives a general idea and insight into women. I encourage men to read this book to get a better understand of the females in their life. I can honestly saw that it helped strengthen our marriage.

God Gave Us Two

We Love the, "God gave us..." series of books! In these book, "God Gave Us Two" by Lisa Bergren, there is an inquisitive baby polar bear who asks lots of questions of his mommy. The baby's questions are cute and the mommy's answers are cute too, but best of all - the mommy's answer always points back to God, assuring baby polar bear that he is a treasured gift from God. The fun surprise at the end of the book is that mommy polar bear is having twins!

This book is a great way to express to your kids how much you love them because they are a gift from God. If you are have two kids, are having a second child, or have twins, this book is perfect for you!

Take the Challenge!

As a father of a little girl and a little boy on the way, I am constantly trying to seek out resources to help me better serve, love, and shepherd my children. Our culture makes this almost impossible. I was thrilled when I had the opportunity to review "The 21-Day Dad's Challenge," a Focus on the Family book, in hopes that I would walk away a better father.

This book contains 21 days to better knowing and loving your child. Each day begins with a narrative by one of the authors (Carey Casey, Josh McDowell, Tony Dungy, Dr. Gary Roseburg, Joe White, and more) over a particular subject, such as helping kids learn respondsibility, improving their serve, and holding kids accountable. This is then followed by a challenge for the father and a plan to help them meet this challenge. At the end of each challenge, there is a bar code for you to scan with your smart phone for additional help in taking the challenge. If you are at all familiar with the "Love Dare" by Stephen and Alec Kendrick, this book is very similar in the structure and purpose.

I am really enjoying going through this book. Although my children are still quite young, I believe that I will pick up this book many times throughout the course of their childhood and teenage years. This is a great book & I highly recommend it to all fathers!

Discover the Hidden Magic of Disney

I must say, I really, really enjoyed this book. Even though my daughter is only 7 months old, I am looking forward to the day I get to take her to Disney World. I still remember my magical trip to the "greatest place on earth" when I was 7 years old. This book is loaded with secrets about Disney World. I have not taken this book with me yet to the theme park, and therefore do not know how accurate it would be. If even just a few things are true, then I think that is fantastic. Although you might be able to discover these secrets on the internet, it is much easier and more practical (you can take it with you on your trip) than the internet. I plan to give this book as a Christmas gift to family that really loves going to Disney World. If you would like to learn the hidden secrets of Walt Disney, then this is the book for you.

Go Big!

I was really excited about Cory Cotton's new book "Go Big" based upon his success with the "Dude Perfect" videos seem on You Tube. I went to Texas A&M with these guys, and actually was in a small group at church with the Cory himself. It's crazy to see how far he has come during the past couple of years, and I just wanted to see what he had to say.

I'm a business major, and like to keep things simple if possible, and therefore, I really liked Cory's "5 Key Principles" to "GO BIG:" get excited, own it, blink later, inspire others, give back. He elaborates on each of these points throughout the book.

This is an honest look into an ordinary guys life who found success in something he loved. It's a simple, enjoyable read, and I promise you will laugh multiple times during your read. If you're anything like me, it will be hard to put down once you start reading. This is a great book for someone who is in college or an entrepreneur looking for something to attain in life. This book is truly motivating! It shows us that we all have a God given talent, as different as they may be, that we can use to glorify God.

Great Single Man's Workbook!!!!

When my wife received her edition of "Every Single Woman's Battle," I was anxious to get the male version for myself. Although I am married, I enjoy mentoring other single guys and believe this will be a great resource to use with them. I was correct. "Every Man's Battle" discusses the struggles men have against lust and this workbook nicely compliments the book. Although this book could be done by an individual, I think it would be best worked through in a group or with another individual for accountability. The first section of this workbook is written and reads like any other book, but about 1/4 of the way through the book, the structure it is written changes. In these chapters, the reader is assigned specific chapters to read from "Every Man's Battle" (typically about 3 chapters), which is then accompanied by a small dialog, scripture, and questions to reflect upon and answer. It is a great way for single men to attack lust head on and I would highly recommend it!

Not only for those who dread Mondays

No More Dreaded Mondays by Dan Miller is a classic motivational book for anyone. Although it is written to those who dread going to work on Monday mornings, it will be helpful for anyone who lets it be. In this book, Dan offers great insight on life in order to help the reader discover his, "true calling". He shares stories that are remarkable, statistics that are shocking, and jokes that are funny. I had a hard time putting this book down. And to make this book even better, he does all of this with a Christian perspective, backed up by scripture.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to improve themselves and the way they think.

What Are You Waiting For?

What Are You Waiting For is a book aimed at young women to encourage them to remain pure until their wedding day. When I received this book, although I am married, I thought it might contain information that would be beneficial for both me and my husband - it did not. Gresh promises that she has found the secret "that nobody has told you," that sex is a revelation of a much greater love. For me personally, I have been told this since the beginning of my engagement and marriage to my husband. It wasn't new... I do commend Gresh for sharing with her readers the purpose of sex in marriage - between only husband and wife. She also incorporated great statistics that really make one step back and think about our culture. If I were discipling a young girl, this more than likely would not be my first choice of book to give her on this subject.

Saving Your Marriage in 5 minutes a Day

Save your marriage in 5 minutes a day was not the type of book I was necessarily expecting. My husband and I love doing devotionals together, and I believed that this was a book written for you to read 5 minutes a day together with your spouse. Instead, it is a book of strategies that you can complete in 5 minutes to show your spouse love and respect. I was very excited to receive this book in the mail from booksneeze.com and was a little disappointed that it was written from a secular perspective. Our marriages are constantly hanging in the balance, and for me, it is imperative to read Christian literature and the bible, rather than waste my time with what the world offers to help your marriage. It never will work apart from Christ. I can’t say if I would recommend this book to a friend…

The Final Summit

While I have loved several of Andy Andrews other books, this one was not my favorite. I must admit, I am not a fiction reader, and thus had a little difficulty getting into and reading this book. While this book is an easy, quick read, nothing was so profound as to impact me personally. I did not read Andy Andrews prequel to this particular piece, and therefore am uncertain if it impacted my reading of this piece. If you are a fiction reader, you might enjoy this much more than I , a non-fiction loving reader, did.

I received this book for free from booksneeze.com

Love & War

John & Stasi Eldredge come together to write Love & War, a biblical, honest book on marriage. This book is full of great, biblical, easy-to-read advice to any married couple who follow Christ. If you have read and enjoyed either of their best-selling book, Wild at Heart or Captivating, then you will enjoy this book too! They show couples how they can fight FOR each other rather than fight AGAINST each other...very insightful! As a couple, this is one of our favorite marriage books!

Radical by David Platt

Radical by David Platt is a great book. David looks at the American Christian way of life and compares it to the truths of scripture. He examines the ways in which modern day Christianity has greatly derailed from that of earlier Christians... David does seek to make his reader feel good, but rather, he seeks to expose his readers to truth. Even when that truth is hard to hear.

This book will challenge you to your core. It will make you question what you believe, why you believe it, how you live, how you spend your free time, and on and on i could go. If you are frustrated with "American Christianity" and the scriptural contradiction therein, or if you are interested in really growing deeper in your faith - this book is for you!

Love & War

Love and War is an incredible book about marriage written by John and Stasi Eldredge. One of the fundamental points this book makes is that we are in the midst of a very real war between heaven and earth, and because of that we must fight for the love within our marriage.

I can't stress enough how beautifully written and engaging of both sexes. My husband read this book aloud to each other and both equally enjoyed it. During the book, John tells a story in which he reminds Stasi during a fight that he is on her side. He is for her. Well not too long after reading this book, my husband and I got into a disagreement and he said those same words "I am on your side. I am fighting for you." It put our disagreement into a new perspective. We would both highly recommend this book to all married individuals! In fact we have already given away 2 copies! We love it and I am confident that you will too!

Love at Last Sight

Love at Last Sight is a book written to help enhance your relationships, with main topics being: the art of being all there, the art of acting intentionally, the art of risking awkwardness, and the art of letting go. This book is intended to be read in 30 days, 1 chapter per day. Each day contains 2 quotes from famous individuals, a 5-6 page description of the theme, and a personal challenge.

Although this is a Christian book, I didn't find Christianity its primary focus. Personally, I saw this book as every other self help book for relationships on the market.

God Gave Us Two!

God Gave Us Two is a book written by Lis Bergren for children who will soon have a new sibling. It is one of many books from her polar bear series, and her other books include: God Gave Us You, God Gave Us Love, and God Gave Us Heaven. This book tells the anxious story of young polar bear as she prepares for the arrival of her brother/sister. Throughout the story, mamma and pappa bear answer little bears questions about what a new sibling will be life, but they always end by saying, "God gave us you, and now he's given us two!" They promise that they will always love little bear just the same. My favorite part is the end though...where there is a pleasant surprise.

I would highly recommend this book to all expectant parents who already have a kid.

Daddy Dates

Daddy Dates, by Greg Wright is a book written to dads, to help build strong and confident daughters. Greg writes solely based on his experience raising his 4 girls, and the success he has had with them through his “Daddy Date” strategy. He encourages Dad’s to really get to know their daughters by taking them on dates – just like that same dad use to date their mom in order to get to know her better. Greg shares his experience in how he has gotten his 4 teenage daughters to open up and share their fears, dreams and opinions with him.

This is a great book for any guy to read. It’s very eye opening in how men can better relate to any female, whether it’s a daughter, wife, girlfriend or sister. You don't have to be a dad to read, and get good advice from, this book. Greg seems to have figured girls our better than the average Joe, and his advice is great. Plus, it’s just a fun book to read. He writes with a great sense of humor, and it’s a relatively short, easy book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from booksneeze.com

Time with God for Fathers

Time with God for Fathers by Jack Countryman is a very well written, well put together book. Each page consists of passage of scripture, followed by a short devotion which relates the scripture to some aspect of being a father. It’s great for any coffee table or toilet, when you want to take a minute or two to relax and refocus on the more important things in life. His writing is both simple and challenging. Whether you are a biblical scholar or very unfamiliar with God’s word, this book will be insightful and helpful to every father. It would also make an excellent gift book for any father or father-to-be.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from booksneeze.com

Time With God for Mothers

I received "Time with God for Mothers" just in time for Mother's Day. This 90 page gift book has a topic, scripture, and small meditation on each page, which is just perfect to read one a day. This book is very colorful and girly, which make the pages fun and inviting to look at! I am a new mom of a 7 week old and love this devotional, and I think that this book would be great for mothers of all ages! I highly recommend this book as a great gift for the mom that you love!

God Gave Us You!

God gave us you is an AWESOME children's book telling the joyful story of a mommy cub having her baby cub. I currently have a 7 week old little girl, and this book reminded me so much of my pregnancy and delivery. I can't wait to share this story with my daughter when my husband and I eventually have a second child. This book will remind your child that they are loved by you no matter what, because "God gave them to you!" I love, love, love this book and would highly recommend it to all parents!

The Treasure Principle

The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn is a book my husband and I both love! In his book, Randy reminds readers to store up treasures in heaven, rather than on earth. This book is not only challenging, but biblical and counter-cultural. It has revolutionized the way I view money and possessions. I sincerely desire that every believer read this book!

Every Man's Battle

Every Man’s Battle by Stephen Arterburn and Fred Stoeker is a great read that every Christian man would benefit from reading. They address the war on sexual temptation in a blunt, honest and humbling way that is much needed in today’s culture. It really is a battle that every man faces, and any man that is looking for tools to help him win the battle can find it in this book. It would also be GREAT to do as a group study with other men – and they make that easy to do with the included workbook.

I received this book from WaterBrook Press!

How To Be God's Little Princess

Recently I received a copy of “How to Be God’s Little Princess,” which is a book filled with activities focusing on manners, etiquette, and true beauty. This book is written by Sheila Walsh, who is the author of “Gigi, God’s Princess.” Many of her books are designed for little girls, and I thought this book would be a perfect addition to my newborn’s library. This book though, is for a young adult (8-12).

Many young girls at the targeted age group are seeking to find their identity as they become young women. I believe this book will assist them in becoming more confident as they blossom into beautiful women of God. Some of the topics the book focuses on include: how to dress like a princess, how to have a royal party, how to be media wise, how to be perfectly polite, and how a princess sports a good attitude.

Although my daughter is too young to read this book with right now, it will definitely be something that we go through together when she gets older!

Thank You God for Mommy

Thank You God for Mommy is a wonderful children’s book for any mommy-child pair! It is written from the perspective of a young panda bear, thanking God for the various things his mother does for him, such as being patient, gentle, and loving. As a mother of a newborn, I have really enjoyed reading this book with my new daughter. I brings me joy to know that I play such a significant role in her life. I would highly recommend this book as a sweet mother’s day gift from a young child!

I received this book as a complementary gift from booksneeze.com!

Desiring God, Revised Edition

John Piper is an author whom my husband and I both greatly respect. We have read several of his books, which all were very insightful and contained much wisdom, and have had on our "to read list" Desiring God. I was excited to discover that he had a new revised edition of this book and couldn't wait to read it.

This revised edition of Desiring God gives readers insight to Christian motivation. We as Christians are to find our full satisfaction in Christ alone, but often we loose sight of the joy and happiness when we focus on our duty as Christians rather than our delight in God. Piper states that "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him."

I would encourage all Christians to read this book so that our focus is not on doing for Christ, but rather enjoying Christ. The former will follow if we live out the latter.

God Gave Us So Much!

God gave us so much is a children's book compiled of three different stories: God gave us the world, God gave us love, and God gave us heaven.

In each of these stories, a little cub asks questions in order to discover more about who God is.

I really, really enjoyed this book. The pictures are so, so sweet, and with having a newborn, I can't wait to use this with her! I would highly recommend adding this book to your library collection!

I received this book from Blogging for Books!

90 Days of God's Goodness

I have always enjoy reading material from Randy Alcorn. His new book “90 days of God’s Goodness is another excellent book to add to your collection.

This hardback book focuses on the Goodness of God for 90 days. The premise of this book is how to find comfort in truth while suffering well. Each day has a specific theme and is begun by focusing on at least one section from scripture (both the New and Old Testament are equally used), although there are several days that incorporate two different verses. Randy Alcorn then goes on to explain the verse into more detail and how we may apply these principals to our lives. Each day is then ended with a prayer.

I personally believe that this would be an excellent gift book and resource for someone who is grieving at a time in their life. It truly does focus on “shining light in personal darkness.” Whether suffering the loss of a family member or friend, going through an unwanted divorce, or just dealing with the valley’s of life, I highly recommend this book. It will help take the focus off of the temporary but replacing it with eternity.

I received this book from Waterbook Press!

Fasting

Fasting by Scot Mcknight takes a look at how today’s Christians have grown to seemingly ignore the spiritual discipline of fasting, and why we need to seriously consider practicing it again. He also argues that most Christians have a unbiblical definition of fasting (doing it as a way to get something), and he proves, through scripture, that an accurate definition of a fasting is: Fasting is the natural, inevitable response of a person to a grievous sacred moment in life.

This book really challenged me personally, as I am one of the many Christians who don’t fast. Reading this has helped me realize some of my own sin, and helped me gain a more biblical mindset towards fasting. In addition, this book really helped open my eyes to just how integral fasting has always been to the life of a Christian – throughout history. People like John Calvin and John Wesley, and other Godly men, are quoted in this book to help us see the traditional view of fasting that modern Christians have lost.

This is a great book for anyone seeking to grow in the spiritual discipline of fasting. It’s easy to read and very thought provoking.

This book was given to me by booksneeze.com!

The Ultimate DVD Read and Share

With a baby on the way, Stephen and I have been looking for excellent resources to use to teach our children about Christ. The Ultimate DVD Read and Share Bible is a great, great resource for parents and Sunday school teachers to use to teach young children some of the more familiar stories from the Old and New Testament. I have to admit, even my husband and I both learned something!

The Ultimate DVD Read and Share Bible is a hardback bible with ease to wipe pages (great for those sticky little fingers!) The stories written in this bible are very basic, and I wouldn’t use it to teach children over the age of 3 or 4. Each page contains beautiful illustrations, which will keep the attention of the readers, and at the bottom of each page, there is a question to ask the child. I love the way that it will help the reader stay interested and think about what will happen next in the story. My favorite part of this bible though is the DVD stories that come with the bible!!! I love them! There are 2 DVDs that contain some of the stories in the bible. As a teacher myself, I know the importance of not getting DVDs that have too much visual stimulation for youngsters, but these are perfect! The illustrations are simple, and yet share the complete story. I do wish though that the stories in the DVD flowed better together. All in all, I can’t wait to use this with my daughter!

I received this book for free from Booksneeze.com!