Scripture Stickies

Scripture StickiesScripture Stickies are one of the neatest resources I have come across in a long time. Bible verses printed on stick-it paper, they are professionally designed and extremely helpful. Barely have time to brush your teeth in the morning? Might as well put a Scripture Sticky on your mirror and work on a memory verse while brushing your teeth. Stick them in your car, on your mirror, or over the sink in your kitchen; they work anywhere (and they really do come off easily). Available in different categories of verses, as well as certain foreign languages, Scripture Stickies are an excellent resource for getting God’s Word into your mind. They make great gifts, too! I highly recommend them.

Purchase Scripture Stickies at the Scripture Stickies website here (Update: no longer available).

*I received no compensation for this review other than a free sample of the product.

The Unburdened Heart

The Unburdened HeartSuzanne Eller has written a book that’s a must-read for everyone struggling with forgiveness—everyone whose heart is burdened by the wrongs that have been done to him or her. We’ve all suffered at the hands of others, and Suzie acknowledges that. In fact, she knows all about that, having endured much in her life that she needed to forgive. Suzie is very open about her own journey and very understanding about the difficulty of the process of forgiving. Through her own stories, others’ stories, and her conversational, come-alongside-you-like-a-best-friend prose, she walks with the reader through every part of the journey. She also includes several questions at the end of each chapter to help the reader work through forgiveness in her own life.  Have you been wounded in the past and aren’t sure why you should even consider forgiving your offender? Suzie covers this topic too, showing readers how forgiveness is not primarily for the benefit of the offender but so that we can move on. I highly recommend this book that has become influential in my own journey to forgiveness.

Purchase your copy of The Unburdened Heart from the Proverbs 31 Ministries Store here or from Amazon.com here.

*I received no compensation for this review other than a free copy of the book.

Father Cry

Father CryBilly Wilson understands the pain of those of us who long for spiritual fathers and mothers. He is very candid and vulnerable about his own struggles and need in this area and empathetic to those who also long for a spiritual father or mother to guide them. He describes some of the issues that have contributed to the lack of spiritual parents in our culture, including broken trust among those who should have been these kinds of parents for their own biological children and/or “spiritual children” God had given them to shepherd. Wilson also gives several examples of spiritual parenting in the Bible and the great benefits that resulted. He encourages those who are older (such as Titus 2 women) to step up and become spiritual mentors to those who need it, and he encourages those who need it to seek out such mentors. Wilson’s book is an honest look at a very real need throughout our churches today and an action call to do something about that need. I recommend this book.

You can purchase a copy of Father Cry here.

*I received no compensation for this review other than a free copy of the book. If you purchase the book through the link I’ve provided, I may receive a small commission from Amazon at no additional cost to you.

Be Still: A Video by Lisa Chan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gksWkR0wXAM

Have you ever thought you would love to have time to spend with God, if only you could figure out when to do it?

Have you ever felt caught up in the craziness and distractions of being a woman, wife, and mother, so much so that you know exactly what each of your children would order in a Happy Meal, but you don’t really know God?

In this first video in Lisa Chan’s series entitled Be Still, Lisa identifies with the rest of us in our struggles. She does not present herself as a spiritual giant, but rather as a fellow sister in Christ who has dealt with the same issues as the rest of us. Graciously, compassionately, and lovingly, Lisa reminds us that while it may indeed be difficult to get alone with God and be still, “the things of this world are passing and not important.” She makes the vital point that “I don’t think it’s possible to know God without being still and putting the time and the effort into your relationship with Him.”

“And you know, you know that [the things of this life are] not what you really want,” Lisa says. “So don’t let the distractions and don’t let this world and don’t let Satan have any victory over you. You just choose right now to say, ‘I will choose today to know my Savior, to be connected to Him, to love Him’. Start today.”

Isn’t this what we all need, moms? To know God better? Through Lisa’s honest sharing of her own struggles, she shows us how moms in everyday circumstances need God—not just need to read the Bible and attend church more, but need God Himself—and can come to know Him. Susan, a friend of Lisa’s, also shares her story about how she came to know God as He sustained her through a difficult time in her life.

Whether or not life is going smoothly for you or not, you need God. You need to know Him, not just know about Him. Lisa will empathize with you in the difficulties of making time to be still with God, even as she doesn’t accept any excuses for not having time. Hers is a balanced and encouraging approach for every mom who knows she needs God, but needs someone to help her get started.

This video would be great not only for individuals who would like to feel as if they’re having a personal conversation with Lisa (she makes this easy to do) but also for groups, as a discussion starter.

You can purchase this video from Flannel.org.

*I received no compensation for this review other than a free copy of the DVD.