Spiritual book reviews

Christian Book Review: Before Amen by Max Lucado

June 30, 2022 by Joi Leave a Comment

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

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”)

Review: Life After Heaven by Steven R. Musick with Paul J. Pastor

April 10, 2017 by Joi 1 Comment

Life After Heaven

If (like me) you’re an avid reader, you know the feeling: You’ve read an absolutely wonderful book – one that has moved and stirred you greatly that you feel like you’ve taken a spin in the blender. You want to tell everyone in your world to read the book… but you recommend books so regularly, you’re afraid they won’t know just HOW much you want them to read this one.

So the challenge is afoot. How do you convey to them that they simply must read this book – if they’ve ever loved or trusted you before?!

Okay, maybe it’s not that dramatic – but it’s close.

I recommend books frequently to my daughters. And, by recommend, I mean I hand them the books and say, “Oh, girl, you have to read this…” as though they’re still 10 years old, still sitting at the kitchen table, still in our home-school, and still under my “assigned reading” control.

They’re not still any of those things, but I still want them to read the best books. Problem is, with all the reading I do, I’m always coming across great books – so, when I come across one that goes beyond being a “great” book and enters the “blender” zone, I’m met with the challenge of getting my point across… you know, short of sitting on them and reading the book aloud to them.

Kind of like I had to do with Shakespeare with a few of them…

Life After Heaven is an amazing, amazing book. Wherever you happen to be in your Spiritual life, I whole-heartedly recommend this book because it will lead you to the next level. As a Christian, I found this book to be a beautiful accompaniment to my morning Bible reading and Bible study. It opened up my eyes to many Heavenly things I had not considered or thought about.

I am one of those people who (for better or worse) lives VERY much in the moment. I think about my relationship with God as it stands today. I think about my family as they are today. I think about the world (we won’t get into that one right now) as it stands today.

If Life After Heaven only did one thing for me and that thing was open my eyes to the importance of tomorrow, it would have been more than enough. I do find myself more frequently thinking of eternity after reading this remarkable book.

While I know where I will spend eternity, I now think more frequently about others and where they will spend eternity.

From the Back Cover:

After a deadly medical mistake sent a navy sailor to the presence of Jesus, he returned from his near-death experience with new eyes to see the kingdom of heaven in this life. Now he wants to help you experience heaven on earth today.

For years Steve Musick kept his amazing story to himself, afraid no one would believe or understand it. A major allergic reaction had stopped his heart, hurling him into a five-week coma and a powerful experience of heaven. After returning to life, he couldn’t forget the memory of that vibrant place—and, most of all, the loving words and touch of Jesus.

But that was only the beginning. An amazing series of miracles, dreams, and other supernatural events had been set in motion, showing Steve that heaven was close, even in this life. God was calling him to discover echoes of heaven in the here and now—echoes that can happen at any moment, to anyone—that bring overwhelming joy.

At last Steve is ready to tell the story of his journey of a lifetime—two lifetimes. In it you’ll learn the secret of bringing heaven to earth in your everyday world, and how to nurture a relationship with God so real and intimate that you’ll feel his nearness as strongly as Steven did.

Experience one man’s incredible vision of heaven—and learn how you can live in God’s presence and power today.

About the Author

STEVEN R. MUSICK is founder and CEO of Destiny Capital, a respected financial advisory firm. With three master’s degrees in management, financial services, and international economics, Musick has taught at the University of Denver Daniels College of Business. Steve and his wife, Elaine, have three grown sons, three daughters by marriage, and three grandchildren.

PAUL J. PASTOR is a writer, editor, and journalist who loves telling stories of God at work in our world.

I Cannot Recommend This Book Enough

I don’t want to give anything away whatsoever about Life After Heaven or the author’s remarkable journey, so I am simply going to recommend this with all of my heart to anyone and everyone. I want each and every one of you to get your hands on your own copy. I recommend finding a quiet place each day to read and enjoy this book. You will take an emotional, Spiritual journey and… please forgive me for sounding cheesy… but your life will be changed.

Life After Heaven will be one of the most important books you ever read.

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

Review: Seven-Mile Miracle by Steven Furtick

March 13, 2017 by Joi 2 Comments

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 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.

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 TimesDid 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!

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 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.

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.

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.