Andrew Smith's Blog

Book, Music, and Movie Reviews

Anything Is Possible: How Nine Miracles of Jesus Reveal God’s Love for You by Joby Martin with Charles Martin Book Review

 


In Anything Is Possible, Joby Martin and Charles Martin teaches readers about miracles and how they relate to Christ. They explained how if Jesus’ tomb was in fact empty and he defeated hell and death. We can in turn rely on that nothing is impossible for Christ. This is the foundation of our faith. They looked at the different miracles found in the Bible such as, the wedding where Jesus turned water into wine, the pool of Bethesda and the healing, feeding of the five thousand, raising of Lazarus, and much more. We can also experience a miracle in our own lives and believe in His incredible power. Each chapter ended with an impactful prayer. 




 

 

One of my favorites was about the paralytic man and how his four friends carried on the roof. They had the belief that if only they could get their friend to Jesus, then he could obtain healing. The authors asked an important question and that was if we had four friends who would carry us through whatever we may face. They shared how married men are the worst at making connections with other men and most of us don’t have close relationships with others. We may be close to our wife and believe that this is enough. They asked when was the last time that we confessed our sins to other brothers. They encouraged readers to build strong relationships and to have friends pray for us. They described how each of the four friends had a rope attached to the four corners of the mat. They broke it down into the first corner is sharing our faith, serving in your local church, bearing the stretcher, and leaving room for God to do what only He can do. One of my favorite things, they shared was how we need to make room for others in the church and welcome others in. They reminded church members that their names are engraved in the pew they don’t have an assigned spot and we need to scoot over and make room for others. 





 

 

I would recommend this powerful story about the numerous miracles in the Bible to anyone who is seeking to increase their faith and they are needing encouragement. I immensely loved the scope of the miracles and how in depth they went into explicating the message we can learn from each one. I liked how they covered the Holy Spirit and how the empty tomb has changed our lives. One of my favorite stories was about Ike and the path to forgiveness. This story was very inspiring and eye opening and is a direct illustration on redemption and being good to someone even when they hurt you.  

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Anything-Possible-Miracles-Jesus-Reveal/dp/1546001697

Every Day A Victory: Practical Weapons to Fight, Stand, and Live Free by William Wood Book Review


 

In Every Day A Victory, William Wood explored the schemes of satan’s and how to use Godly weapons against him. He shared how satan isn’t the greatest enemy but our rejection of God’s truth will limit us and inhibit us. In the book, he opened up about his personal struggle with drugs and alcohol. He experienced a field of lustful thoughts and he realized that they were coming from a spirit. He studied Galatians 5:22-24 and the different key characteristics of God’s spirit. He would deny access to thoughts if they didn’t line up with the nine fruits of the Holy spirit. He explained how we need to submit ourselves to God and to resist the devil and how he will flee from us. We also need to renew our minds and this is started by studying and medicating on the scriptures. He explained how he felt the love of God and was changed. For many years, he was dead inside and denied that there was a God. He was at the bottom of the rope in 2005 when he was just twenty years old. He was on a meth binge and the doctors thought he was going to die. His kidneys were failing and his liver was close to failing. He discussed how he saw a bright light and felt loved for the very first time. He met a person and he explained how the water would cleanse him. The very next day, he was healed and his kidney and liver were back to normal. 



 

 

 

I would recommend this life changing book to anyone who is seeking a book on freedom and they want to know how to stand firm against satan and his schemes. I personally loved and connected with his true story about his life and how he struggled with addiction and how he was able to get free. I believe many people who are facing addictions will benefit from reading this book and be encouraged that they took can obtain freedom from their struggles. I loved the section for weapons for the battle. One of them talked about how to recognize deception and temptation and how to command it to leave. These sections were very powerful in assisting readers into going deeper into the chapters and receiving freedom from our struggles. This book will help you to break down any strongholds that we are currently facing. 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Every-Day-Victory-Practical-Weapons/dp/0800762924

Your New Now: Finding Strength and Wisdom When You Feel Stuck Where You Are by Nicki Koziarz Book Review





In Your New No, Nicki Koziarz explored how to navigate the in between seasons in our life. She explored Moses and how he went through the four seasons of transition: development, separation, cultivation, and finished. His story is the only other Biblical character other than Jesus that goes into great detail from birth to his death. She also provided helpful suggestion on discovering what transition you are currently in and there is a free assessment online for readers to complete. In the book, she shared how she has been married for 21 years and they have three children and are working to adopt two more. She explained how she dealt with in between seasons. She admitted the different times she felt lost in her life and how she managed the changes. She looked at how Moses was placed in the Nile River and how his parents had no idea what would become of his life. She shared how we need to look at the positive side of development and how this could allow us room to grow, process, and see our lives changed for the better. 





 

 

I would recommend this awesome book about the different seasons and transitions in our life and how we can grow in each one. I immensely loved how she explored the life of Moses through all of the stages in his life. One of my favorite suggestions was in writing down three things that you have already developed. We can also look at the future and what areas we can improve and grow in and create us an action plan. I enjoyed reading about cultivating and how Moses struggled with his confidence and how we may also be feeling unqualified. All we must remember is that God’s name is enough and the most important belief to have. She also encouraged readers to pray to God on where we can be faithful to God today. There is also a study guide enclosed in the book. This was a helpful tool to dig deeper in the scope and message found in Moses’ story.

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Your-New-Now-Finding-Strength/dp/0764237004/

Create Anyway: The Joy of Pursuing Creativity in the Margins of Motherhood by Ashlee Gadd Book Review

 


In Create Anyway, Ashlee Gadd has written a book about motherhood and how creativity can still occur even though you are still a mom. She is the founder of Coffee + Crumbs, a website, blog, and community featuring stories about motherhood. She shared how she was once working at a marketing job and then she quit to pursing writing and photography. She explained how she struggled from loneliness. Her husband worked a lot of works and had to commute and this left her alone a lot with just her son. She finally realized the importance of granting yourself permission to ask for help, eat cereal for dinner, to have time alone, and much more. She went into detail about how in the beginning God created and how He made us in His likeness. He invites us to be active participants in His Kingdom. 




 

 

 

In the book, she looked at some of her big what if’s questions and a big issue she faced was rejection. She admitted to wanting to control the desire outcome and to know how everything will turn out before you take a big jump in life. She explained how she would lose subscribers when she would send out newsletters. She was rejected in her writing submissions. She has gotten one-star reviews. She encouraged mothers to get out of the boat and to show courage and take a leap of faith. 

 

 

 

 

One of my favorite chapters was about breadcrumbs and ladybugs. She explained how a breadcrumb can be an idea, meeting the right person, an answered prayer, or kindness from a stranger. I liked how she shared a personal story about ladybugs and how these became a big sign in her life at different times. These were inscribable moments that help redefine her life. She also enlightened readers on ladybugs and how their outer wings relay to God’s spirit hidden within us. This is an incredible example and a great metaphor of how creativity works. 




 

 

I would recommend this awesome book about motherhood to all mothers who are seeking a book that was written just for them to help them to discover their creativity side. I liked how she included personal stories from other women throughout the book. I also immensely enjoyed how the book included creative exercises and a journaling prompt in each chapter. One of my favorite activities was creating something that won’t last. These could encompass painting on the sidewalk with your kids or building a sandcastle. This reminded us that no matter what we may go through nothing is a waste of time or effort, we can find hidden meanings that God may have for us. 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Create-Anyway-Pursuing-Creativity-Motherhood/dp/0764240048/

The Parent’s Battle Plan: Warfare Strategies to Win Back Your Prodigal by Laine Lawson Craft Book Review


 

In The Parent’s Battle Plan, Laine Lawson Craft explored the key warfare strategies and how she has witnessed her own three prodigal children returning back home. She reminded readers that our children first belong to God and that they are only on loan to us. The book looked at the dark evil angels, one of these was Lucifer and he was after his own desires and ways. She explained how each of their three children, Lawson, Kaylee, and Steven faced downward spirals into temptations and destruction. They each faces oppress and lost the path into the light. Lawson was in ninth grade when he purchased his first pack of cigarettes and he secretly had a fake ID. He was eventually arrested right after that event. Kaylee was in ninth grade when she had a party when her parents weren’t home. The party got out of hand and they left the house in a disaster. Steven was in seventh grade when he was at a restaurant with friends and his friends began slashing people’s tires and this led a path of bad company. She revealed how the enemy’s goal is to cause weakness and to open an area that will allow the devil a way to take control. 




 

 

One of my favorite chapters was on prayer and pleading the blood of Jesus over our children’s lives. This is extremely powerful lesson in believing that Christ’s completed work on the cross covers everything and allows Christ to work through any problem. This is a defense mechanism against the devil and it will protect us in times of trouble. The blood will also cleanse us from all our sins and open the door to forgiveness. She disclosed how she envisioned Jesus dying on the cross and His blood dripping down His body. She would imagine that she had an imaginary paintbrush and was covering all her children with Christ’s blood. She prayed for protection, wisdom, and remind them that they are God’s chosen children. She shared a personal story of Lawson and how if God wouldn’t have protected him from bad friends, then, he would have ended up in jail. She also looked at Exodus and how Israelites would place blood over their doorposts where the plague of death would pass by them. She included scriptures to pray over our children and how we can use prayer as a winning weapon. 




 

 

I would recommend this awesome book to anyone who is believing for their wayward sons and daughters and they are hoping that God will reach them and help them to return home. I loved all of the helpful sections, scriptures, and questions that will assist us in working through all of the challenges and will provide us with hope that God can redeem anything. I immensely loved reading the stories of each of the children throughout the book and we are able to see how each event led to the difficult seasons. The stories portrayed many different issues and struggles children are facing currently and she shared how she dealt with the devastation and grief. Luckily, they are all okay and ended up on the right path. 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Parents-Battle-Plan-Strategies-Prodigal/dp/0800762843/

Raising Families the Jesus Way: Biblical Insights for Godly Parenting and Shaping Future Generations by Mary, Sarah, Sal, and Frank Garcia Book Review






In Raising Families the Jesus Way, Mary Garcia has teamed with her husband Frank and their two kids to write this dynamic book as a collective force. The parents explain how they raised their children and insights on parenting. They shared how critical it is to share salvation with our children and teach them the ways of Christ. The book explained how we can be models of Christ to our children. There is three ways we can be a blessing to our children. One of the ways is showing affection to our children. They clarified how serious it is for fathers to be active in their lives and displaying affection. The failure to do this can lead to destructive behaviors such as promiscuity and teen pregnancy. Our daughters could be more prone to running to men to fill that void of affection. 

 

 

 

 

 

In the book, Mary opened up about her past and how she grew up Catholic and they went to church a few times a year. Her father had a drinking problem. She didn’t have a real in-depth relationship with God. She admitted to experiencing suicide thoughts and she heard a voice telling her to drive off the cliff. She remembers praying that if He is real and that He loves her, he would show her. She saw four people in a car next to her honking and holding up a sign that stated that, Jesus loves you. After that she started attending church regularly and became a Christian. She also explained how they struggled getting pregnant and how she stood in faith that they would have twins one girl and one boy. 

 

 

 

 

I would recommend this impactful book to anyone is ready to grow in their parenting skills and they want to have Godly household filled with lessons. I immensely loved the message of this book and how she included her husband and her kids and insights on the principles taught throughout the book and how it changed their own lives. One of my favorite topics discussed generational strongholds and generational curses and the difference between them and how we can overcome and break them. I loved how they explored changing our thinking and start each day with daily declarations. One of the most life changing quotes was, “what you don’t forgive, you repeat” and this was about forgiving our parents and others to have hurt us where we don’t repeat history again. There is tons of teachings presented in this book to help families become everything God has for them and to positively impact future generations. 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Raising-Families-Jesus-Way-Generations/dp/0800762940/

Grace Ambassador: Bringing Heaven to Earth by Dr. John Jackson Book Review


 

In Grace Ambassador, Dr. John Jackson explored the topic of extending grace to the world around us and becoming everything God has for us. He opened up the book with sharing how he became a grace ambassador. He admitted that he struggled to believe the words on the pages of the Bible. One of these examples was the Lord’s prayer and the part that stated how God’s will, will be done as on Earth as it in Heaven. He wondered how this was even possible with flawed human beings and how could the Earth even be as close to as what’s occurring in Heaven. He revealed how we are all called to spread grace and the message of Christ and His teachings. He explained how we are commanded to be the light and salt of the Earth. This is the important framework of being a grace ambassador. He looked at spiritual gifts and how to discover them. One of the ways is inquiring with God about why he made us the way we are and this can help us to go deeper in developing our gifts. He breaks down the gifts into three sections: ministry growth, support, and signs. He also went into detail about providing grace to the world. 

 

 

 

 

I would recommend this awesome book to anyone who is ready to reach the dying world. This book will provide readers with the tools to spread the message of God’s word and become ambassadors. One of my favorite topics discussed rejection and how we must be very careful. They can speak toxic words into our lives and souls. Instead, we need to remember 1 Corinthians 13 and what true love really consists of. Another favorite thing was on the depth and insight on the gifts we can use for the church and the world to benefit the Kingdom of Christ. My mom prayed for knowledge and wisdom over my life growing up and I believe this helped to lead me with being blessed with this gift. This book will assist readers into bring Heaven to earth and changing the world around us. 

 

 

 

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



 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Grace-Ambassador-Bringing-Heaven-Earth/dp/0800762835