Help Your Kids Learn & Love the Bible by Danika Cooley Book Review

In Help Your Kids Learn & Love the Bible, Danika Cooley explored the topic of helping our children to love reading the Bible. She shared a personal story about how her son asked her about Jonah and why he was called a prophet and not a missionary and how she had to study the scriptures to figure it out. She explained how she used a children’s audio Bible CD when they were small. She revealed tips on how she made the Bible approachable and how she continued the Bible reading appropriate for the age range. She went into details on how she did it from little people until high school level. She also looked at some of the excuses we use such as, “reading the Bible is too hard for kids, too edgy, and too big”. She shared ways we can overcome this and still teach our children the Word of God. She also described how she used fun creative ways to keep her small children occupied while the other older children would read and study the Bible together as a family. She used boxes as an idea and the kids would do different things such as, stickers, dollhouse, coloring, and action figures and they had to play 30 minutes during the older children’s Bible study. This helped them to also gain some of the Bible conversations while they were busy playing in the background. 

 

 

I would recommend this life changing book to anyone who has children and they are searching for a book to assist them in leading their children into a relationship with the Word of God. It contained countless tips and suggestions on how a family was able to leave a lasting legacy in their children’s lives. I immensely enjoyed how she shared creative ideas she used to engage her own children and teaching them the importance of studying the written word and building a foundation on Christ’s teachings and leadership. I also liked how she explored how we can have a profitable discussion on what our children are reading and asking open end questions that will cause our children to ponder what they are reading about and how they can apply it to their lives. 

 

 

 

"I received this book free from the publisher, Bethany House/Chosen Books for my honest review.” 

 

 

 

 

If you would like to purchase a copy of Help Your Kids Learn & Love the Bible, check it out on Amazon.com:

 

https://www.amazon.com/Help-Your-Kids-Learn-Bible/dp/0764237942/

Satisfied: Finding Hope, Joy, and Contentment Right Where You Are by Alyssa Joy Bethke Book Review

In Satisfied, Alyssa Joy Bethke has written a brand-new book about finding true contentment and experiencing life with full force. She shared how she had her longings met. She opened up about how she struggled with being satisfied and she was experiencing loneliness. She recalled praying for a husband and then she met, Jeff and got married. She quit her job where they could travel together and they eventually moved back to Maui. She lived there before and she thought she would be quick to reconnect with her friends and build friendships. That didn’t happen in the way she thought it would. She had a disconnect with making friends and she had to deal the fear of rejection. She revealed how she had all of her longings answered when she learned to lean on His strength and trust in His timings. She had to remind herself that Jesus is her helper, comforter, and counselor. She did eventually make friends and God gave her a vision with groups gathered together. She shared how she had to change her perceptive and had to focus more on how she can be a friend to someone else and give them encouragement. She was able to build lasting friendships with a few women and they pray together, worship together, and they seek God together.

 

 

I would recommend this awesome book to anyone who is ready to find true contentment with their life even if their battling and facing challenges circumstances. One of my favorite chapter was about grief. I appreciated how open and transparent she was in sharing how she has a miscarriage and the pain she experienced. She explained to readers how she had to seek the redemption found in the nailed scarred hands of Christ. She shared how she blamed herself and her body that she was too weak to carry the baby. She struggled with the lies until she was able to flip them around and remember that God is strong and powerful. I liked how she spoke to readers and explained how she dealt with her own trauma and how it is a healing journey process. I also enjoyed the recipe section she included in the book and how she enclosed recipes from also people closest to her in this book. Some of my favorites I want to try are: Pico-de-Guac, strawberry cake, apple berry crisp, and steak salad. I also loved the colorful photos this book had throughout each page. This isn’t your typical chapter book and it reminded me more of a colorful cookbook or a designer style book even though it did contain some recipes, this wasn’t necessary just a cooking book. 

 

 

 

"I received this book free from the publisher, Hachette Book Group/Faithwords for my honest review.” 

 

 

 

 

If you would like to purchase a copy of Satisfied, check it out on Amazon.com:

 

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Satisfied-Finding-Contentment-Right-Where/dp/1546034048

Sample Recipes: 

Jori’s Pork Carnitas

 

Serves 10-12 people

 

The other night we went over to our friend’s Greg and Sarah’s house for dinner. Sarah is one of my best friend’s. She loves Jesus with her whole heart, loves her family and has the gift of hospitality. We had asked to come over so we could pray for them, and here we were, being served with a delicious meal and sweet conversation- that’s just who she is. Giving, joyful, and present- you always feel so loved and known when you’re around Sarah.

We sat down to eat, and let me tell you guys, these tacos are the best I have ever had! When I asked for the recipe, she told me they are Jori’s- a friend of ours in our community who could have her own cookbook (and I’m wondering why she doesn’t yet!?) because anything that comes out of her kitchen is top notch! 

 

Guys, I promise you, these will be your favorite taco recipe ever. And as we enter into summer, this will be your go to for gatherings and picnics and special dinners under twinkly lights and warm night air.

 

BUT! You have to have the pickled red onion to go along with it! It is truly life changing, and so simple. Don’t skip that step!

 

 

½. Cup apple juice (can substitute for cranberry or pineapple juice)

1 lime, juiced

3 cloves garlic, crushed

 

1 Tablespoon salt

½ tsp. black pepper

½ tsp. ancho chili powder

½ tsp. chipotle chili powder

½ tsp. ground cumin

¼ tsp. cayenne pepper

 

3-3.5lbs boneless pork shoulder roast (I’ve used pork butt, bone-in, etc. too)

1 Tablespoon bacon grease for searing

 

Preheat oven to 250 degrees.

Wisk together the apple and lime juice and garlic.

In another bowl, add all the spices.

Cut pork into 4 chunks. Sprinkle all sides with the spice mixture. 

Melt the bacon grease in a dutch oven. Seat the pork for a few minutes on all sides. 

Cover the meat with the juice mixture, cover and place in the oven.

Cook for 5-5 ½ hours.

Remove from oven and shred the meat. 

Set oven to broil and adjust rack to the top of the oven, about 6 inches from the top.

Place the shredded meat on a baking pan and drizzle some of the juice on top.

Place in oven to broil until crisp to your liking, making sure to watch it so it doesn’t burn. This should only take a couple of minutes.

 

Serve with tortillas topped with your favorite garnishes. 

Our favorites- cabbage, radish, onion (ideally pickled red onions), cilantro, tomatillo salsa, cojita cheese and your favorite hot sauces.

 

ENJOY!

 

 

Sarah’s Red Pickled Onions

 

1 red onion, thinkly sliced

½ cup apple cider vinegar

1 Tablespoon sugar

1 ½ tsp. salt

1 cup warm water 

 

On the stove top, on medium low heat, whisk all of the ingredients together, except the onions. Let cool. Then pour the mixture over the onions in a mason jar. Enjoy with the carnitas tacos, or on sandwiches! This really takes your tacos to the next level! 

Don’t Miss Out: Daring to Believe Life if Better with the Holy Spirit by Jeannie Cunnion Book Review

In Don’t Miss Out, Jeannie Cunnion explored the topic of the Holy Spirit and what we can learn about Him. She discovered 30 key benefits on the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life. She begins the book by looking at how He is our advantage. She revealed how she was settling for God’s best in her life and how she had faith. But she wasn’t replying on the Holy Spirit and his supernatural power and strength. She looked at John 16:5-7 and this verse explained why Jesus had to go away and how it was for our benefit and advantage where the helper will come to us. The Holy Spirit dwells within us and He will help us, communicates with us, advocates for us, will never leave us, helps us to produces fruit in our lives, convicts us, gives us spiritual gifts, and much more. Her goal at the end of the book is for readers to have the main question as what all doesn’t the Holy Spirit do. 

 

 

I would recommend this awesome book to anyone who is ready to seek the Holy Spirit in a deeper way. I immensely liked how she looked at all scopes of who, what, and the power made available by the Holy Spirit. I liked how she explained the gifts that the Holy Spirit has given us and how they were chosen for us. She also included a helpful Spiritual Gifts Survey at the end of the book to assist readers in figuring out their gifts and purpose. Some of mine is wisdom and prophecy. I appreciated how she dived into the many different areas of the Holy Spirit and what all He is able to do. I also liked the last but not least section at the end of each chapter. These included a reflect and a respond. This will assist readers into not missing out on everything the Holy Spirit wants to accomplish in our lives. 

 

 

 

"I received this book free from the publisher, Bethany House/ Chosen for my honest review.”

 

 

 

 

If you would like to purchase a copy of Don’t Miss Out, check it out on Amazon.com:

https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Miss-Out-Daring-Believe-ebook/dp/B08MXZFLM8/

The Gift of Tongues: What It Is, What It Isn't and Why You Need It by Robert Henderson Book Review

In The Gifts of Tongues, Robert Henderson explored what the gift of tongues truly consists of and what it doesn’t mean. He begins the book by sharing how he received the gifts of speaking in tongues. His father took his family to another church that practiced charismatic because he had a longing for the supernatural. His father was able to connect with the Holy Spirit in a deeper way and began to speak in tongues. At 12 years old, Robert was in the back of a car when he tried to speak in tongues and he couldn’t. He went forward in prayer and he supernaturally began to speak in tongues. He explained how Paul taught on speaking tongues and how we need to speak with love as well. He looked at in the book the debate on tongues and why there is much confusion. He also looked at the person of the Holy Spirit and how he had given that gift to people. He explained in detail, the three sins against the Holy Spirit and how we need to be careful and not to focus on labeling that something is not from God. Many times, speaking in tongues could mean that it is gibberish. Sometimes it might be meant to be between you and Jesus and to bring Him glory. 

 

 

I would recommend this awesome book to anyone who is ready to learn about the gifts of speaking in tongues and they are wanting to seek and received the gifts themselves. I learned a lot about who the Holy Spirit is and what all incredible power He has. We can also ask for the gifts of speaking in tongues to bring Heaven to earth and to empower our lives. I liked reading about the debate and how he explored all of the issues people have with speaking in tongues. I immensely enjoyed the discussion and how he wrote a comprehension book on receiving the gift and the power that is available to believers. I also liked the personal stories he included about his own experiences with speaking in tongues and how it benefited their lives. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I received this book free from the publisher, Bethany House/ Chosen for my honest review.”

 

 

 

 

If you would like to purchase a copy of The Gifts of Tongues, check it out on Amazon.com:

 

 

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Gift-Tongues-What-Isnt-Need/dp/0800799682/

Your Time is Now: Get What God Has Given You by Jonathan Evans Book Review

In Your Time is Now, Jonathan Evans has written a new book about living in the now and going after what God is calling you to accomplish in life. He begins the book by opening up about his background. He is the son of Tony Evans, the popular preacher and Jonathan shared how he struggled to figure out his own purpose. He was also at one point signed to the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys and he shared how football was his life. After two months, of being signed he was kicked off the team. He shared how he became the chaplain of the Dallas Cowboys and co-chaplain for the Dallas Mavericks and serving in the national ministry. He explained the importance of the word now and the timing. He looked at Joshua and how he rose to a leadership position right after Moses. He recognized how the scriptures declared to Joshua that he was supposed to rise up now. The verse also used the word now twice. Jonathan went into extreme detail about the word now and how this is our season and we can’t wait until we are ready when God says to go, we need to move. He revealed how we need to learn to live out our purpose. He also asked readers to ponder and think on what in our lives has to die and what is keeping us from living out our purpose. 

 

 

I would recommend this book to anyone who is ready to walk into God’s calling on their lives and they are wanting to live fearless and go after their calling. I immensely loved he covered all the different areas of stepping into our purpose such as, now, but, go, confidence, wait, yes, and much more. One of my favorite things that he shared was the discussion on the secret from his father. He asked his father one time how he got to point A to point B. His father guidance was for him to go read Hebrews 11. This one talked about faith and how it is the things hoped for. It discussed Abel, Noah, Jacob and Esau, Joseph, Moses, Israelites, and much more and how they had faith and were able to see their lives changed. This taught him how to live in faith and walk in faith and how we can witness our lives change for the better. 

 

 

 

"I received this book free from the publisher, Bethany House/ Chosen for my honest review.”

 

 

 

 

If you would like to purchase a copy of Your Time is Now, check it out on Amazon.com:

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Your-Time-Now-What-Given/dp/076423711X/