inspirational book review

90 Minutes in Heaven (Phenomenal Book!)

April 8, 2019 by Joi Leave a Comment

My youngest daughter recently gave me a copy of 90 Minutes in Heaven and I read it within 2 days. It was THAT good.

Well – no…. it’s actually better. Much better.

Book Description:

The mega bestselling book that started the heaven publishing phenomenon is now a major motion picture starring Hayden Christensen and Kate Bosworth and produced by Michael Polish. Don Piper’s incredible true story continues to expand its reach to more people than ever before.

After a semi-truck collided with Don Piper’s car, he was pronounced dead at the scene. For the next ninety minutes, he experienced the glories of heaven. Back on earth, a passing minister felt led to stop and pray for the accident victim even though he was told Piper was dead. Miraculously, Piper came back to life, and the pleasure of heaven was replaced by a long and painful recovery.

This special edition of Don’s life-changing story includes a new preface from Don about the making of the movie, plus a personal update on the impact the book has had on him, his family, and the millions who have already heard his story. It also includes a note from the publisher, stories from readers, and Scriptures and quotations on heaven.

Don Piper’s account of his accident and recovery are incredibly compelling and packed with emotion. You find yourself caught every now and again between a laugh and a cry. When a book is able to move your emotions like this, it is extra special.

The most beautiful part of the story is, of course, his description of Heaven as he encountered it when he died.

When writing book reviews, as I’ve often said, I detest the thought of giving anything away. I want the reader to discover each emotion and uncover each hidden jewel as I was able to – on their own. So, yes, this book review is incredibly short (no one needs to hear me ramble on and on and on anyway!), but I do not in any way want you to misunderstand how much I want you to read this book.

I simply don’t want to give anything away because this real life story, as it is told is one of the most beautiful I have ever read and I desperately want to see it in as many hands as possible.

90 Minutes in Heaven is a book you will read cover to cover, probably more than once as you cherish the words and glimpse of Heaven forever.

Praying for Your Elephant by Adam Stadtmiller (Review of an Amazing Book!)

June 11, 2018 by Joi 2 Comments

Praying for Your Elephant

I read A LOT of books… Spiritual books, Old Hollywood Biographies, inspirational books, Agatha Christie mysteries, American History books, Ancient Egypt books, cookbooks….

You get the idea. I’m almost always seen with several books in one hand, a caffeinated beverage in the other, and a cat (or two or three) in my lap.

I always have more than one book going at once – usually 3 or 5 because my interests are all over the place. Having said that, three genres are constant:

Agatha Christie (I read and re-read her and have one Hercule Poirot mystery going at all times)
Inspirational Book
Old Hollywood Bio

Agatha Christie is like playtime for my brain.. I simply love everything about her mysteries. Old Hollywood books are an absolute obsession – if I’m not watching an Old Hollywood movie, I’m lost in at least one biography. As for inspirational and Spiritual books – they feed my soul.

The book you see pictured here, Praying for Your Elephant, is one of the best books of any genre I have ever read. You read that right…. I loved it that much.

Have you ever heard of the phrase “Prayer Warrior?” I have considered myself to be a Prayer Warrior for many years. This simply means that I pray day and night with the fervency and determination of a warrior who is smack in the middle of the battlefield. I pray for my family, friends, people I read about, strangers, crazy drivers who run red lights, individuals I see prayer requests for, etc. With this much praying going on and with this much on the line, I need all the inspiration I can get! Naturally, the Bible provides the bulk of said inspiration, but God uses Christian authors to further inspire and motivate.

Prayer does the salvage work of raising the sunken treasure of our lives. – Praying for Your Elephant Page 57

This particular author, Adam Stadtmiller, has written an extraordinary book and it has taken my prayers to a whole new level. I’ve always believed in asking God for all needs – from small to large and all sizes in between. However, this book has inspired me to go further. It takes the phrase “small to large” and asks, “Why stop at large? Aim for COLOSSAL!”

Elephant-Size Colossal!

From the Back Cover:

What If Your Biggest Prayers are Too Small?

Get ready to re-ignite, re-imagine, and repurpose your prayer life while experiencing great intimacy with God. This is an invitation to identify your elephants—to name, through specific and strategic prayers, the 100 most important and audacious petitions you can imagine. These are the elephants that—if answered by God—would be game changers in your life and perhaps the world.

By supersizing your prayers and daring to ask for the big things – your elephants – you will come to know God in a way you never have, even if His answers aren’t what you expect. Dive deep into the adventure that is the prayer-filled life!

Praying for Your Elephant starts off with a bang. The author guides you into a 40 Day Prayer Challenge: Forty Days to Praying for Your Elephants. He gives you 10 suggested “categories” to create to organize your prayers and all but dares you to pray big!

My take away from this section was to pray as big as the God we’re talking to. Again, COLOSSAL comes to mind.

The book provides a chart for these categories, or you can simply write them down on paper or (my own personal approach) in a Prayer Journal. Writing prayers down helps you to see, over time, which prayers are answered and which ones may take a little longer. I have also experienced something else in my prayer journal – sometimes your prayer changes as God guides you from one destination to the next.

“There is no way that Christians in a private capacity can do so much to promote the work of God, and advance the kingdom of Christ, as by prayer.” – Jonathan Edwards

Praying for Your Elephant is available on Amazon and I, quite frankly, could not recommend it enough. I love to tell you about books that have the potential to change your life for the better… to help you open up a whole new world… to touch you in such a way that you feel empowered to do anything you set your mind and heart to!

This is such a book and I really hope you’ll grab your copy as soon as possible. You won’t regret it. ~ Joi (“Joy”)

Find out more by visiting Praying for Your Elephant!

About the Author: Adam Stadtmiller is lead pastor at one of the San Diego’s most historic churches, La Jolla Christian Fellowship. A regular contributor to Christianity Today’s Leadership Journal, he is also the author of Give Your Kids the Keys and Discover Your Kid’s Spiritual Gifts. Adam lives in Carlsbad, California, with his wife and two daughters.

Whisper: How to Hear the Voice of God by Mark Batterson (Book Review)

September 18, 2017 by Joi Leave a Comment

Whisper: How to Hear the Voice of God

As a book fanatic, I am completely in love with being in the middle of a great book. I carry the book with me everywhere I go – it gets a tour of each room of our house and it knows the flowers in the flower beds by name. It’s convinced coffee is it’s soulmate and wonders if all books spend time in the company of so much chocolate and so many cats.

Whisper: How to Hear the Voice of God (pictured above and below, with its soulmate near its favorite location – the flower beds) is the most recent book to get this special treatment.

I even carried it with me once to meet my daughters for lunch. I wanted tWhisper: How to Hear the Voice of Godo have it handy if I beat them there, so I could sneak in a little extra reading.

Whisper: How to Hear the Voice of God is by the wonderful best-selling author Mark Batterson. This book is not just a remarkable journey…. it’s one you cannot afford to miss.

“If we don’t listen to everything God has to say, we eventually won’t hear anything He has to say.” Mark Batterson, Whisper

This is not a book about hearing God speak as Moses did from the burning bush – although, if God chose to speak through any size plant to us, he certainly could, whether or not it was ablaze. The truth of the matter is, He doesn’t generally speak to us in this manner. More times than not, the voice of God comes to us as… you guessed it, Whispers.

“The voice of the Spirit is as gentle as a zephyr.” – Oswald Chambers

{Continued Below…}

The best-selling author of Circle Maker, which helped over 2 million people learn to talk to God, now helps readers learn how to listen to God.

The voice that spoke the cosmos into existence is the same voice that parted the Red sea, and made the sun stand still in the midday sky. One day, this voice will make all things new, but it’s also speaking to you now!

That voice is God’s voice, and what we’ve learned from Scripture is that He often speaks in a whisper. Not to make it difficult to hear Him, but to draw us close.

Many people have a tough time believing God still speaks. Sure, in ancient times and in mysterious ways, God spoke to His people, but is He still speaking now?

Mark Batterson certainly believes so. And he wants to introduce you to the seven love languages of God; each of them unique and entirely divine. Some of them you might suspect but others will surprise you.

By learning to tune in to and decipher each language, you’ll be able to hear His guidance in simple as well as life-altering choices. God is actively speaking through: Scripture, Desires, Doors, Dreams, People, Promptings, and Pain. Batterson gives you the tools you need to unlock each of these languages.

God’s whisper can answer your most burning questions, calm your deepest fears, and fulfill your loftiest dreams.

Discover how simple it is to hear God’s voice in every aspect of your life!

He’s speaking, make sure you know how to listen!

{Continued Below…}

Whisper: How to Hear the Voice of God (with its soulmate)

The truth is God uses a variety of methods to speak to us – sometimes it’s a whisper and sometimes it’s through someone else’s words. Other times, He may use situations, dreams, and/or closed doors.

As this wonderful book points out, God knows us inside/out. After all, he made us! He knows what type of approach will work with each of us. How He chooses to speak to me may differ from how He chooses to speak to you simply because we’re different.

God knows how each of us will interpret or respond to His messages. He has often used visual messages or imagery with me – I lean toward thinking that this means I’m more childlike than most. I imagine God telling His angels, “I’d better paint this one a picture…”

One thing is for certain, if God is trying to speak to you, you do NOT want to miss it and you do NOT want to make Him repeat Himself. As the author says, “God has an outside voice and He is not afraid to use it!”

Mark Batterson is an engaging author who is fascinating to read. He injects wonderful humor into his books, which is part of what makes them so difficult to put down. You don’t know what he’s going to say next.

I couldn’t possibly recommend this book enough. You can find Whisper: How to Hear the Voice of God on Amazon, along with other books by Mark Batterson. This will quickly become one of your favorite book and he will quickly become one of your favorite authors.

~ Joi (“Joy”)

Note: I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for this review. The opinions are entirely my own.

The Way of the Fairy Godmother by Jennifer Morse MS PhD

April 19, 2016 by Joi 2 Comments

I was recently sent a copy of The Way of the Fairy Godmother by Jennifer Morse MS PhD in exchange for telling you all about it. When books are as beautifully written and thoroughly enjoyable as this one was, it’s my sublime pleasure to do so.

“Dreams, seemingly failed, from our past can be reborn.” – Jennifer Morse

When I begin reading a book I know I’ll be reviewing, I stay on the look out for certain things throughout the book:

How enjoyable the book is.
How fast it reads.
What recurring thoughts I have as I read the book.
The number of times I stop to jot down something that caught my mind’s eye.

After I finish a book, I ask two questions:

Was the time spent reading this book worth it?
Who will I recommend this book to, if anyone?

As I read through The Way of the Fairy Godmother, I honestly lost track of the number of times I thought things along the lines of, “Oh! That’s beautiful!” or “This author takes words and spins them into something extraordinarily beautiful and poignant.”

Pretty grand thoughts to have during a book, right?

Review Continued Below….

From Chapter One:

Although Cinderella is young and has not matured to the point of manifesting her dreams she is already engaging her strengths. The Fairy Godmother is drawn to Cinderella’s passion for extending love. Undeterred by criticism raining down upon her, Cinderella brings a loving presence into every moment and each chore. As she works she is interacting with her Deepest Desire to love well. This focus shields her from negativity in her environment. – The Way of the Fairy Godmother by Jennifer Morse

I. Love. That. The wonderful thing is the e-book is FILLED with such passages.

About The Way of the Fairy Godmother:

First Place 2015 Writers Digest Self Published Ebook for Inspirational

From the Author: I am a seeker of serenity, searching for the pathways of enduring happiness. Decades of exploring and synthesizing avenues to wisdom led me to my favorite fairytale, the tale of Cinderella. This time I didn’t interpret the fairytale from Cinderella’s viewpoint. Instead I apprenticed to the Fairy Godmother.

The Fairy Godmother lives within uncompromising, radiant happiness. Her lifestyle is dangerously optimistic. As a result she expedites miraculous outcomes. It’s not that she doesn’t notice the problems of life. Cinderella didn’t have a dress for the ball. She needed a coach and driver. When you are grounded in reality you deal with the problems.

I don’t want to tell you how old I was before I began creating my life from the perspective of the Fairy Godmother. Let’s just leave it at, for much of my life I was in the habit of creating life from Cinderella’s point of view. More often than not I was disappointed. Like Cinderella I worked and worked to create harmony in environments that would not support harmony. Such an unstinting effort is exhausting, especially after several decades. To say it was stressful and no fun only scratches the surface of the issue. It was a harsh and bleak way to live.

Imagine Cinderella in her thirties and forties scrubbing away at the kitchen floor, struggling to make beauty in an environment, for people who cannot appreciate elegance. This is not a pretty picture. Living life from Cinderella’s perspective is to stay entrapped in the young maiden who longs for fulfillment. Hardship is her constant companion. Unfulfilled relationships are her unremitting burden.

My quest? Mature beyond the Cinderella archetype. Find enduring happiness. Imitating Cinderella had generated disasters. It’s tough to admit. I’m trained in the skills of good communication, the secrets of happy relationships. Even the people who love me the most shook their heads in dismay. I set about studying the ways of the Fairy Godmother.

The Way of the Fairy Godmother will discover the skills of savoring. What is already working in our lives? I’ve heard one voice of wisdom assert if we can breathe we can improve our circumstances. He meant “breathe” in the literal, not metaphoric, sense. That’s intense! Do you know the power of a cleansing breath?

When the Fairy Godmother arrived in Cinderella’s vegetable garden, almost hidden by the stalks of corn, she didn’t talk with Cinderella about her problems. The Fairy Godmother’s first conversation with Cinderella explored her dreams. Cinderella’s dream was a first date with the Prince. Why do we find and define our Deepest Desires? Our Deepest Desires hold the seeds of our happiness.

Entwining Deepest Desires with our strengths leads us to a state of absorption and flow. Like the athlete that finds ‘the zone’ we are lost in the pleasure of growing mastery. One of Cinderella’s strengths was her need to create beauty. She didn’t just clean her house. She made her home shine with the love she put into her task. Loving was another strength.

The Fairy Godmother models a positive language specific to goals and ambitions. Our brains translate our words and thoughts into images. How does our biochemistry interact with images? We’ll become aware of our biochemistry and the impact of visual images to prepare us for success and happiness.

A Proclamation will revolutionize our life. Clear goals initiate self-esteem. Focal points of beauty support us on our journey. Golden Ladders each rung associated with behaviors congruent with our Deepest Desires will delineate the territory of our personal happiness. With step by step procedures we’ll enter the world of the Fairy Godmother. She will guide us. Our goal? Enduring happiness. If we are stuck in the Cinderella rut, there is a better way. – Jennifer Morse MS PhD

Benefit of E-Books:

Most people stand on one or the other side of the “physical book” vs “e-book” debate. I say most people because I, for one, sit on the fence between the two. I’ve got nothing but love for each. Basically, if a book is good – I don’t care how it comes into my life!

I have noticed one cool thing about e-books. With the Kindle app, I can take my book anywhere I take my iPad, which is everywhere. I can read in bed, I can read at the kitchen counter, I can read in the yard, I can read while watching tv.

I can watch a baseball game, follow along on Twitter, read from my e-book, keep an eye on Instagram and Pinterest ALL at one sitting. I love you, 2016.

Troubles in today’s world can be overwhelming. We see broken families, economic downturns, loss of jobs, and recently epidemic losses of homes, my own included. War, terrorism, illness, lack of medical care, shortages of food and water; the list goes on and on. These adversities touch all our lives. We all struggle to one extent or another with unprecedented stress.

Is it accurate to say genuine happiness and beauty in the mist of these overwhelming challenges has become as rare as the appearance of the Fairy Godmother? Many of us are preoccupied with the struggle to survive the painful and impoverished times we live in.

But wait! Creating beauty and positive outcomes in the midst of turmoil is at the heart of the Fairy Godmother’s teachings. The Fairy Godmother is, in her own way, a transcendent, quintessential radical. Yes, her teachings are revolutionary. Awaken to the teachings of the Fairy Godmother and prepare yourself. You may stumble into the realm of transcendent happiness. – The Way of the Fairy Godmother by Jennifer Morse

Again…. I. Love. That.

Throughout this beautifully written and thought provoking book, Jennifer Morse provides us with the keys to happiness – while never leaving the comforting, illuminating shadow of the Fairy Godmother.

Can I just say how incredibly creative and imaginative it was for the author to use the Fairy Godmother (one of the most beloved, yet often taken for granted, characters of all time)? Ingenious!

After all, what is happiness if not a much beloved… and yet often taken for granted emotion?

The Way of the Fairy Godmother will introduce you to…

The Nine Keys to happiness
Word Spills
Golden Ladders
Deepest Desires
Proclamations

The Fairy Godmother is a unique person – one of a kind – and she lives her potential without limitation. Ironically what makes the Fairy Godmother special is not that she is one of a kind. We are each one of a kind. We are each unique and precious. What makes the Fairy Godmother special? She lives her potential without limitation. This is the gift of the Fairy Godmother. – The Way of the Fairy Godmother by Jennifer Morse

Whether this was a physical book, e-book (which it is!), or was handwritten on a very large napkin – I’d recommend reading it. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I believe you will too.

Need further incentive? How about this – it’s less than $1.00 on Amazon. This much beauty, entertainment, enlightenment, and inspiration for the price of a hamburger on a 99 Cents menu?!!?

See The Way of the Fairy Godmother for more information. This is just a lovely book. Period.

~ Joi

BawB’s Raven Feathers: Reflections on the Simple Things in Life

October 13, 2015 by Joi 1 Comment

BawB’s Raven Feathers Volumes I-V Set

I was sent an absolutely beautiful BawB’s Raven Feathers Box Set a while back to review on Self Help Daily. While I told everyone I knew about it right away, I actually put off blogging about it for awhile simply because I wanted to get a little closer to Christmas shopping. These books – whether you buy them as a set or individually for stocking stuffers or for filling in gift baskets – would make perfect gifts. They’re beautiful, timeless, inspiring, and would be cherished for years to come.

One of the things I love most about giving books for gifts is the fact they can be used and enjoyed and re-used and re-enjoyed for years and years. Want to know a beautiful little bonus? They’ll think of you each time they pick the book up!

The BawB’s Raven Feathers Box Set I was sent includes Volume I – V – the first five volumes of BawB’s Raven Feathers. Each beautiful little hard-cover book is filled with inspirational poetry that will surround you with peace and contentment as you read the words. Truth be told, they’re more like beautiful lyrics than words.

Everything about these books is perfect – from the beautiful illustrations to the equally beautiful words. The author does more than inspire readers, he causes them to reflect on their lives, their choices, and the world around them.

His words then prompt the reader to cherish the past and relish the present, while looking forward to a future that’s filled with hope.

Yes, the books are that wonderful.

From the Inside Cover of Each Volume:

Bawb’s Raven Feathers is pure and simple. It kick-starts moments of self-reflection and inner peace by drawing on nostalgia and pushing the reader to live in the present and dream of tomorrow. Alternating brief chapters of prose with perfectly rhythmic adult rhymes, and room to write down your own thoughts and inspiring ideas, this book holds appeal for the masses.

BawB’s Beautifully Inspiring Raven Feathers

Whether you buy the volumes individually or as a set and whether you buy them for yourself or as a gift – you’re going to love each moment spent with BawB and his Raven Feathers.

The clouds will always be up in the sky,

with nothing to portray.

How you choose to look at them

is what determines your day. – BawB’s Raven Feathers Volume II, Page 31

About the Author:

Robert (BawB) Chomany is the author of the BawB’s Raven Feathers series, pure and simple inspirational books. He was born in Calgary, Alberta, with a clear view of the mountains to the west. These mountains eventually drew Bob in, and he spent many years living in the company of nature, exploring his spiritual side. Bob pursues his many interests with passion. You are just as likely to find him twisting a wrench, or riding his motorcycle, as you are to find him holding a pen, writing. Bob still lives in Calgary, where he finds happiness by simply living with a smile and sharing his words of wisdom with others.

The books are available individually, as well. Below is a link to each volume for more information.

There’s also a BawB’s Raven Feathers Volume VI which I don’t have yet… but plan on getting.

Everywhere you walk today,

every step and every mile,

choose to see something that stays with you

and attach it to a smile. – BawB’s Raven Feathers Volume V, Page 36

90 Minutes in Heaven (Phenomenal Book!)

Praying for Your Elephant by Adam Stadtmiller (Review of an Amazing Book!)

Whisper: How to Hear the Voice of God by Mark Batterson (Book Review)