This week, this book goes on sale…
… and I’m one of the contributors.
This is the craziest, coolest, thing ever.
I’m thankful to my family and friends who encouraged me in all the little steps that led here, and are still my cheerleaders for what is to come.
Lord, let me use this gift well and for your glory.
Welcome to my 10 Day Book Tour. I love to read, and I am often given books to read for review. Over the last year, I determined that I didn’t want to turn my blog into a book review site. However, I can’t help that I LOVE books. I truly do. They add so much value to my life, because I learn from them and glean new perspectives from the authors who put their hearts to the page. So, I’ve decided that each quarter, I’m going to do a 10 Day Book Tour. What have I been reading, what do I honestly think about the book, and to whom I would recommend it. Each day, for ten days, you will get a peak into my bookshelf.
DAY TEN: DIVINE DIRECTION by Craig Groeschel
I am really excited to be apart of the Launch Team for Divine Direction. When you are on a launch team, you get an advanced copy of the book for the purpose of reading it and helping promote it leading up to the sales date.
I love a good sneak peek!
So expect to hear a bit more about this book in the coming days.
One of the things that drew me to the book was that the 7 decisions are really small choices that will yield big impact. Groeschel walks us through making these small choices from a Biblical standpoint. Connection our decisions to the desires of God’s heart.
Stop what is hindering you. Start a new habit. Determine when to stay or when to go. Serve where God wants you serve. Connect genuinely. Trust in God who has known you since you were knit in your mother’s womb and the hairs on your head; God who has a plan for your life.
Welcome to my 10 Day Book Tour. I love to read, and I am often given books to read for review. Over the last year, I determined that I didn’t want to turn my blog into a book review site. However, I can’t help that I LOVE books. I truly do. They add so much value to my life, because I learn from them and glean new perspectives from the authors who put their hearts to the page. So, I’ve decided that each quarter, I’m going to do a 10 Day Book Tour. What have I been reading, what do I honestly think about the book, and to whom I would recommend it. Each day, for ten days, you will get a peak into my bookshelf.
DAY NINE: 100 MOST ENCOURAGING VERSES OF THE BIBLE by Troy Schmidt
Sometimes, it is nice to have a little book of verses edited around a theme. One I have used for years is God’s Promises to Women. When I saw this book on the list for potential reviews, I really thought it was going to be the same thing. A compilation of Bible verses, categorized under headings, with the potential of being another “go-to” book for when a need a quick verse for a card or friend.
It was much more than that.
Not only does the book have a great list of 100 encouraging verses, but each verse is also accompanied by a passage that puts the verse into context or application for our life. This book could serve as a great daily devotional, added to your study routine. It’s a slim line book, which means it will fit in your tote or even the pocket of your bible cover. It’s a great gift item, but also a good resource for your personal library.
Welcome to my 10 Day Book Tour. I love to read, and I am often given books to read for review. Over the last year, I determined that I didn’t want to turn my blog into a book review site. However, I can’t help that I LOVE books. I truly do. They add so much value to my life, because I learn from them and glean new perspectives from the authors who put their hearts to the page. So, I’ve decided that each quarter, I’m going to do a 10 Day Book Tour. What have I been reading, what do I honestly think about the book, and to whom I would recommend it. Each day, for ten days, you will get a peak into my bookshelf.
DAY EIGHT: LEADERSHIP PROMISES FOR EVERY DAY by John C. Maxwell
Leaders really do need to be encouraged. Leaders, good ones, are constantly pouring out into others. We can’t pour out of an empty vessel, so leaders need to have someone who is pouring into their lives. This isn’t always easy though, especially if you happen to the be at the top of the ministry ladder. I love this devotional, where John C. Maxwell pours a daily dose of scripture and leadership wisdom into my life.
I’ve enjoyed the book so much, I have in turn found myself giving it as a gift to other leaders. I would have preferred a “Day 1”, “Day 2″… format over a calendar dated format. But, that may be my OCD talking… because despite flipping through it… I literally waiting until January 1st to official start using it.
Additionally, I get a lot of great feedback from those who received it as a gift. Which really spurs me on to continue gifting it, knowing that it’s not just me… but various leaders who are benefiting from these devotions.
Recommendations: Pastor Appreciation Gift, Ministry Leader Birthday, Anniversary, or “Just Because” gift, Speaker Gifts, etc.
Welcome to my 10 Day Book Tour. I love to read, and I am often given books to read for review. Over the last year, I determined that I didn’t want to turn my blog into a book review site. However, I can’t help that I LOVE books. I truly do. They add so much value to my life, because I learn from them and glean new perspectives from the authors who put their hearts to the page. So, I’ve decided that each quarter, I’m going to do a 10 Day Book Tour. What have I been reading, what do I honestly think about the book, and to whom I would recommend it. Each day, for ten days, you will get a peak into my bookshelf.
This is a big topic right now. Some topics are really hard, complex, uncomfortable, and we may even try to avoid them.
If you want to have a voice in the conversation, you have to be willing to hear some hard truths. Your eyes have to be open to see what may have been hidden from your life. Your ears need to be open to hear the experiences of others, that differ from your own. You also need to be prepared for what is going to come your way.
When you pray for the Lord to break your heart for what breaks His, expect to be deeply broken. Invest in tissues, because you won’t be able to unsee or unhear.
It was in a recently interview, I heard a Pastor state that he believed that the Lord is bringing this issue forward, that we can no longer ignore it. Another Pastor said the church needs to be on the front line on this issue, not hiding behind the pews.
The Gospel for Life Series – The Gospel and Racial Reconciliation is a great book to start your journey on this complex topic. It’s a small book, which means it gets right to the point. It’s also a collection of voices, with chapters contributed by J. Daniel Hays, Thabiti Anyabwile, Trillia Newbell, Eric Mason, Matthew J. Hall, and D.A. Horton. There is also a list at the end of the book for additional reading to continue learning.
What I have learned in regard to this discussion, is that first I need to listen. I need to read. I need to watch. I need to lean into those who have experience, not opinions. I need to feel for those who hurt, not try to justify the how or why things happened. I need to open my eyes, ears, and heart to what the Lord would say. This book is certainly a great tool in that process.
We explore what the Bible says from our creation in His image (all of us), what the Lord purposed us for, how the Bible would have us interact with one another, how things went wrong, inter-ethnic marriage, how to get to know those who don’t look like us or come from a different background, how the church should engage, and what does the culture around us say (and how do we respond to that).
In Chapter 4, Pastor Eric Mason states:
“Churches need to recognize that one of the Enemy’s devices is to fight against reconciliation between God’s people (2 Cor. 2:11).”
When we recognize this, we know that we can’t stay silent. It’s US versus the Enemy.
Welcome to my 10 Day Book Tour. I love to read, and I am often given books to read for review. Over the last year, I determined that I didn’t want to turn my blog into a book review site. However, I can’t help that I LOVE books. I truly do. They add so much value to my life, because I learn from them and glean new perspectives from the authors who put their hearts to the page. So, I’ve decided that each quarter, I’m going to do a 10 Day Book Tour. What have I been reading, what do I honestly think about the book, and to whom I would recommend it. Each day, for ten days, you will get a peak into my bookshelf.
DAY SIX: LISTS TO LOVE BY FOR BUSY WIVES by Mark and Susan Merrill
Ok… so Valentines Day is not too far away, and what a better thing to do on Valentines Day than celebrate your marriage!
Times have changed, women are not at home tending the kids and prepping dinner before their husband gets home. We are busy.
* We are busy at work.
* We are volunteering more.
* We are pinteresting perfect birthday parties for our kids.
Ok… to be fair, some of our busy is self imposed. But, I remember thinking how much free time I would have once all three of our kids were in school. This was a lie.
My whole life is organized by ongoing lists. Lists keep me sane. Lists make sure I don’t forget.
It is no surprise that this title would appeal to me. Yes, I’m admitting it. I need a list to be a better wife.
I’ve actually been a fan of the Merrills for quite some time, through Family First. I expected that I would probably read some familiar ideas and suggestions, but also eager to get new ones too. Turns out that this book was not exactly what I was expecting.
Expectation: I would find cute, fun, romantic, and inventive check lists of ideas for date nights or flirty texts I could send my husband.
Reality: This book digs a little deeper than superficial lists. For example, the first “list”, is 7 Truths About Marriage. Yep, we are going to dig deep to truth. And… there was a quiz at the end of the chapter. List Three was on 5 Powerful Words for Your Marriage. I realized I could do a better job in how I communicate with my husband. List 12, it wants to talk about a struggling sex life. Yep, we are going to get personal. Discussion questions follow that one, so… yeah I also have to talk about it. UGH.
In all seriousness, this book is filled with 30 lists that are well beyond check off boxes with novelty suggestions. It is filled with 30 lists that are meant to help us refocus on our marriages, our spouses, with intention and purpose. Reading ideas, lists of truths, answering questions to explore these little chapters, actionable steps to be a better wife.
I would recommend this book for anyone who is married, or preparing to get married.
Great engagement or bridal shower gift, for certain. I might also recommend this book to the woman who is struggling with her marriage.
It’s true that the only person you can change is you. So, if we want a better marriage… I can only change myself. If we put forth the effort we can save a failing marriage, take a good marriage to great, or keep the exceptional marriage going forward.
Welcome to my 10 Day Book Tour. I love to read, and I am often given books to read for review. Over the last year, I determined that I didn’t want to turn my blog into a book review site. However, I can’t help that I LOVE books. I truly do. They add so much value to my life, because I learn from them and glean new perspectives from the authors who put their hearts to the page. So, I’ve decided that each quarter, I’m going to do a 10 Day Book Tour. What have I been reading, what do I honestly think about the book, and to whom I would recommend it. Each day, for ten days, you will get a peak into my bookshelf.
DAY FIVE: SUCCESSFUL LEADERS OF THE BIBLE by Katara Washington Patton
Yesterday’s post was about building a culture of developing leaders within your church. Today’s book is a collection of Biblical examples of leaders. Each chapter of the book is devoted to leader, from the Bible, and the character of their leadership.
This is not the first book by Katara Washington Patton that I have read, and it just fits perfectly within her style. Short, sweet, and to the point. Patton examines the leader in relations to their purpose in God’s redemptive plan, highlights their positive attributes as a leader, and then applies these lessons to our every day life. However Patton also reveals the areas where some of the leaders lost sight or slipped up. A reminder that even the most Godly leaders we celebrate were still imperfect humans, redeemed by God’s love for them.
I’ve always said that we learn two things from the people we encounter, when it comes to our personal development. We learn 1) who we want to be and 2) who we do not want to be. Even from the greatest leaders we can learn just as much (if not more) from their mistakes and we do from their success.
If you truly want to understand more about what Biblical Leadership looks like, from the perspective of the leaders found in scriptures, Patton’s book is a great starting point. Patton is careful to include scripture references, which can allow you to examine these leaders further. I’d encourage you to look beyond these nine leaders and keep digging into the scriptures for more examples of good (and bad) leaders that you can glean from.
Welcome to my 10 Day Book Tour. I love to read, and I am often given books to read for review. Over the last year, I determined that I didn’t want to turn my blog into a book review site. However, I can’t help that I LOVE books. I truly do. They add so much value to my life, because I learn from them and glean new perspectives from the authors who put their hearts to the page. So, I’ve decided that each quarter, I’m going to do a 10 Day Book Tour. What have I been reading, what do I honestly think about the book, and to whom I would recommend it. Each day, for ten days, you will get a peak into my bookshelf.
DAY FOUR: DESIGNED TO LEAD by Eric Geiger an Kevin Peck
My ministry work revolves around the training of other leaders, therefore it is vital that I am reading books on leadership, team building, etc. I read these books to learn to lead better myself, but also to convey to others more effective way we can lead in our ministries (and even businesses).
Leadership development is something that has been on my mind lately. I’ve been looking at various churches and trying to understand why their Associate Pastors are hired in from outside, and not being developed within the church. Curious as to why we need a Pastor Search Committee for a new Head Pastor, when we have a team of Associate Pastors that should move into place. Contemplating why it throws a ministry into havoc when a leader steps down, shouldn’t there be someone ready to take over that position?
I’ve heard many leaders suggest that if we are a Paul (a leader) that we need to be training up our Timothy (eventual replacement). Yet, I’m seeing very few upper tier leaders who are walking the talk. Are our churches lacking the conviction to develop strong leaders? Or, do they simply not know how to do it. Is it one thing to train someone to become the next small group leader, but a totally different thing to train someone to be a Pastor or ministry leader? If you are a Pastor, I wonder… how many people in your church are you personally mentoring because they feel called to the role of Pastor? How many people from your church have answered the call to Missions, and how have you prepared them for that call? Or, are you sending them off to some organization to do the work for you?
I’ve had the pleasure to bear witness to churches who HAVE been purposeful in not just encouraging leaders, but also developing them and encouraging them toward that call. I’ve also scratched my head and wondered why the members of a church have no idea that leadership positions are being advertised on staffing sites, and not offered to qualified people in the church. I’ve seen churches HIRE someone from another state, when a qualified person sits in their pews every Sunday who would do the job for free as a service to the church, using their talent to bless the church.
This is why I am a big fan of Designed to Lead, because the authors share that same vision. A vision of not just developing strong leaders but creating a culture that also encourages those leaders. A building structure that isn’t waiting around for someone to say “hey, I’d like to be a leader”, but is instead INTENTIONAL on identifying those leaders and creating a system to develop them in to the best leader that they can be.
I must admit that I am tired of watching people LEAVE their church as the only way they can LEAD in the church. If we had an intentional and systematic plan in place to develop leaders in the church, would we ever need a Pastor Search Committee again? Would we ever need to put out a classified ad for a Ministry Leader? Would we need to pay relocation expenses, or help our new hire find housing? Wouldn’t we also create a place where we are creating jobs for our community of believers?
A woman once shared with me that a position opened up in her church, that she was qualified for, but she only found out after the church hired in a woman from another area. The woman was not only qualified for the job, but currently unemployed. That job would have been a blessing to her family, and her experience would have been a blessing to the church.
Designed to Lead walks us through the type of Leadership we need to encourage, creating a culture for leadership development by intentional pathways, and keeping a focus on the biblical models and expectations of leaders. As you work through the text, there are questions that will prompt you to explore your own thoughts and the needs for your church. There are diagrams to help visual learners understand the concepts being shared.
Ultimately, this is a great book for leaders who desire to build up other leaders. It is also a challenging book for those who haven’t created that culture within their church or ministry. I would recommend taking your time to read through the book and really examine your own positions on the subject and respond to the challenges and convictions.
Welcome to my 10 Day Book Tour. I love to read, and I am often given books to read for review. Over the last year, I determined that I didn’t want to turn my blog into a book review site. However, I can’t help that I LOVE books. I truly do. They add so much value to my life, because I learn from them and glean new perspectives from the authors who put their hearts to the page. So, I’ve decided that each quarter, I’m going to do a 10 Day Book Tour. What have I been reading, what do I honestly think about the book, and to whom I would recommend it. Each day, for ten days, you will get a peak into my bookshelf.
You may see this book and think the title sounds familiar, that’s because She Reads Truth existed long before these pages were printed. It began as a group of women reading The Word together, posting about their search for truth with the hashtag #SheReadsTruth. Eventually through their website, a diverse, global community of women were discovering the Truth in the pages of their Bibles together. This community still exists and there is even a She Reads Truth app.
I’ve followed She Reads Truth for quite sometime, so I was eager to get my hands on the book. What happens in the pages of the book is the unfolding story of two women who were seeking truth, FULL truth. It is a combination of two memoirs, two separate stores that led the women to the same Truth… and that our stories as different as they are can lead us to the same Truth.
Unlike a traditional memoir, which is a retelling of a single person’s story, and we are simply there to watch… Raechel Myers and Amanda Bible Williams reach out to their readers and speak to them directly.
We are invited into their story, welcome to bring our own story. We are finding community in the pages, together. Women who long for healing, forgiveness, and hope in the dark places. Women who may not share the same trials, but can find Hope in the same God.
If you are not into memoirs, you may think this book isn’t your cup of tea. But I would challenge you to read it anyway, it’s also filled with scripture, challenging questions and thoughts, encouragement, and familiarity as we understand struggle no matter how it is packaged. The memoir portions are long and drawn out and always point back to the same universal truths.
I would recommend this book to just about any woman, and it would make a great gift too.
Welcome to my 10 Day Book Tour. I love to read, and I am often given books to read for review. Over the last year, I determined that I didn’t want to turn my blog into a book review site. However, I can’t help that I LOVE books. I truly do. They add so much value to my life, because I learn from them and glean new perspectives from the authors who put their hearts to the page. So, I’ve decided that each quarter, I’m going to do a 10 Day Book Tour. What have I been reading, what do I honestly think about the book, and to whom I would recommend it. Each day, for ten days, you will get a peak into my bookshelf.
DAY TWO: MOVING ON by Ruth Ann Batstone
I think we have all been there. Those moments in our life where some sort of offense has been done to us that is hard to get over. It may haunt us, replaying over in our minds. It may be forgotten, temporarily, until something sparks that memory to return.
So many of us can find ourselves in that place where we can forgive, but it’s the forgetting part that isn’t quite so easy. How can we move on, when we are holding on to the offense? What does it even mean to move on?
Moving on is something that I can struggle with. I almost can’t help myself from replaying the situation in my head. In some instances, it is an eager attempt to figure out what went wrong, was I at least partly culpable, was there misunderstanding, how could we have handled things better. I’m a fixer by nature, but I have learned that it takes two people willing to fix the problem. At a conference last year, the speaker shared with us that forgiveness and reconciliation are two separate things. Forgiveness actually requires only one person, but reconciliation requires two.
But that left me wondering how to move on when there isn’t reconciliation? How to move on when there is no closure? How to move on when perhaps the other person hasn’t and keeps inviting you back into the fray? And… how to move on when the person who isn’t forgiving is ME… and even harder… when the person I can’t forgive is myself?
What I love about this book is that it starts right out of the gate, in the Introduction, to get our heads in the right space. A series of questions to help us identify if we are holding onto unforgiveness, and what was the root of that unforgiveness is. Then moves quickly into the next question that helps us identify how we respond when we are hurt by someone.
Moving On is a short book, but an important book. The book is filled with examples of real life scenarios, that readers can relate to. More importantly, the book spends more time helping us self examine our own unforgiveness, what that does to us, how we can get beyond it. To truly be able to move on, beyond forgive and forget, we have to recognize those bitter roots of unforgiveness for what they are. We recognize how valuable forgiving and being forgiven is in our lives and relationships… even if it is painful and uncomfortable.
Batstone then goes right to the heart of the scriptures, God’s redemptive plan for His people. We are reminded of all the times were God’s people wronged the Lord, yet they were forgiven and their sins forgotten, blotted out, cast to the bottom of the sea. We learn of restoration and reconciliation to our God, from the worst of our offenses.
If God can forgive me, for all that I have done against Him and His desires…
If I am to be Christlike, that means I also have to forgive like God.
The rest of the books explores our response to offense, such as anger and seeking revenge. The difficulties & importance in forgiving not just the every day sinner, but also those monsters who cause the most hurt. And, what it will actually cost US when we choose to not forgive.
I appreciate that in the last two chapters, Batstone addresses what forgiveness IS NOT. We can forgive and even forget, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t accountability or retribution that has to take place. She also addresses what forgiveness IS… and it’s value to the “growing Kingdom of God.”
Gena McCown 