Goodbooks Partner Review: FIve Things to Pray for Your Parents by Chelsea Stanley

This book is humbling to read. As a parent myself praying for my parents and my husband's parents as we are blessed to have four living parents in their late 70s and 80s. Blessed to have seen grandmothers of mine live long lives. This book is 21 sets of scripture to pray through with topics. You can choose a circumstance or situation. Or go in order. Simple and profound encouragement to my prayer life.

Thinking about how much each day, each hour, each minute we choose to follow the Lord Our God and this side of eternity we have not arrived fully and sin can easy entangle us. And we need to maintain a mindset focused on Jesus Christ. Achieved through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Reading this book inspires me to investigate the other books by different authors for different areas of prayer. The Word is powerful. Having concepts clearly presented and thinking aloud from the author is so helpful.

Thankful to partner with the good book company and read an early copy.

Waterbrook Partner: I Love Jesus But I Want to Die by Sarah Robinson

 I have walked with many who struggle with severe depression, I have parented a suicidal child, I know that mental health struggles and exist even in people who have a deep and strong faith.  So when I saw this book available as a launch team option, I knew I wanted to read a believer's perspective on a very real struggle. 

  

I am encouraged by this book that the author reveals her real experiences, sharing the extreme examples of her self-harm, and suicidal tendencies in a different style and font, so that if you might be triggered you can skip that section and the details that don't need to be glorified of how extreme her behaviors and actions were when her brain was unbalanced and she was deeply depressed.  

I've read lots of research on trauma, on how our brains work, and how how to help heal those who have endured trauma, and have found that the proven strategies that are found to work, are founded in unconditional love, support, relationship, and connection.  But depression and anxiety can't all be managed with other people supporting and loving you, sometimes there is a need for medication and other strategies to help the brain function and the author reminds us of that, as well as how shame impacts our own self-talk and beliefs about who we are.  She references well-known research in the field.  

In this book, Sarah Robinson shares her experiences with those who lacked knowledge and awareness of mental illness, and their platitudes that hurt, but the love and acceptance that was real, and overarching.  She shares scripture throughout her story and truths to help recognize how God feels about the human beings He created.  

I appreciated her input on neuroplasticity, that as we "rewire our perceptions of God to better line up with the truth of who He is."  It makes so much sense and fits with all I have learned about how we can re-wire a brain through real relationship, which is exactly what I have experienced as I've grown to know God personally.  

I have found this book an excellent resource to inform my practice and draw closer to God, and a healthy mindset focusing on the fact that He created me and calls me "Beloved."  I have found this book to be something I can recommend to others struggling with anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts.  I think this book would be excellent for leaders in the local church to read and learn how to be most effective when someone struggling with issues like these, seeks out their love, support, and help.  

Thankful to partner with Waterbrook Publishing and read an advance copy. 

Bethany House Partner Review: Don't Miss Out: Daring to believe life is better with the Holy Spirit by Jeannie Cunnion

 

Releasing May 11, 2021 

I enjoyed this book a lot.  I know about the Holy Spirit, but reviewing who the Holy Spirit is, and how he works in my life, and how I can trust him was just what I needed.  I appreciate how the author wove scripture, life, and other teachings on the Holy Spirit throughout the whole book.  

I also appreciated the way each chapter ended with a 'last but not least' section that had a question or two to reflect on, and a response.  Simple yet pulled together my thoughts and left me challenged with each chapter I read.  

The book has 30 succinct and easy-to-read chapters, that left me wanting to read on.  I found the book theologically accurate, helped me pursue a mindset the reflects who the Holy Spirit is in all his facets, and how much I miss when I don't allow him to work in my heart, mind, and soul.  I highlighted many concepts. 

I appreciated the author's self-reflection, honesty, and even sense of humor in her transparent sharing of her experience and growth. Thankful to partner with NetGalley and Bethany House publishers and read an advanced copy.  

Bethany House Partner Review: Bible Promises and Prayers for Children

 This book is a cute little hardback book on praying for and with your children. There are 31 days to pray through. Each day begins with a thought for the parents to read, followed by scripture verses, then a sample prayer to insert your child's name into, and then a page to share with your child that contains: ask, pray, declare, do. This aspect connects to what the parents have read.

Some observations:

1) I must admit that I didn't realize this was a 'chosen' book from Baker publishing, meaning it is their charismatic division. And I suspect because of this theological foundation, I may be missing some of the implied concepts- especially around some of their buzzwords like a declaration.

2) the book to be used with your children seems to only be applicable to children who are already believers and walking with the Lord, the premise behind the shared page, thoughts, and prayers seem to be for those who are walking in faith, which may not be the experience of all the readers who use this tool.

3) I like that each day has scripture verses to connect to the concept discussed, but I am not sure that all of the verses are accurate to the concepts when taken in the context of the passages.

4) The child's page has a declare statement- and while this is something I have taught and has been a central doctrine in my faith, as it seems to be in the author's lives, I like it. I find it very valuable for children, especially those from a hard place/trauma, when we had a child like this in our family for five years, I really developed this type of statement for him to change the lies in his head to truth statements, and it was key for him to repeat, recite, repeat them to help him change his mindset and behavior. I think that whether your faith is charismatic or not, this perspective is valuable in the world and culture we live in, that tries to subtly spread lies and twist our thinking toward sin instead of God's truth.

Thankful to partner with Bethany House Publishers- a division of Baker books and review a copy of this book. I haven't finished it all but wanted to start to share my thoughts as I continue to read through the 31 days.