BOOK REVIEW - How to Enjoy Reading Your Bible

BOOK DESCRIPTION & AUTHOR'S WEBSITE
Do you feel like you should read the Bible more?  This book will help you want to read it.  Keith Ferrin has been talking to churches for years about enjoying God's Word. Here he shares the most helpful ideas and habits you can start using today. You will find ten proven tips that are equally practical whether you are a longtime Bible student or simply exploring what this life-changing book is all about.  Aimed at deepening your relationship with God, these simple suggestions will help you focus more easily as you read, remember Scripture better, and most importantly, enjoy the Bible and its Author more than you ever dreamed possible.
http://keithferrin.com/

MY REVIEW

"You have not truly mastered any part of the Bible until that part of the Bible has mastered you" - Bob Shinrock.

 

I met Jesus in 1982, but I fell in love with Jesus in 2001 when I felt His calling and discovered my spiritual gift was teaching.  I am somewhat of a study nerd...I love the research of studying and then sharing what I learn with others.  This is most evident in regards to His Word.  I love the Bible and cannot get enough of His story.  This book will be a reference I keep on hand to gift others I meet who desire to know how to read the Bible with a "relational" approach.  It is that helpful and I wish I would of had it years ago!

Ferrin has written a wonderful reference for new and long-time readers of the Bible.  I enjoyed the personal way in which the book was written.  It was as if he were sitting with you at Starbucks sharing with you his 10 tips for having a better time "hanging out" with God.  With his one-on-one writing style, it was easy to become motivated to put the tips to use.  The tips are practical in that they are lined out in a good format and they are easy to understand.  This practicality made the book extremely motivating.  It feels as if he were your Bible Reading Coach and reminding you that it can be so much fun.

"How to Enjoy Reading Your Bible" has truly encouraged me and I look forward to working through the challenges he presents at the end of the book.  Even though my time with the Bible is frequent, I do see that I can sometimes fall into the "informational" reading approach.  It is so easy to find yourself there in a dutiful feeling instead of a desiring feeling.  My heart so desires time in the arms of my Redeemer and getting to know Him more deeply.  The book has also refueled my love for sharing the Bible with others and I have asked my Pastor to possibly facilitate a Small Group to put these useful tips in the hands of my fellow church members.

I was provided this book for free as an Advanced Reader Copy by Bethany House, a division of Baker House Publishing, for my honest review.

BOOK REVIEW- Until the Harvest

BOOK DESCRIPTION & AUTHOR'S WEBSITE
When family tragedy derails Henry Phillips's college studies, he's left unmoored and feeling abandoned. The only things that can tamp down his grief are the family farm, his fiddle, and an unexpected friendship with sweet but unusual preteen Mayfair Hoffman. Unfortunately, Mayfair's older sister, Margaret, despite her spray of freckles and cute, turned-up nose, has a completely different effect. His grandmother's helper, she's always around, ready to push his buttons, and it seems at first that she doesn't care about his troubles. Henry soon realizes, though, that Margaret's facing her own struggles. Mayfair's health and unique gift sit at the heart of those worries. Henry and Margaret soon find themselves relying on each other as potential tragedy collides with growing hope in a warm story of family bonds and the surprising ways healing finds us all.  http://sarahloudinthomas.com/

MY REVIEW
Personally, this was a very inspiring book to read. I chose to read it because it was set in the Appalachians and I have liked other books set in this area of the country. However, this book was SO much better due to the spiritual message that flowed through the story. It was an engaging read as I finished the book in only 1 day (I was home recovering from surgery, so pain was my only distraction).

I thought the book was a sweet love story. At first, the main love story seemed to be Henry and Margaret, two people trying to find their place in the world with the fear of an unknown future. Who doesn't love a story of two somewhat lost people being brought together by God?  I can relate to both of the characters, but more so with Margaret and her struggling belief in God's love for her.   The book suggested that maybe she couldn't really love until she better understood how much God loves her.  As I became more involved in the story, the TRUE love story seemed to be between God and all the interesting characters. He was very active in all their lives.  God's love shined so bright through His precious vessel, Mayfair (Margaret's younger sister). My eyes filled with tears when Beulah looked at Mayfair and said "I don't need to look into your eyes to feel your love".  My deepest desire is to offer this much love, kindness, and "peace of mind" to those I come into contact with in this life.

There were a few other insights I pulled from the story that I would like to share because I think they are sometimes forgotten in our lives today.  The first is the value of the wise elders in our lives.  In the story, all the older characters were full of wisdom that they so freely gave to the Henry and Margaret.  I cannot tell you the amount of wisdom I have learned from my grandparents and church members - they are such a blessing to my life.  The second is the value of the love we offer through our talents and gifts.  There is a focus on the healing that Mayfair offered her community, but I also enjoyed the telling of how Perla stretched food through hard times and I truly feel that Margaret showed love to Beulah and Emily by cleaning their homes as they were no longer able to themselves.  We all have something we do really well that we can use to serve those around us.

What a story! "Until the Harvest' was a sweet read and is well written by Sarah Loudin Thomas. I am very grateful to Bethany House, a division of Baker House Publishing Group, who provided me with the book for my honest review.