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Christian Book Reviews

Christian Book Review: Before Amen by Max Lucado

June 30, 2022 by Joi Leave a Comment

Before Amen by Max Lucado

Before Amen: The Power of a Simple Prayer (Amazon link)

One of my GREAT passions is books… in fact, it’d be safe to say I’m obsessed with them. I collect my favorite authors and genres and consider my book collections to be great treasures. Not on par with my family or cats, mind you… but I do cherish them a great deal.

Max Lucado is one of my favorite authors and one of the ones I collect. He’s a brilliant writer and his books are so inspiring, encouraging, informative, and uplifting that I read and reread them. One of the most recent books I added to my collection is pictured here, Before Amen: The Power of a Simple Prayer and it is one of my all-time favorites.

While recently reading another Christian book review about yet another Max Lucado book, I read something I have often thought myself the past few years – Max Lucado, while always an extraordinary author, seems to be getting even better. He has always had a wonderful sense of humor but, somewhere along the way, he has gone from making me smile ear to ear to making me laugh out loud (something that always makes my cats stare – they’re used to most of my shenanigans but laughing at a book is where they draw the line).

Max Lucado’s humor, love for God, and unique way of reaching out to his readers come through every single word he writes. I love how informal his books always feel. They’re like sitting and talking to a fellow Christian about the wonders of God, the beauty of all He does for us, and the unmeasurable love He has for us.

In spite of us.

While there are many wonderful Christian authors, Max Lucado in unique (in my opinion) in the way he draws the reader IN and makes you feel like you’re part of the conversation. He doesn’t simply tell you how to enrich your Spiritual life, for example, he prods your brain and awakens your heart and, in essence, guides you to the answer yourself.

I also love how “fast” his books read. They’re written in deliciously short chapters, meaning you will always finish one before closing the book. No searching for where you left off with the bookmark that looks as bewildered as you! His books are always so concise – there’s never any extra chapters or wasted words.

To be honest, he has an absolute genius for this and, as an avid book reader, I wish more shared his gift!

Before Amen Review Continued Below…

Before Amen by Max Lucado

Before Amen by Max Lucado

While I am far from perfect (in spite of what my cats and daughters may tell you), I managed to get this right: I spend a great, great deal of time in prayer. In fact, I keep a running conversation with Him like one I keep with my girls. My three daughters and I are always talking through DMs on Twitter. One of us will pop up and either pick up where we left off or we’ll start a whole new avenue of conversation or nonsense (we’re all outrageous when it comes to gifs and memes, so one never knows what we’ll get into!).

We love one another’s company and “visit” continually.

When I whispered a prayer to God a few months ago about a young man I saw in Starbucks, it occurred to me…. I keep a continual, “running” conversation going with God. Somewhere along the way, in my walk as a Christian, I allowed the words, “Pray continually” to become part of who I am and it’s one of the smartest things I’ve ever done.

As a Prayer Warrior, I often seek out books to encourage, inspire, and inform me about the WONDERFUL privilege of prayer. As soon as I saw that Max Lucado had a new book titled “Before Amen: The Power of a Simple Prayer,” I ordered it immediately.

Book Description from Amazon:

We all pray. . . some. But wouldn’t we like to pray better? Stronger? With more fire, faith and fervency?

We aren’t the first to struggle with prayer. The first followers of Jesus needed prayer guidance too. In fact, prayer is the only tutorial they ever requested. In Before Amen, New York Times bestselling author Max Lucado helps readers discover the very heart of biblical prayer, offering hope for doubters and confidence for both prayer beginners and experts.

In this book, Max will help you:

  • Distill prayers in the Bible down to one pocket-sized prayer.
  • Remember that the Good Shepherd has authority over your life.
  • Learn that prayer is simply a heartfelt conversation between God and his child.

Don’t be bogged down by crafting elegant words or apologizing for incoherent sentences. Climb into God’s lap and tell him everything on your heart. Today is the day to let the conversation begin.

“If you’ve never read one of Max’s books, read this one. I promise, you will be inspired.” ~ George Strait

I hope you’ll grab a copy of Before Amen: The Power of a Simple Prayer (Amazon link) right away, if not sooner.  Like all of Max Lucado’s books, it is exceptional – in fact, it stands out as being one of my absolute favorites. The world needs more Christians on their knees in prayer than ever – people with great, great needs are all around us and they need God more than ever. I hope you’ll take the first step in making your prayer life the best it can be. ~ Joi (“Joy”)


Filed Under: Book Reviews, Books I Love, Christian Book Reviews Tagged With: Christian Book Reviews, inspirational book reviews, Max Lucado book review, Spiritual book reviews

Thomas Nelson KJV Study Bible (eBook Format or Bonded Leather)

February 13, 2019 by Joi Leave a Comment

Thomas Nelson King James Study Bible

Ever “discover” something new, then wonder how you ever lived without it? That’s exactly what has happened since I bought the Thomas Nelson KJV Study Bible (Kindle Edition).

Prior to this wonderful study Bible, my Bible reading and Bible study looked like this…

  • I would open up my Holy Bible App and begin my daily Bible reading.
  • I’d often switch to the NKJV periodically (when reading the Old Testament) to see what “heading” a particular passage was given. The KJV doesn’t come with these headings and, even though It’s my preferred version, I have to admit… I dig those headings!
  • Often, I’d come across a man or woman in the Bible and I would then get up and walk to the bookcase to retrieve my “Everyone in the Bible” book.
  • Whenever I’d come across a country and wonder what it is today or come across the name of something in particular that I wanted to know about, I’d make the same trek to the bookcase and retrieve my Pictorial Bible Dictionary or Atlas of the Bible (both of these are HEAVY books, too, mind you!)
  • After the excursion to the bookcase, of course, I’d return to my iPad or iPhone and resume reading – usually with one or two books in tow.

When I read about the Thomas Nelson KJV Study Bible (Kindle Edition), my first thought was… “I could have everything I need in ONE place!” I ordered it immediately and thank myself every single day.

The Thomas Nelson KJV Study Bible is available as an eBook (which is the one I currently have) and as a beautiful Hardcover book (I plan on ordering this one for my Christian Books Collection).

The King James Study Bible, Full-Color Edition is the most complete and comprehensive KJV study Bible available. Comprehensive book introductions, doctrinal articles, study notes, commentaries, personality profiles, word studies, and archaeological insights will help you experience the riches of God’s Word. The full-color design, Holy Land images, classic works of art, charts, and maps further enhance your Bible reading experience. With all these features, plus special subject indexes, Christ’s words in red, and an extensive concordance, no other KJV Bible offers more to students of the Holy Bible.

Thomas Nelson King James Study Bible

I love the Personality Profiles – you can easily find a man or woman you want to learn more about (or to remind yourself exactly who he/she was). When you click on their name, you get a lovely profile of them. Above, as you can see, is a profile for Nehemiah.

I love that pictures are provided for many of the profiles, as well.

Features include:

  • Time-honored KJV Bible text
  • Center-column references with translation notes
  • Beautiful full-color pages and features
  • Hundreds of full-color maps, images, and charts
  • 5,700 authoritative and time-tested study notes
  • Over 100 archaeological notes
  • Over 100 Personality Profiles highlighting important figures in Scripture
  • More than 200 notes on important Christian doctrines
  • Book introductions and outlines
  • Indexes and word-study concordance
  • Monies, Weights, and Measures
  • Prophecies of the Messiah Fulfilled in Christ
  • Miracles of Christ
  • Teachings and Illustrations of Christ
  • Parables of Christ
  • The Jewish Calendar
  • Prayers of the Bible
  • Concordance with World Studies

Thomas Nelson King James Study Bible

You are able to “highlight,” not only verses within the Bible text, but content on the other pages as well. See the image above, when you click on something you want to highlight, you’re given options – you can choose from five different colors, or simply underline the passage.

Thomas Nelson King James Study Bible

I’m nothing if not a girly-girl, so naturally I chose pink.

You can visit Amazon to learn more about the Thomas Nelson KJV Study Bible (Kindle Edition) or the Thomas Nelson KJV Study Bible (Hardcover).  You’re going to absolutely love this study Bible! ~ Joi (“Joy”)

More Christian Book Reviews.

Filed Under: Book Reviews, Spiritual Tagged With: Bible Study Book, Bible Study Review, Christian Book Reviews

Review: Seven-Mile Miracle by Steven Furtick

March 13, 2017 by Joi 2 Comments

Seven Mile Miracle by Steven Furtick

Seven-Mile Miracle by Steven Furtick: A Number 1 Best-Seller on Amazon!

To say that I have a “thing for books” would be a gross understatement. I’m entertained by them, moved by them, motivated by them, changed by them, and… make no mistake… fascinated by them.

I even collect certain types of books – with collections numbering in the obscene:

  • Agatha Christie Mysteries
  • Bible Study Books
  • Cookbooks (new and vintage)
  • American History Biographies
  • Books About Kentucky
  • Inspirational Books
  • Books About Tea
  • Books About Herbs
  • Books About Mental Health & Brain Fitness

There are others, but that’ll give you an idea of the kind of book fanatic you’re dealing with here.

Oftentimes, I’ll come across an author that I resonate so completely with that I set out on a mission – a new collection consisting of every book they’ve ever written. That’s what has happened with the book you see here, Seven-Mile Miracle. Steven Furtick has a gift for taking very informative, inspirational, moving, and compelling words and doing something few are able to pull off…. he has a lot of fun with them.

When you open the book, you completely expect the beauty of the story  – any story about Jesus is going to be beautiful after all, since He defined beauty. You even expect the story to be inspiring, motivating, and eye-opening – and this book is all of these things. You may not, however, expect it to be so much fun to read that you don’t want to put it down and you certainly don’t expect it to contain so much humor that you laugh out loud (I always get such stares from my cats when I do that).

Steven Furtick’s humor caught me delightfully off guard and that’s why I will soon have yet another book collection I’ll be working on – all books by Steven Furtick.

Seven-Mile Miracle is, not at all surprisingly, a number 1 best-seller on Amazon right now. Seems I’m not the only one who knows a great author when she reads one or a great book when she’s lucky enough to hold it in her hands.

His Final Words Are Your New Beginning

It’s Good Friday. The Son of God is giving up his life. What does he want to say to us in His final hours? What does He tell the people standing at the foot of the cross, to pass down to the ages? He speaks only seven short statements. Words of forgiveness, salvation, relationship, abandonment, distress, triumph, and reunion. Seven statements that mean everything.

In Seven-Mile Miracle, Pastor Steven Furtick shows us how Jesus’s last words offer mile markers for our journey in relationship with God. It’s a lifelong journey and it’s not always easy. But Jesus is both our guide and our destination as we travel.

Includes questions for reflection and a forty-day reading guide to Jesus’s death and resurrection.

A Proven Path for Spiritual Growth

From time to time we all feel stuck in our relationship with God and frustrated by life’s setbacks. Jesus faced what could have been the ultimate defeat on the cross. Yet he emerged triumphant through his relationship with his heavenly Father. And he showed us the way so that we could do the same.

In Seven-Mile Miracle, Steven Furtick explores how Jesus’s seven last statements on the cross offer a proven spiritual growth path for us. You will experience the Easter message more personally than ever before as you engage the words of forgiveness, salvation, relationship, abandonment, distress, triumph, reunion.

After all, we are not simply believers—people who have put our faith in Jesus. We are not simply disciples—pupils who learn from him. We are called to be followers of Christ. This is your opportunity to follow Jesus through his death, and move forward in his resurrection power, starting now.

Review Continued Below….

Seven Mile Miracle by Steven Furtick
Seven-Mile Miracle reads fast, yet you’ll find yourself slowing the process down, just so you’re certain to catch every nugget. I found myself taking notes along the way – a sure sign of a very special book.

I also loved the reflection questions and the Bible reading guide. Each were very thoughtful additions that help transcend a wonderful read into a wonderful source for Bible study.

I hope you’ll head over to Amazon and grab a copy of Seven-Mile Miracle today. You might just bump into me as I search out other books by Steven Furtick. His humor, love for Jesus, and excitement for the Bible resonate with me and I’m certain they will with you as well.


Filed Under: Book Reviews, Books I Love, Spiritual Tagged With: Christian Book Reviews, Christian Books, Spiritual book reviews, Spiritual books

Book Review: Answers to the Most Important Questions About the End Times

October 15, 2016 by Joi 2 Comments

Answers to the Most Important Questions About the End Times
Answers to the Most Important Questions About the End Times
Did you read the front of the book pictured above?

  • Will I Have to Go Through the Tribulation?
  • Who Is the Anti-Christ?
  • What is Armageddon?
  • What Will the New Jerusalem Be Like?

Fascinating questions, right? Answers to the Most Important Questions About the End Times provides fascinating answers that are worthy of the questions!

Answers to the Most Important Questions About the End Times

I have, over the course of my life, read the Bible through multiple times. Each year, I follow a “Read the Bible Through in a Year” schedule and have found that it’s the best way to stay on schedule. For the Old Testament, I do side-by-side reading with my preferred version of the Bible (King James Version) and my second favorite (New King James Version).

When it comes to the Book of  Revelation, I bring a third version into the study (New International Version) – and even then I find myself with questions.

Fascinating questions.

Fascinating questions that have now found fascinating answers.

Answers to the Most Important Questions About the End Times
Answers to the Most Important Questions About the End Times by Dr. James Hart is clear, thorough, off-the-charts interesting, and (possibly best of all) very easy to comprehend and understand.

From the Back Cover

Everything You Need to Know About the End Times in One Easy Guide

The end times can be confusing, or even troubling, as we struggle to understand such things as when Christ is coming back, who the Antichrist will be, when the tribulation will occur, and how to interpret biblical prophecy. If you are curious, confused, or fearful about any of these things–this book is for you.

Dr. John Hart clearly and respectfully offers easy-to-understand answers, letting you know exactly what God’s Word says–as well as what it doesn’t say–about the end times. This slender volume answers the most frequently asked questions, then explores how those answers affect you, your family, and your friends.

About the Author

Dr. John Hart (ThM, Dallas Theological Seminary; ThD, Grace Theological Seminary) is Professor of Bible at Moody Bible Institute, the author of 50 Things You Need to Know About Heaven, and edited and contributed to Evidence for the Rapture. Dr. Hart lives in Indiana.

Answers to the Most Important Questions About the End Times
Many people look at world events and tell us, “The end is near… the end HAS to be near!” While I can understand their sentiments and often even fell compelled to shout the words myself, Dr. John Hart reminds us that people have been saying similar words for years – many, many, many years. They haven’t been right yet!

This book is simply an excellent tool for Bible study. I love to add to my book collections regularly and this one is a prized addition to my Bible Study collection. What’s more, it makes a great read… make that awesome read.

Answers to the Most Important Questions About the End Times
If you have questions about what the Bible says about Armageddon, are curious about the significance of news coming out of Israel, want more information about what the “signs” of the last days are or feel for certain we’re approaching the return of Christ, I strongly recommend Answers to the Most Important Questions About the End Times.

It will answer the questions swirling around your head – once and for all.

Answers to the Most Important Questions About the End Times

Filed Under: Book Reviews, Spiritual Tagged With: Christian Book Reviews, inspirational book reviews, Spiritual book reviews

One of the Best Books of 2016 (or Any Year): Jesus Talked to Me Today

August 12, 2016 by Joi 2 Comments

Jesus Talked to Me Today, Compiled by James Stuart Bell
As I’ve mentioned before in my book reviews, I try to think of the first word (three at the most) that comes to mind after reading a book. After reading Jesus Talked to Me Today, one word was all I needed, “Breathtaking.”

When I received my review copy of Jesus Talked to Me Today, I began reading right away. Book worms don’t believe in patiently waiting, you know. I wasn’t into the book very far at all… I think I was, maybe, two pages in… when I realized that I had just embarked on a very special journey.  An extra special journey. A potentially life-changing journey.

When you sit down to eat in a new restaurant, it only takes one  bite before you know that you’d better settle in because you’re in the presence of greatness. The same can be said for an outstanding book.

After just one bite of  Jesus Talked to Me Today, I knew I was in the presence of Greatness. Capital G.

Before I go further with the review, I want to show you something – we’ll call it Exhibit A. Take a look at the picture below…

Jesus Talked to Me Today

Jesus Talked to Me Today

…. what do you see? Upon first glance you’d think it was a near-sighted St. Louis Cardinals’ fanatic who takes notes like it’s her religion caught mid-reading – and you’d be right, but there’s more to it than that. What it IS is a near-sighted St. Louis Cardinals’ fanatic who takes notes like it’s her religion caught mid-reading who had to take off her fogged-up glasses and put her book down, yet again, because she was so emotionally moved.

As Paul Harvey would say, “And that’s the rest of the story.”

I finally decided to snap a picture of what the experiences in this book kept doing to me for proof – foggy glasses and all.

Mind you, I’m not complaining. When a book moves you, magic happens. It’s as though little seeds of magic are planted within the pages, and by the time you’ve reached the last page – beautiful vines have sprung up all around you.

Not only did I have to pause multiple times, practically after each individual experience, to wipe my eyes (they kept getting something in them and that something was called emotion) – I also had to pause to let what I’d just read sink in. I paused after each author’s revelation to simply spend a little time with Jesus because He spoke to me through each author and it was a beautiful, beautiful thing.

It’s books like Jesus Talked to Me Today that made me fall in love with reading in the first place. It’s books like this that have the power to produce more book lovers. It’s books like this that could change the world – one person’s heart at a time.

From the Back Cover:

A Heartwarming Story Collection of Children’s Encounters with God, Angels, and Miracles

Children have a special place in Jesus’ heart. He said they are the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, and their angels continually see the face of God. Perhaps that’s why children seem to be more receptive to supernatural experiences than adults.

This new collection reveals how God works in the lives of these precious little ones. It contains the touching true stories of children who have heard Jesus speak, encountered angels, and experienced miracles. We could all use more childlike faith, and these stories "from the mouths of babes" will encourage readers to be open to hear from the Lord in a fresh, sweet, and pure way.

When I first began mentally mapping out my review of Jesus Talked to Me Today, I thought, “Oh, geez. I’m long-winded as it is, but this particular book review is going to take me 5,00, 844, 008 words to tell just how wonderful it is.”

The gift of exaggeration was bestowed upon me at an early age.

I spent 15 minutes trying to think things through…

  • Where do I begin?
  • How can I MAKE everyone read this book?
  • How do you describe that which cannot be described?
  • Where do I end?

I came up with these answers..

  • Begin with Breathtaking.
  • I can’t MAKE anyone do anything.
  • You can try, but you really can’t.
  • End with Breathtaking.

Yeah, the answers really didn’t move my world, either. But this book did. It, like other special books that I have had the pleasure, JOY, and honor of reading will be passed from one of my daughters to the next, to the next.  They’ve been out of our home-school for quite a few years, now, but I will still tell each that it is “required” reading.

They’ll listen – and they’ll read the entire book just as their loving mother suggests – because they’re as beautiful inside as they are outside. They will also have to sit the book down multiple times and they will also find their lives changed for the better.

Now, dear reader, I may not be your mother (in fact, I’m pretty certain of that). However, I care deeply about you and want only the best for you. I want your heart to be touched, as mine was, by Jesus Talked to Me Today and I want that touch to reverberate in your life – for the rest of your life. I want the seeds of magic within these pages (watered by joyful, salty tears) to grow a beautiful vine that’ll wrap lovingly around your life.

Our world is pretty chaotic right now. In fact, sometimes it’s downright horrifying. Sometimes I turn the news on and turn it back off so fact I worry that my remote control will blow a fuse (or do they even have fuses?). Ugliness abounds.

Short story about that – Once my husband, three precious daughters, and I moved into a small home that had, possibly, the ugliest master bedroom of all time. I kid you not, the wallpaper was dark blue with HUGE, overzealous flowers painted everywhere. The window was kind of crooked-looking, the carpet didn’t match the wallpaper (what would?!), and even the closet was homely.

We were renting, so I couldn’t rip the wallpaper down – which is what every instinct in my body demanded. Painting over it would have been a waste of time – paint hasn’t been invented that’d cover those neon flowers.  All of my bedroom decor, including my bedspread, pillow cases, etc were a beautiful mauve and pale blue color. They clashed with the wallpaper in a manner that made me ill.

I decided to switch all of our bed’s wardrobe to a beautiful, bright white. I bought two pillows that were dark blue, like the you-know-hideous. White lacy drapes went up. I sat a vase of flowers on a table and always tried to match the flowers on the wall to the flowers in the vase – as close as was possible, that is.

It actually became one of my favorite bedrooms I’ve ever had.

The addition of beauty calmed the presence of ugly.

That’s something we have to be especially mindful during times like this. If the only input we have is ugliness, cruelty, lying, and terror – we will live inside of a life far uglier than that poor room.

We have to add as much beauty, kindness, goodness, and love as possible.

The addition of beauty calms the presence of ugly.

I cannot make you read this book which… if we’re being honest..  makes my heart scream, “Doggone it!” in a thick Kentucky accent. All I can do is tell you the effect it had on me – which I’ve tried to do – and lovingly tell you that the next book you need to read is pictured below.

In all its breathtaking wonder.

~ Joi (“Joy”)

Jesus Talked to Me Today, Compiled by James Stuart Bell
Jesus Talked to Me Today

Filed Under: Book Reviews, Books I Love, Spiritual Tagged With: Best Books of 2016, book review, Christian Book Reviews, inspirational book reviews

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