Reviewed by Bil Howard for Readers' Favorite

Is it even possible to be a Christian artist and thrive? In “Gently Awakened,” by Sara Joseph, you’ll come to understand that it is impossible not to. Sara shows how the scriptures not only bring us to salvation, but direct us toward the meaning in our lives. Her illustration, taken from the book of Jeremiah, concerning the “good figs” sets the stage for creating an understanding of our need to bear the fruit that we were created to bear. She shows how Satan often tries to use the same tricks he has always used in order to derail our efforts, because by bearing our fruit we become more like our creator. Sara gives practical applications of the scriptures to help you commit to using your art in order to bear witness of Christ rather than hiding it under a bushel or abandoning it altogether. Through surrendering to your purpose in Christ, she shows how the miracles which seem to be distant and ancient stories can become a reality and the abundance which comes from God’s bounty is ours. Her book is illustrated with her own works of art throughout as a testimony to her commitment to the calling which God has placed upon her.

Sara Joseph touched a deep spot within me through “Gently Awakened.” Although I have already taken steps toward the transformation to a full time writer and novelist, there have been times that I have wondered if I am truly following the path which 40 years of faith has set before me. I have turned away from that path time and time again as I have pursued “making a living.” Sara very gently allowed me to see that the seasons of my art are moving forward, just like the seasons of the fig tree from planting, cultivating, blossoming and bearing fruit come through time as the tree is tended. Honest, inspiring and practical; “Gently Awakened” is essential reading for artists who are seeking God’s guidance for their vocation.

Reviewed by Kristie Ingerto for Readers' Favorite

The Ten Commandments: Ancient Words - Timeless Truth by J. Rodman Williams is an in-depth look at the Ten Commandments that will deepen one’s understanding of these timeless laws. The text from the Bible containing the Ten Commandments is shared at the beginning of the book. Following this is an introduction and discussion about how this text has historically been a unifying force among religions. The Ten Commandments represent moral laws that are accepted in all religions. Each Commandment is discussed and analyzed. At the end of each chapter, there is an empty page included for the reader to write personal notes and meditations.

This is a fantastic read. Because it is not geared specifically to one particular religion, this is a book that anyone from any religious background could pick up, read, and enjoy, as well as deepen their knowledge of the Ten Commandments. This is not a book to rush through as a quick, easy read; this is a book that you will want to take your time over. There is a lot to absorb and think about in order to really experience some spiritual growth in your life. I love that there are blank pages included at the end of each chapter as this is a book that will really encourage deep thinking and further discussions with others in your religious circle.

Reviewed by Danita Dyess for Readers' Favorite

Pamela V. Carmichael, author of “Financial Empowerment: Realign Your Finances to God’s Will,” says that riches and righteousness go together. For those Christians that erroneously believe they must be content to serve the Lord in an impoverished state, Carmichael provides numerous teachings of the Bible about hard work and its inevitable results: financial wealth. Before it became today’s entrepreneurial buzz word, God’s Word described Multiple Streams of Income demonstrated by the virtuous woman in Prov. 31:10 - 31. Matt. 25:29 tells us that those who have money will receive more - money attracts money. Carmichael advises us to discover our calling so that we may use our God-given talents in our work. She also advises us to keep it real (realistic goals) and seek encouragement in the Lord. Readers will have their minds renewed and their finances restored.

As a reviewer of numerous Christian publications, I can attest that “Financial Empowerment” is exceptional. Carmichael’s 27 years of Christian service echoes page after page. I was impressed with the depth and breadth that she lovingly demonstrated about specific areas, e.g., God’s assignment of work, leaving an inheritance and using your money to help others. This is the author’s first book but she should consider additional outlets, e.g., training manual, workbooks or the development of a series. Carmichael is a financial services professional and she has a blog – Live Out Loud: Success by God’s Word at http://pamelavcarmichael.com. “Financial Empowerment” is highly recommended.

Reviewed by Joy Hannabass for Readers' Favorite

Apostle John’s statement in I John 1:5, “God Is Light”, intrigued this author enough to start questioning just what John really meant by these three words. Having studied physical light, Robert Russell started to understand that some of the characteristics of physical light help us to understand God’s nature and give us new meaning to the phrase in I John. Therefore Russell writes this book giving us parallels between natural physical light and spiritual light to help us understand what the real meaning of this three-word phrase is. "God is Light" is chock-full of information about how God is Light. It is in three parts: 'Sunlight Sonlight Attributes', showing us the character of God; 'Sunlight Sonlight of the World', an overview of light in scriptures; and 'Sunlight Sonlight Interactions', application to what we have learned. I have heard this phrase all of my life, and I never dreamed of it being so involved and never bothered to know what this is all about.

This book is very well-written and formatted. At the end of each chapter, the Sunlight\Sonlight parallels are explained, and there is a Think and Grow section with a few questions to answer. "God Light" could easily be used as a personal Bible study, or a study for small groups or Sunday school class. Though there is a lot of information, on account of the way the book is written, it is easy to read and understand. Each chapter is pretty short so that it can be read and discussed in one sitting. I highly recommend "God Light" to help with any type of Bible study.

Reviewed by Patricia Day for Readers' Favorite

Brenda Wood’s latest publication, "the Pregnant Pause of Grief", takes the reader on a journey to understanding the emptiness and loneliness of grief. In finding out why she feels the way she does, Brenda had to begin to take the first steps into her new life. As you read you will feel her immense struggle to endure each day, as she attempts to recognize who she is and what she has to do, in this new role. Perhaps, like Brenda, you have become single after years of experiencing a role within a happy marriage or partnership. Determining how you will survive the deep, dark loneliness is one of the first new steps you will take, even though you would prefer not to be in such a painful position. Life keeps moving on with an unrelenting urging. Folks will tell you ‘to get on with your life’ or ‘how long will you keep up this crying’? Why can’t they feel what you are feeling? It is so much easier to give advice than to try to understand the inner turmoil and anxiety of a bereaved person’s anguish. When you find yourself in the role of widow or widower, or loss through separation, divorce or even job loss, you too will experience a gambit of emotions normally hidden from view.

Reading this book will certainly cause you to confront life with a set of different goals and values as you start to discover the new you. As it is humble yet gut-wrenching with the humor for which Brenda is known, you can at least relate to the roller-coaster ride of being alone and starting over. Just as Brenda did and continues to do, you will discover that life goes on regardless of you and your situation and you have to come to the point of ‘jumping back on the band wagon’ of life and get on with it, too. Well done, Brenda!

Reviewed by Brenda Ballard for Readers' Favorite

Adoption is never a guarantee that the child you get will be what you had in mind, that the biological parents will actually go through with it at the last minute or that the country from which the child derives will be hospitable to your kindness. Enter a Ukraine child, American adoptive parents and the horrific ordeal that was lived through to obtain the dream of family. Until We Come Home: A Harrowing Journey, a Mother's Courage, a Race to Freedom is the tale of one family's perseverance and trust in God. It is the mesmerizing story of true belief in a higher power even when the world appears to be completely against this family.

The author manages to put into words the joy, the heart ache, the horror and the outcome. She does so in a smooth flowing way that will mesmerize you to the point that hours and pages are the same. You will not want to put this book down until you find out what happened next..and next..and so on. I felt tremendous respect for this family who, despite the adversity, kept their eyes on the Lord and their focus on their goal. It amazes me that any person could withstand such pain and yet be so resilient to keep pushing back until that they had set out to do had come to be their reality. What a great addition to any library. What a wonderful gift for all occasions!

Reviewed by Fiona Ingram for Readers' Favorite

Have you ever wondered what it is all about? Why are we here? Where did we come from? Where are we heading? Given the chaos, crime, pollution, and society’s troubles, are the old biblical prophecies correct and does the hellfire and damnation scenario await us when the end of the world comes? Author Matthew Petti formulates a fascinating theory that only by knowing where we came from do we have an idea of where we are heading. In this book he sets out to prove that our flaws as humans, and our failure to change, arise from our historical thinking. Yes, we are simply repeating what we have learned. Today’s chaotic world mirrors the cumulative effects of the unchanging flaws in our most basic assumptions. Beliefs about God, our origins, human history, and the hereafter are deeply embedded in the collective mind through the inheritance of age-old teachings and behaviors. The author investigates the metaphysics of faith, and why old beliefs have failed humankind in a modern world. This includes an analysis of the "Book of Revelation" as an indication of what may (or may not) transpire if the world continues on its headlong course of destruction.

This is a controversial book. The author delves into ancient history (including prehistory and biblical history), archaeology, geography, myths, and legends to create a collective mind-set or ethos for human society from those small beginnings many thousands of years ago. We may or may not believe in the supremacy of angels and the workings of heaven in human affairs, but Matthew Petti puts forward an intelligent and logical argument to substantiate his theories. He discusses his ideas of the ‘God’ spirit within humans, a controversial topic on its own, including free will and God’s will, and the concept of obedience to a higher power. To fully appreciate the author’s thinking, it is better to either have belief in some higher power and acceptance of Biblical references and characters, or else (if one is an atheist/agnostic) to suspend disbelief and simply read this book as a fascinating investigation of man’s possible superhuman and human origins. The author believes in the existence of a higher civilization with superior technology and intellectual prowess, such as Atlantis, that predates the Great Flood. He cites extraordinary and irrefutable examples of ancient engineering feats as evidence. While I am not entirely convinced and found some of the connections and associations between ancient people and biblical characters contrived (such as Noah’s Ark and Egypt’s Great Pyramid), I admit that the author has a passionate conviction that does make the reader think again and perhaps allow for possibilities. Well-researched and well-argued, the book is a journey in itself for anyone interested in our physical origins and spiritual development. I enjoyed this book because I find ancient history and man’s origins fascinating.

Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite

"Holy Spirit Who: Discovering and Getting to Know the Person of Holy Spirit" by Alexys V. Wolf is a spiritual journey to discover who the Holy Spirit is and the role the Spirit plays in our lives. Much like the author I grew up in a mainstream traditional denomination where the spirit was stifled. We rarely ever discussed the spirit. I grew up very uncomfortable with such talk. I praise God that it is no longer true. Scripture tells us that the Holy Spirit was sent to dwell within us and to be our comforter. He lives within us. This is where the Trinity comes in: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Much of what Mrs. Wolf leads the reader toward is total submission to the will of the Lord. Let's face it: most of us are not sure we want to submit. In fact we know we don't want to submit; it seems to be against our human nature. We want to be independent and self sufficient. What we have forgotten is that God created everything and without Him we would not be here. Wolf defines who the Spirit is and the role it plays in our lives. I particularly enjoyed the section on the Fruit of the Spirit. I was also very interested in Chapter 11: Angels and Demons: Do You Really Believe? “The common Christian has become desensitized about the spirit realm and its validity in today's society.” Wolf points out that Satan has accomplished his task by desensitizing Christians.

Mrs. Wolf's book is well-organized and well-researched. She uses much scripture to back up her thesis. She ends each chapter with a prayer. This book's format is a reference guide.I can see many uses for this book. First the average Christian would greatly benefit from the knowledge between the front and back cover. Secondly, pastors and teachers would find this book a great resource for their lessons. Mrs. Wolf obviously spent much time in research and definitely knows her subject. This is one book Christians do not want to miss.

Reviewed by Rita Vetsch for Readers' Favorite

"The Father’s Love" is an emotionally charged and inspiring short novel written by Dave Moore. This story is inspired by true events and real people. Dave Moore’s son, David, is a freshman in college who is facing difficult times when he suddenly leaves a note and vanishes. David is too afraid to admit to his father that he might have let him down. When Dave’s son disappears, he sets out on the most heart-wrenching mission that a father wishes they would never have to go on. The pain and desperation drives Dave to the depths of hell and back. Dave’s story is not only about him being a father, but also about trusting in The Father above to help him find his son.

This short Christian novel is truly inspiring and uplifting. Even though this is a short book, the wording flows nicely and the plot is solid. Each chapter is filled with emotions, faith, loss and love. The cover of the book is truly captivating and catches the reader’s eye. It is a book that the reader will want to pick up and not put down. Any parent can relate to this story as we all have fears that our children will wonder off, be abducted or even worse. Dave Moore brings us along on his true-life, desperate journey to find his son and God is always there alongside of him. I could not set this book down and had to finish it in one setting because I was so emotionally invested in this incredible story of strength and determination. Dave is entwined with personal tragedy and incredible pain, and then is transformed before our eyes. God truly does change lives if we let him in and accept his help. When Dave is at his lowest and he surrenders to God, he will provide the answers that Dave so desperately needs. I recommend this book to people in all walks of faith as well as every parent. This is a must read and something we can all relate to. We all need to be reminded of how strong and unconditional God’s love for us is. Dave Moore hits it out of the ball-park with this outstanding short Christian novel.

Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite

I was honored to meet Ms Higgs at a book fair and again at the taping of the DVD that goes along with this book. Every time I meet her I become teary eyed and giddy. She never puts on airs and she always makes me laugh. Our personal stories are similar: rebelled against God, led a life of sin and FORGIVEN by the Grace of the Lord, which gives me a special bond with her. "The Girl’s Still Got It: Take a Walk with Ruth and the God Who Rocked Her World" by Liz Curtis Higgs is the retelling of the book of Ruth. One of the things I love about Higgs's books is how she never wastes time. She jumps right in during the introduction and begins to teach. She backs up her teachings with scripture. Liz has a way of transporting us back in time to the world she is writing about. This book is no different. I’m not sure how she manages to do it but she beams us to the land of Moab where we listen to the conversations of Ruth and Naomi. I should probably state that I love the Book of Ruth. It is usually read in wedding ceremonies but rarely do I hear of it in other situations. As we investigate the book and gather the clues we will come to love the characters and the plot.

The Book Of Ruth is a true story. Of course Ms Higgs had to use poetic license when it came to conversations. The reader is privileged to follow along as Naomi and Ruth make their way to Jerusalem. Naomi is sad and bitter. She’s lost a husband and both sons. Now she has a daughter in law she feels obligated to care for. Through it all the pain, the anger, the emotional ups and downs, Naomi still has God in her heart. God is bigger than her anger. There are so many lessons to learn from this book. After reading "The Girl’s Still Got It" I will never again look at the book of Ruth the same way. Though this book was written many years ago, I found lesson after lesson meant for me. Thank you Ms Higgs, You Still Got It Girl!