Collecting Confidence: Start Where You Are to Become the Person You Were Meant to Be by Kim Gravel Book Review

In Collecting Confidence, Kim Gravel has written a brand new book to assist readers into realizing how magnificent they really are. In the book, she shared her story about how she was former Miss Georgia pageant winner at the young age of nineteen. She stated how comparison is the ultimate confidence killer and how she dealt with that struggle in her competition. She went on to try out for Miss America and lost. She lost her confidence. She failed to see that she still had talent and felt like she failed. She started singing in night clubs and begin dating a man and eventually married him. The marriage was rough and it ended after two years. During this time, she was able to connect more deeply with God and she had to rely on Him to provide. She had to take a calculator to the store to check the prices. She was able to recognize that all of her past failures prepared her for where she was going. She reminded readers that they are who they are because God designed them and they are fearfully and wonderfully made. She explained how we don’t have to catch our calling and we are where we are meant to be. She went on to share how she got a job at WATC and how fitting that it was only two blocks from her apartment. She was able to be on a talk show called Friends & Neighbors for ten years. She also shared how she recorded a few albums and how she met her future husband. She is a host on QVC and has a beauty line called, Belle and a life coach. She also got an opportunity to be a guest on Steve Harvey. 


I would recommend this inspiring book to anyone who needs a confidence boost and they are needing a little guidance on stepping into their calling. This book will help readers to become real and authentic. One of my favorite things was how she discussed signs and how we have to look around to see them. She reminded us that we are where we are supposed to be for a reason even if we don’t know why. We can learn to let control of our control, which we never really have. I also liked she discussed how titles and degrees don’t make us who we are. She stated how important it is to not put ourselves on sale and don’t allow the world to determine our value. She created a special 11 ways to be authentic. I loved the section on the power of I am and how we must be careful with what follows them. 



I received this book free from Nelson Books for my honest review.”
 
 
 
 
 
If you would like to purchase a copy, check it out on Amazon.com:


https://www.amazon.com/dp/1400238455 

 

I Used to Be ___: How to Navigate Large and Small Losses in Life and Find Your Path Forward by Chuck Elliott and Ashley Elliott Book Review

I Used to Be ___, Chuck and Ashley Elliott have written a book detailing ways in which we can deal in a healthy way with the used to be and navigate through your grief. Chuck is a pastor and Ashley is a Christian counselor. In the book, they shared how they used to be expecting a child in 2015, 2016, and 2017. They experience three miscarriages three years in a row. They explained how they worshipped, felt devastated, and faced traumatic experiences in the hospital. She shared how she wondered if God even cared about her pain and she questioned His silence. In the book, they also revealed Chuck’s struggled with porn and how it affects their relationship. They walked readers through how to process grief and unmet expectations. They encouraged readers to be present in their thoughts. They had a helpful chart showing positive thoughts and negative and how it all links up in the grief process. 

 

 

 

I would recommend this awesome book to anyone who is struggling with lost and grief and they are needing some guidance through it. No one gets through life not experiencing some sort of lost. Either a loved one, job, marriage, or dream. I connected with how they explored how they dealt with their own hurts and devastations and how they tried to encourage others through the pain. This book contains helpful tools to put into practice. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I received this book free from Revell for my honest review.”

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Used-Be-___-Navigate-Forward-ebook/dp/B0BLW9GC8T/

Win over Worry: Conquer What Shakes You and Soar with the One Who Overcomes by Keri Eichberger Book Review

In Win Over Worry, Keri Eichberger shared ways in which we can overcome our fears and worries and seek God and His power and assistance. Everyone has at some point in their life has had to deal with worrying. She compares worry to a leaky faucet that won’t quit dripping away despite everything you do to try and fix it. She openly shared how she personal battled flying and the fear of it. She has had to reply on Valium just to make it through. She explained how she has battled worry and fear on and off for over forty years. In this book, she teaches reader practical ways to unleash of God given trust and reply on His help. She shared how the majority of our worry is a learned behavior but we can learn to unlearn it. She breaks down the trauma we may have faced into personally, secondhand, or perception. She shared how she saw fear when she witnessed her boyfriend at the time getting into a fight. This left a mark on her soul of fear. 

 

 

 

One of my favorite suggestions she included was about Thessalonians and how we are encouraged to pray without creasing. Most of us don’t pray continuously throughout the day. We tend to let our thoughts run wild instead. She has some good ideas on how to complete this. We can learn to stop picking up our phones so much, turning down the noise, turn up the worship music, praying ourselves to sleep to keep our minds in a calm state. She clarified how important it is to write down our prayer list and just do it for ourselves only. She also went into detail about her struggle with getting turned down by publishers and receiving a bunch of no’s. During this time, she herself had to come to peace while she waited on God’s timing. 

 

 

 

I would recommend this life changing book to anyone who is ready to win over worrying. This book contained practical ways in which we can learn to release control over our worries and turn them all over to God. I liked how she discusses the experiences we may miss if we choose to worry instead of pursing something we would have gone for if we weren’t controlled by our fear. This book will assist readers in breaking down what is causing them to worry and fear and help them to replace the negative thoughts and to live your life to the fullest. This book will help you to get your joy back and to win against worry. 

 

 

 

I received this book free from Leafwood Publishers for my honest review.”

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Win-over-Worry-Conquer-Overcomes/dp/1684262429/

 

A Good Bad Boy: Luke Perry and How a Generation Grew Up by Margaret Wappler Book Review

Luke Perry was a key player in the TV series, Beverly Hills 90210. He played the character, Dylan McKay. He also starred in Riverdale and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Margaret wrote this book by speaking to people close to him and researching his life. He first got the gig by auditing for Dianne Young, the director. His character, Dylan lived in lonely hotel room alone and he was in search of finding his father. He was the first one to admit to read the part in French the rest would just read over it. The director knew he would be prefect for the role. He first began staring in plays at age four. He had a fly malfunction and the zipper kept falling down. He didn’t let this stop him and he kept chasing after his dream to become a professional actor. The book also covered his death. He died of a stroke in 2019 at the age of fifty-two. They had to do a hero send off on Riverdale. 

 

 

I liked how this book covered all of the life of Luke Perry. He never wrote an official autobiography so this is the closest thing we have to his life. I thought she did a wonderful job in tying everything together and looking at different key events in his life. It was interesting to learn about how he got into acting and took on different roles. I would recommend this book to anyone is a fan of Luke Perry and they are curious to learn more about his life.  

I received this book free from Simon and Schuster for my honest review.”

 

 

 

 

 

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

https://www.amazon.com/Good-Bad-Boy-Perry-Generation/dp/166800626X

The Encountering God Study Bible NKJV Bible Review

 

• The Encountering God Study Bible is the crowning work of the Blackabys. Featuring their trusted approach to Bible study, this Study Bible includes: 

• Notes highlighting how God might choose to encounter you in His Word • Notes explaining ideas, events, people and places in the text  

• Word studies, character studies, and biographical sketches of figures from church history  

• Notes to help you navigate current cultural issues 

 

 

• Order your copy of the Encountering God Study Bible today! 

 

My Review:

 

The book enclosed a forward by Henry Blackaby and he was one of the people who helped to put this Bible together. He has witnessed encounters with God and was forever changed by them. He was first changed by reading the Bible and encountering God on a personal level. He grew up in Canada and his father was a Christian and modeled to his kids the importance of studying the word of God. He shared how his personal encounters changed him and how he went on to start 38 missions and founding a Bible college. Throughout his ministry, he has witnessed firsthand how God’s encounters changed people lives and a key part was through reading and studying His word. 

 

 

Each Bible section had an introduction, significance, structure, and encountering God. The Bible had encounter note spread throughout the entire Bible. One of my favorites discussed Ps. 33:18 and it was on fear. This told us to fear the Lord only and not to fear people. When we are able to know God and have a good view of him then we will be able to see our adversaries in the right view and have the right perspective no matter what we may face. The Bible also had word study that break down the meaning of an important word and the context in the Bible. It also had a section that explained the faith. They shared a character study on certain people in scriptures. They had a historical encounter. The Bible contained helpful maps such as Jerusalem featuring David’s city and where it was located. The book shared David’s triumphs and troubles and referred to which verses they are and on where they can be found. I really believe this was extremely helpful in breaking down the message of David. The book contained a Biblical timeline, harmony of the Gospels, read you Bible in a year, prophecies and fulfillments, index to special features, concordance. The Bible comes in a black leather design and contained two ribbons- one teal and one navy. The teal color is very beautiful and makes it super easy to find. 

 

 

I would recommend this Bible to anyone who wants to experience an encounter with God. It is very well put together and the text is 9 points so it makes it very easy to read on the eyes. I liked how the Bible highlighted key encounters with God and helps readers to grow closer to Christ. There are tons of helpful features in the Bible such as encounter notes and words and explaining the faith. I liked how they strongly encouraged readers to actively open the word and try to encounter God daily and to see how God’s word can apply to our lives. I also liked how they covered the problem of pain and why bad things happen to good people. I’m writing this review while they are singing a tribute to Christian singer, Mandisa. As, I believe we are all wondering why. We just have to remember that God will wipe every tear from our eyes and there will be no one death or pain. The suffering we are experiencing now is nothing compared to the glory which is on the way. This is a wonderful Bible to add to your collection and it one that will help to experience an encounter with God in a new and bright way. 

 

 

Links:

 

https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/51788E90-9C90-4632-A628-39F83F200C01?channel=Momentum

 

 

https://www.thomasnelsonbibles.com/encountering-god-study-bible/?utm_source=Momentum&utm_medium=Bloggers&utm_campaign=Spring  

 

Disclosure:  

Many thanks to Harper Collins Christian Publishing for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

 

Giveaway: 1 Encountering God Study Bible 

(Note: This is limited to US winners only.) 

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Nine Lives and Counting: A Bounty Hunter’s Journey to Faith, Hope, and Redemption by Duane “Dog” Chapman Book Review

 

In Nine Lives and Counting, Duane Chapman has written a brand-new book about his life and his experiences in being a reality TV star and how he discovered Christ. He was the star on Dog the Bounty Hunter and Dog and Beth: On the Hunt. In the book, he shared about meeting his wife, Beth. He explained what he went through when he lost her to cancer. She was diagnosed with stage 2 throat cancer. He admitted to how he refused to believe anything negative regarding the diagnose. He believes in the power of life and death is found in the tongue so he would watch his words. He shared how he even would make minister change his vows and take out til death do us part because he didn’t want to speak death at all. She was given the cancer free clear when only a year later it returned to stage 4 and spread to her lungs. She fought until the end. He admitted to how after her death he considered ending his life to join her in Heaven but God instructed him not to end the life that He gave him. In the book, he explained how he met his new wife Francie who also lost her own spouse. He also covered his past relationships and marriages and kids. 

 

 

He revealed how he come to know Christ and was reborn and how it excites him to witness people lives being changed. He grew up as a Christian kid in the Assemblies of God and he grew up Pentecostal church. He accepted Jesus as his savior when he was around 5 years old. He revealed his take on demon possession and how very real this is. He witnessed people being delivered and in turn has seen it firsthand through his encounters with criminals and addicts. Satan is the author of the oppression and confusion and he tempts to torment people. He explained how he studied the nine manifestations of the Holy Spirit. He was gifted with the gift of knowledge and God would assist him in his quests in his bounty hunting. He shared a few examples of this throughout the book. 

 

 

One of my favorite parts of the book was about him being warned about how he didn’t need to go out one night. He refused to listen and proceed to go out with his friends. They went coyote hunting. One of them wanted to go get a joint before going. They decided to go see their other friend, Jerry Lee who would have a stash. The other friend shot Jerry Lee in the shoulder. Later it was confirmed that Jerry Lee was killed and they arrested Dog. He clarified how Texas law found him guilty just because he was present at the time. He was sentenced to five years. He opened up about his different experiences he went through during this time. 

 

 

I would recommend this awesome book about the life of Dog and his faith in Christ. It was very eye opening to read about his experiences and how he was at time rough around the edges and God was able to reach down and change his life. It’s interesting to read about how he was in a motorcycle gang, to being sentenced in prison to, being a bounty hunter on TV. I haven’t watched a lot of his TV series but I was curious to learn about him and reading about his faith was inspiring and to see how it has changed his entire life. 

 

 

 

 

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson for my honest review.”

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Nine-Lives-Counting-Hunters-Redemption/dp/1400239273/