Staying Power: A Guided Journal to Living Changed, Connected, and Confident (A Power Moves Experience) by Sarah Jakes Roberts Book Review

 

She begins this journal by sharing how power is a force in the making and its directly related to our inner confidence. This book is related to her other popular book, Power Moves. She shared a story about how her and her husband was ready to unwind and relax after a long day. She kept trying to turn on the tv with the remote and it refused to come on. She checked the outlet and it still worked. Come to find out the tv was broken and it was something wrong inside the tv. The power was still actively flowing through the tv but something internally was messed up inside it. She used this example to explain how if we still are breathing then we have access to God’s power. She encouraged readers to write down areas where they are feeling pressure to conform, stay silent, perform, and achieve. She also explored the topic of saying no more can’t. We could be disqualifying ourselves from what God could be wanting for our lives.  

 

 

I would recommend this powerful book to anyone who is ready to regain their confidence and they are ready to tap into their full potential. This journal goes along with her other book and it continues on with full questions and space to write down the answers. Each chapter also contain a scripture verse to ponder on. I liked how it had full colorful photos and some of even the author. I also liked how she helped readers to discover their core values, staple values, and situational values. There was ton of helpful ways in bring back your authentical self-back to 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/Staying-Power-Connected-Confident-Experience/dp/1400237831/

The Home Bartender: Mezcal and Tequila: 100+ Essential Cocktails for the Tequila Lover by Shane Carley Book Review

This book contained over 100 recipes featuring ideas to improve your cocktails and drinks. He explained how the best cocktails can be made with simple ingredients. You can either shake or stir them together. He included some bar tools must haves and nice to haves. He touched on glassware and the differences. He explained in simple to understand terms the difference between mezcal and tequila, categories of tequila and the differences, reposado, anejo, and extra anejo. He enclosed a recipe on how to make simple syrup in a saucepan. The book had ideas for the classic margarita, budge margarita, tequila sunrise, rude cosmopolitan, long island express, tequila lemonade, coconut margarita, end of the lime, apple pie margarita espressarita, and much more. You can either make them frozen or just by mixing ingredients together. 

 

 

I loved all of the different flavors and how you can either spice it up or keep it fresh. There are tons of wonderful recipes in this book that I can’t wait to try. I really liked how he had colorful pictures to show off the drinks. It also had a helpful picture of the ingredients and the glassware suggestions. I can’t wait to try some of these new recipes. You can really make these your own. This book will be a hit with having friends over. 

 

 

 

 

“I received this book free from Cider Mill Press for my honest review.”

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Home-Bartender-Tequila-Essential-Cocktails/dp/1400344824/

Here For It (the Good, the Bad, and the Queso): The How-To Guide for Deepening Your Friendships and Doing Life Together by Amy Weatherly and Jess Johnston Book Review

The book is centered around the topic of friendships and recipes to make lasting friendships. Some of these enclosed a recipe for grit, speaking up, listening well, humility, grace, self-awareness, and much more. One of the chapters discussed being offended. Amy shared how she dealt with rejection and not being invited to an event she thought they would have included her. She felt left out and she felt hurt. Her hurt turned into bitterness. She began to try and figure out why and she took it as a direct insult. She took the wound to heart and let it fester into bitterness. She finally realized that this was getting her nowhere and her offence was a choice she was making. She explained how we can’t allow our feelings to run the show. She worked with a therapist to discover hidden roots and her experiences with bullying. She learned the importance of letting things go and not being offended. Each chapter she breaks down the good and the bad and the takeaway for each lesson in this book. The book also contained a special recipe on how to make the best queso. One of their suggestions was to buy cheese from the deli because it makes this recipe with better. 

 

 

 

I would recommend this book to women who are seeking a book too build their friendships and relationships with others. There are tons of recipes on how to connect and go deeper with others. The book will help readers to distinguish the different types of friendships, learn when a friendship has run its course, and help you to maintain and make lasting friendships. 

 

 

 

“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/Here-Good-Bad-Queso-How-ebook/dp/B0BYYWFV49/

Reconnected: How 7 Screen-Free Weeks with Monks and Amish Farmers Helped Me Recover the Lost Art of Being Human by Carlos Whittaker Book Review

In Reconnected, Carlos Whittaker set out on a journey to rediscover God and himself. He realized that he was being consumed and controlled by technology. What inspired him to do so was a simple notification that stated his screen time was an average 7 hours and 23 mins a day. This is about 49 hours. He decided he wanted to do an experiment and to learn how a monk and the Amish live their lives. He explored how they connect to God and to others and what we can learn and apply to our lives. 

 

 

 

He learned that monks pray a lot and he had a daily schedule to follow. They have meals in silence. He had to write and journal daily with a pen. He explained how he was scared a lot. This was when he realized that he would be spending a lot of time alone in his own thoughts. He shared how each monk had to discover their own gifts and where they fit into the community and their identity. He learned the importance of walking more and how it can even bring health benefits. He encouraged readers to walk without technology and he relayed how alone we can feel without any distractions. He shared how we can sit and contemplate the majesty of God and enjoy His creation. We can learn to really read the Bible and grow closer to God. 

 

 

He traveled with the Amish and stayed on a farm filled with acres of land. He at first saw how the Amish eats their meals. They take their sweet time and don’t get in any hurry. Dinner lasted four hours and breakfast 45 minutes. Americans on average eat their meals in under 12 minutes and we keep trying to get done even sooner. This causes stress on our bodies and weight gain. The Amish feel like a meal is meant to be intimate and we are supposed to share stories. They all come together to cook a meal or clean up. They have no technology at the table. They would make sure their tasks were completed by meal time and they would stick to the schedule. They would be busy doing farm chores during the day. They explained how their church would be twice a year in their barn. The church would rotate to each other barns. 

 

 

I would recommend this awesome book to anyone who is ready to reconnect with God. They are tired of being bound by technology and they are being held back from real relationships and community. I liked how he looked at monks and Amish and how they live in their community. It was really interesting learning more about both cultures and how they live day to day and how that compares to us. 

 

 

 

 

“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/Reconnected-Screen-Free-Farmers-Helped-Recover/dp/1400246466/  

 

Honest to God: From the spotlight, to the pulpit, to the wilderness by John Hamilton Book Review

In Honest to God, John Hamilton questions his faith and wrestles with the nature of God and even atheism. He begins the book by explaining how he was a member of the band, Newsboy in 1983. He admitted to trying cocaine and he wouldn’t ever have to buy it the audience would gladly supply it. He struggled also with drinking and he described what he went through when he tried to quit. He shared a terrifying experience with cops and getting pulled over. He was with some of his band members, Bobby, David, and Mike when it happened. Four cops had guns drawn towards them right in front of the club in front of their fans. The fans began to yell back at the cops which made them even angry towards them. The cop proceeds to kick him in the shin and it forced him to fall forward. He had a wife and kids at home and he wasn’t a criminal. Bobby was carrying his weapon and he flashed his badge at them. The cops let them go and they were a part of the special vice unit. They did arrest Mike because he had a little bit of coke in his pocket. 

 

 

In the book, he shared about his faith and how he became a full-time pastor. He felt the calling when he was just 8 years old. He explained how he was drawn to Genesis chapter 12 and the call of Abraham. He connected with the part of how Abraham walks into the unknown and he was told promises from God. He shared how he no longer preaches to explain and now instead he is seeking a new idea of God. He opened up about his father was diagnosed with mesothelioma a fast-growing cancer. He recalled praying for a miracle. He eventually did pass away and he found out of life’s lessons are incised in pain. He revealed how this made him a better pastor and he doesn’t believe in miracles or angels. He is all for prayer though and if we believe that it will help us. Prayer can help you to stay in one piece. 

 

 

I would recommend this astonishing book to anyone is ready for a book to challenge your faith and to discover the nature of God. This book can help readers to become honest with God and we can question our faith and doubts. I liked reading about his story with his struggles with drinking, drugs, and sex. He was living the rock and roll dream until it all come crashing down. It was interesting to read about his faith and how it changed over the years. It contained some theology and how he felt it has been watered down. This book can assist you in understanding what you believe and we are left with wondering can we know God. 

 

 

 

“I received this book free from Wildhouse Crossings for my honest review.”

 

 

 

Check it out on their site:

 

 

 

https://wildhousepublishing.com/honest-to-god/

 

Lead Me: Finding Courage to Fight for Your Marriage, Children, and Faith by Matt Hammitt Book Review

In Lead Me, Matt Hammitt opened up about his personal story and how he was able to rediscover his courage and to fight for his marriage and be a leader. Matt Hammitt was the lead singer for Sanctus Real until 2015. They had a few hit songs such as, Lead Me, Forgiven, The Face of Love, and much more. In the book, he went into detail about his journey with the band and the life on the road. He felt God was calling in to let go and trust Him to still provide for him when he left the group. He wrote each member of the band a personal letter explaining why he was leaving after twenty years together. His marriage to Sarah had its up and downs and they would fight often.  Readers will get to see a glimpse into their marriage and how Matt realized that he had to make a change. He explained how we can get so focused on our spouse failures that we miss seeing our own.  A lot of the struggle on their marriage was the fact that he was always gone and she felt like he needed to be home more. He admits to most of the fights he can’t even remember what they were about. He is the father to four kids. One of his kids, Bowen had a battle of health challenges that tested his faith and direction for his future. He had congenital heart disease and a host of issues that shaken them. 

 

 

In the book, he explained how he was named the barf king. He shared how he was called this because when he was in first grade, he was waiting at the water fountain. He threw up because he struggled with anxiety. The stress grew as he got older and he was diagnosis with irritable bowel syndrome. He covered how he experienced bullying and how this affected him. He shared how he attended church regularly and then it changed when his family was asked to leave the church. They found a new church but still encountered some challenges times. 

 

 

 

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Christian music and they are ready to discover helpful marriage advice. I was greatly touched by his story and reading the behind the scenes of Sanctus Real. It was interesting to read about the hit song, Lead Me and how it has changed lives and has helped men to lead their families. His wife was the one who called him to step up and lead their family. The book contained very beneficial advice for marriage and what they learned thru trial and error. He also did a blog during the time Bowen was born and it became very popular and even lead to a GMA interview. What was really surprising was how one of his daughters kept have a recurring dream that her brother would die and he was the same age as his parents on stage. I enjoyed reading about the life story of how Sanctus Real come to be and the message behind some of the songs. He also told the story about how the idea of the name of the band come to be. 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Lead-Me-Finding-Marriage-Children-ebook/dp/B07STS1JCY/

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