Live Second: 365 Ways To Make Jesus First

Christmas is officially over, and we are quickly racing forward to New Years Day with fresh hope, fresh promises, and new beginnings. Recently, I was part of a group of bloggers who participated in a blog tour for Live Second: 365 Ways To Make Jesus First by Doug Bender, but I was also given the opportunity to review the entire book. For those who received new reading devices or gift cards for books, let me recommend you get a copy of this book. If you are wanting to start a new devotional for the new year, this is a perfect choice.

Neatly divided into 12 Sessions with 4 (or 5) weeks per session, there is a daily reading part to cover your entire year. Day 1 of each week gives you a video from the I Am Second Official Channel . (The book has the QR code for these videos, but since I own no device that uses them, I'm really not sure how they work.) Each video, usually by a well known actor, athlete. speaker, etc., allows a person to tell where they were before and where they now are after making Jesus first in their life. The sense of community derived from watching these videos will definitely make you realize that you are not alone in your failures and struggles.

Day One has the video and scripture to read. You then have What It Says, What It Means, Live It, Tell It, and Practice It. The other 6 days have the scripture reading and Talk With God, Live It, and Tell It. Each day is only one page and you get out of it what you are willing to put into it. This would be excellent for a group of friends who meet weekly or monthly, but is also appropriate for personal study and growth. This book, your Bible, a journal, writing implements (I personally love colored pencils when I make notes in my Bible) and a desire to make Jesus your priority is all you need. (Well, if you want to watch the videos, you need more.) This is the book I intend to use during 2013 as I desire for Jesus to be first in all aspects of my life. #Iamsecond

I Am Second website
I Am Second Facebook page

From the Facebook page: "I am Second is a movement meant to inspire people of all kinds to live for God and for others. Actors. Athletes. Musicians. Business leaders. Drug addicts. Your next-door neighbor. People like you. The authentic stories on iamsecond.com provide insight into dealing with typical struggles of everyday living. These are stories that give hope to the lonely and the hurting, help from destructive lifestyles, and inspiration to the unfulfilled. You’ll discover people who’ve tried to go it alone and have failed. Find the hope, peace, and fulfillment they found. Be Second.
You are here for a reason. We all have needs and could use some help. Talk to us. Call, chat, or email. 24 hours a day. www.iamsecond.com"

 Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> 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.”

Grace by Max Lucado

Grace.

We talk as though we understand the term. The bank gives us a "grace" period. The seedy politician falls from "grace." Musicians speak of a "grace" note. We describe an actress as "gracious," a dancer as "graceful." We use the word for hospitals, baby girls, kings, and pre-meal prayers. We talk as though we know what "grace" means.

Grace is also the title of Max Lucado's latest best-seller. I have been a fan of his writing for many years, so I knew to expect a book that would touch my heart and deepen my understanding of a topic that some find difficult to understand. This isn't my favorite of his many books, but I was by no means disappointed. In fact, once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. Max has a way of simplifying a topic in a way that makes it easier to understand, and punctuates his illustrations with anecdotal material that further illuminates.  





Grace is defined as the love and mercy given to us by God because God wants us to have it, not because of anything we have done to earn it. But that is still hard for some of us to understand, especially if you were raised that good behavior is rewarded. So, I really love the subtitle of the book: "More Than We Deserve, Greater Than We Imagine". Max stresses the point that we are adopted into God's family and accepted...despite our faults. One story in particular stood out to me about a child who was separated from her family, yet reunited with them years later. We may wander, but God's grace calls us back Home to Him. His love and mercy give us a strength we wouldn't have on our own.

In summary, this isn't my favorite, but it is a good solid book that I would recommend to anyone. His style is very appealing to one who wants a basic grasp and a down-to-earth look at grace (or any of his other topics). Also, I love that he includes a Reader's Guide in this book (as usual) for those who want to do a more indepth study.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com 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 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."