Book Review: Pressing Pause

 

Title: Pressing Pause

Subtitle: 100 Quiet Moments for Moms to Meet Jesus

Authors: Karen Ehman & Ruth Schwenk

Genre: Devotional, Christian Living, Inspitational

 Pressing Pause is a daily devotional for moms.  This is a beautiful hardcover book with thick pages, purple lettering and an attached bookmark. There are 100 devotionals that will take just a few minutes of your busy day.  The authors squeeze a lot of goodness into those few minutes.

For me, I take a few minutes every night before I go to sleep to slow down and refresh myself in the Word.  This devotional was a great guide to lead me.  The authors also include questions at the end of each devotional if you want to spend time reflecting on the day's lesson and scripture. 

I recommend this book for all of you busy ladies out there!  I know that in the rush of your lives you can tend to be very unselfish and do, do, do for others but you need to "press pause" and stop and do this for your self.

 You can purchase Pressing Pause on Amazon for just $10.99.

or on ChristianBook.com for $10.99

Disclaimer:  I received this book for free from the Book Look Blogger Program in exchange for an honest review.

 

Book Review: One More Step

Title: One More Step

Subtitle: Finding Strength When You Feel Like Giving Up 

Author: Rachel Wojo

Genre: Christian Living/ Women's Interest

Author, Rachel Wojo experienced her share of difficulty.  She found herself a divorced, single mom of severely disabled child.  Writing from first hand experience, Rachel shares how to replace your feelings of despair with scripture.  

Rachel reminds us that God would rather hear about our bad day rather than not hear from us at all.  One of the themes throughout her books is that "Prayer trumps panic every time."

I found it helpful that the book was divided into separate sections:

A quote before each chapter

The body of each chapter

Pillars of Truth to Lean On (These are Bible verses that Rachel used to make it "one more step.")

Stepping Stones (This is a section that helps you get started journaling.)

Discussion Questions to Facillitate a 4 Week Small Group Study

Thoughts to Keep You Going for each Chapter

Hymns to Accompany each Chapter

By breaking the book into these separate sections, it made the book easier to navigate.  I also found that when I wanted to look back and find something encouraging, it was easy to find what I was looking for in the book.

I highly recommend this book to all women, especially moms.  The author is able to relate to moms with a variety of concerns in their lives. If you know a mom with a disabled child, then this book would be a tremendous encouragement for them.  Rachel's daughter suffers from a debilitating condition and she candidly shares her struggles.  

You can purchase Rachel's book at Christianbook.com for $8.49 or at  Amazon for $8.81. 

 There is also a bonus on Rachel's webpage.   You can download a FREE Stepping Stones Companion Journal to use while you read the book. 

 

 Disclaimer:  I received this book for free from the Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Company in exchange for an honest review.

book review: prayerpoints

Title: PrayerPoints

Subtitle: Praying God's Promises at Your Point of Need

Author: Ken Petersen

Genre: Devotional; Prayer

The cover of the beautiful imitation leather bound book is inscribed with

"The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth." 

Psalm 145:18

This book is written to be a support when someone is going through a trial or has a specific need. The book is organized alphabetically by topic.  There are 170 topics such as:

 Anger

Cancer

Chronic Pain

Fatigue

Heartbreak

Lonliness

 Sleeplessness

Unemployment 

and many more!

Each entry includes three scriptures with God's promises for you.  There is also a prayer written to help guide you through praying to God about his promises.   There is a handy index organized by topic to help you locate the entries that you are looking for when you have a specific need or hurt. 

 

 The book is pocket sized which makes it easy to carry in a purse or pocket.  It is the perfect size to keep in your desk at work or in your bedside nightstand. 

I think that this book would make a great gift for a graduating senior heading off to college!  That first year of college is difficult and this handy book will help them find the support that they need through God's word and through prayer with Him. 

You can purchase Prayer Points for $10.99 at Christian Book Distributers or for $13.99 at Amazon

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the Tyndale House Publishing Company in exchange for an honest review.

 

 

Book Review: 365 Pocket Prayers for Mother

Title: 365 Pocket Prayers for Mother

Subtitle: Guidance and Wisdom for Each New Day

Authors: Amie Carlson, Karen Hodge, and Erin Keeley Marshall

 Genre: Devotional 

The very first line of the introduction of this book speaks volumes, 

"Becoming a mother changes us."

It is so very true.  Why do mothers need separate prayer devotional from other people, from other women?   Because being a mother makes you different.  This prayer devotional really grasps what it is to be a mother and the challenges and blessings that come with that title. We need extra encouragement and support!  Being a mom can be difficult yet rewarding.

The book is intended to be completed in a year.  The nice thing about it is that it is not written with dates on it but rather with Day titles.  With the pages labeled by Day instead of Date, there is no pressure to complete a page a day.  As moms that will be such a relief.  

I enjoyed the titles, for example, Day 143 is a Prayer about Burnout, When I feel driven to the ground.   The page then includes a prayer to help you focus your thoughts on the Lord and it also includes a scripture for Bible study.   The pages are short and sweet.   It is not intended to be a devotional for deep study of scripture.

I recommend this book to mothers of all ages.  It would apply to mothers to be, new mothers, seasoned mothers and grandmothers.  You could buy this for yourself or make it a Mother's Day gift!

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the Tyndale House Publishing Company in exchange for an honest review.

Verses of Encouragement

How soon we forget

How soon we forget what it was like in the days after Hurricane Sandy.  Here at the Delmanto house we had no damage to our family, house or property.  We were so grateful for that.  The worst that happened to us was that we went 10 days without power.   

Ella all bundled up in the cold house while
we had no electricity

During those 10 days, I swore that I would never take my electricity for granted again.  How soon we forget.  We are a mere few months past the storm and already we have forgotten to appreciate the power.  I walked through our little home today and saw lights on in all but one room, two computers fired up and televisions on in three rooms (only two people were awake at the time.)  

I need to remember daily not to take the luxury of electricity for granted!

Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20 (NIV)