All Things Bright and Beautiful by Cecil Frances Alexander

"All Things Bright and Beautiful" was originally included in "Hymns For Little Children" by Cecil Frances Alexander, published in 1848. The poem went on to become a well-loved hymn known to Christians around the world.

This children's book, follows 3 children as they explore the world around them, discovering God's creation. With a couplet from the poem written on each set of 2 pages, it is a quick, easy read, but the joy of this 32 page hard cover children's book is the colorful illustrations by artist Katy Hudson of Middlesbrough, England. The parent and child can extend reading (and cuddle) time as they examine the illustrations, soaking in the details, and learning about each detail with a conversation ranging from the various animals, the stars, and even playing barefoot in a stream of water. Since this poem is also a hymn, it will help readers with word recognition since song memorization is a useful tool in learning. This oversized book is even useful as a display piece/room decoration to encourage reading and a love for books. 

GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment no later than 11:59pm CDT on July 31, 2016 to be entered to win a copy of "All Things Bright and Beautiful."

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

Amazon buy link 
Katy Hudson website


All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.

The Daniel Prayer by Anne Graham Lotz

The Daniel Prayer is born deep within your soul, erupts through your heart, and pours out on your lips, words created by and infused with the Spirit of God quivering with spiritual electricity. It’s really not an everyday type of prayer. It’s a prayer birthed under pressure. Heartache. Grief. Desperation. It can be triggered by a sudden revelation of hope. An answer to prayer, a promise freshly received, a miracle that lies just over the horizon…
Join Anne in a thrilling discovery of prayer that really works.
This book will help readers pray effectively for their nation, for their families, and for themselves. She will answer such questions as: • Does God only hear the prayers of good people? • How do I know the God to whom I pray will listen? • How do I know God cares about my prayer? • How do I know God will answer my prayer? • Why should I pray? • Does it matter where I am when I pray? • Are words in prayer all that matter, or does my attitude affect prayer? • What difference does my prayer make? (back cover)
 
My Review: The Daniel Prayer: Prayer That Moves Heaven and Changes Nations, is a call to action by Lotz to follow the example of Old Testament prophet, Daniel. Despite being held captive in a foreign land, Daniel remained faithful to his God, refused to bow to foreign gods or compromise his belief. Lotz uses a prayer, found in Daniel 9, that we can follow today. Filled with facts of what we know of Daniel, along with some conclusions I had not considered, we see a more complete picture of Daniel's steadfast faith in spite of decades of being forced to live in a strange land away from his beloved home. He even rose to a position of power without compromising the tenets of his faith in the one true God. When Daniel realizes that the foretold 70 years of captivity is coming to completion, he fervently prays for his people and Israel.
The book is dividing into four sections:
1) Preparing for Prayer
2) Pleading in Prayer
3) Prevailing in Prayer
4) Patterns for Prayer

Lotz walks us through these sections with personal examples of times she has prayed through difficult times and stresses the need of intentional time alone with God to meditate on His word, talk to Him...and listen to what He is revealing to you. Sometimes, especially with prayers that are added near the end of the book, things sometimes seemed a bit drawn out. Yet, one of the main reasons I wanted to read this book was due to my wandering attention when I am praying. I took away several things that I want to put into practice. I pray, but often quick prayers and haphazard methods of mostly reading my Bible, without taking the study what is being said and how I need to apply it to my life, especially particular things I am praying about. 

Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Unashamed by Heather Davis Nelson

Unashamed: Healing Our Brokenness and Finding Freedom from Shame by Heather Davis Nelson invites us to not only be healed of our own shame but also be a part of healing for others. She shines the life-giving light of the gospel on the things that leave us feeling worthless and rejected, giving us courage us to walk out of shame’s shadows and offering hope for our bondage to brokenness. Through the gospel, we discover the only real and lasting antidote to shame: exchanging our shame for the righteousness of Christ alongside others on this same journey. A writer, counselor, retreat speaker, wife,and mom, Heather writes "as a way to connect with others as we find hope amidst the broken places of life and seek grace for daily struggles."

 

My Review: There is probably no one who has not suffered some degree of shame. Heather explains the difference between shame and guilt, and then, provides chapters that delve deeper into the different types. Among those highlighted are Performance, Body, Social, Marriage, and Parenting. Each of us has experienced shame in one or more categories, with some of the worst shame and guilt when it comes to parenting. However, my favorite chapter was Shame and the Church. Instead of a place to find hope and healing, especially from others who have broken from those chains of shame, we often discover only seemingly perfect people. I am guilty myself of keeping my own shame buried than trying to help others who are often struggling. Definitely gave me something to think and pray about.

It's a good book and would be great for a support group or small group discussion. Great Scripture used and anecdotes help to personalize how shame impacts others.

I received a copy of this book at no charge to myself in exchange for an honest review from FlyBy Bloggers and Propeller Consulting, LLC.

GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment to enter to win your own copy. All entries must be received by end of day, July 9, 2016. 

 

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”