Raising Kids for Tomorrow's World

Raising Kids for Tomorrow's World:12 Keys to Preserving the Faith

by Stan & Cheryl Schuermann

In a world where many parents feel like they are barely treading water, trying to keep ahead of the trials and dangers in abundance for their children while navigating how to raise them with a spiritual mindset in a non-spiritual world, the outlook can feel hopeless.  Never has there been a more important time than now to begin equipping parents with the tools to raise their children in a faith that will last as they grow into this tumultous world around us.

Stan and Cheryl Schuermann have set out to give parents one such tool with their new book, seeking to teach and encourage parents in biblical principles how to raise their children to follow Christ.  Set up in small sections that are easily used within a small group setting, this book can be just as easily used as an individual devotional or short read as well, giving it versatitily.

Based on 1 Thessalonians 2:1-14, readers are introduced to the idea of Paul loving, encouraging and teaching his spiritual children.  From this section, 12 Keys are pulled, each key having 4 a chapter of it's own as well as three chapters devoted to the discussion of it.  The wealth of information, spiritual backing and biblical truth abound in this resource!  Readers work their way through Keys such as Discover Boldness, Help Your Children Discern God's Call, Be the One Your Children Want to Imiitate and so many more important keys.  Each chapter is designed to be a fairly quick read (generally 2-4 pages) within the topic, always with discussion questions at the end.

I have found this book to be one of great support and encouragement with thought provoking questions yet simply understood and followed suggestions to go forward with.  This is a book I know I will return to many times for it's wealth of knowledge and reference that I can trust.  Designed to give confidence to parents, it sets readers up with success and helps families build a faith culture in their homes in a time of deep need for parent support and Christian community as we look out at a very troubled world into which our children will be released some day.

You can find it at Amazon and Barnes & Noble in multiple formats to fit your preference!

Title--  Raising Kids for Tomorrow's World: 12 Keys to Preserving the Faith

Authors -  Stan and Cheryl Schuermann

Retail Price--  Paperback 13.99, ebook $3.99, Hardcover $19.99

Genre--  Christian Nonfiction/Parenting and Family

Website URL--  https://cherylschuermann.com/

*Disclosure:  I received a copy of the book for free in exchange for my honest and un-biased review.

The Flirtation Experiment

 

The Flirtation Experiment

by Lisa Jacobson and Phylicia Masonheimer

New on the scene is a wonderful resource for Christian (and non-Christian) women to help build marriage relationships in a God-honoring way.  Popular Christian voices Lisa Jacobson and Phylicia Masonheimer have just released their collaborated work, The Flirtation Experiment, with an aim to strenghten marriages with a fun approach  - flirting.

Each chapter addresses a new way in which to pursue a spouse in a fun, and sometimes challenging way, that will make the reader re-think they way they express love to their spouse and re-consider the ways they expect marriage to be.  Especially for couples who have been married for some time and have hit that all to familiar slump of life, chaos, kids and schedules taking precedence, this book offers timely and concretely useable methods to spark some life and fun back into a marriage.  After reading the book, wives will find themselves hopeful and empowered to make a positive change in small ways, bringing a return to romance.

The authors approach the topic very respectfully and with spiritual boundaries in mind, while also encouraging women that it is ok to push those boundaries many of us have been taught to know as inappropriate.  With Biblical reference and backing, they point out how God intends us to pursue our loved one and to create an atmosphere of mutual respect and love, that it is ok to have fun and flirt with your spouse, and they definitely give the reader pause to consider their own position while sharing very honest stories from the author's point of view to keep it real and grounded.  

This is a book that is easy to read and can be done in spurts, or all at once.  It can be broken down into weeks, months, or days, however it fits the reader best.  With language that is easy to interpret, stories that are easily relatable and honest, and challenges that are attainable, this book gives wives the power to make big changes in their relationship and find fulfillment they also seek while making very small changes or actions.  I am so glad I have this book in my hands and am already seeing things improve in my own relationship!

This is a book I believe every wife should own and read!

Order your copy of The Flirtation Experiment now!

http://theflirtationexperiment.com/

#FlirtationExperimentMIN #TheFlirtationExperiment #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

Disclosure:

Many thanks to HarperCollins Christian Publishing for providing this product/product information for review.  Opinions are 100% my own.  I did receive the product in exchange for this review and post.

God Made It All by Ruthie Godfrey

 

God Made It All

by Ruthie Godfrey

illustrated by Helen Ayle

A new book in a line of children's books written by Ruthie Godfrey, God Made It All is a beautifully written and illustrated story that explores opposites while teaching that God made everything.

Godfrey has captured the idea of God creating everything in a new and fun way.  Exploring opposites like highs and lows, laughter and tears, fast and slow, with each idea supported by an animal, person, food, plant and more that God has created, this book introduces the wealth of things God made from the visible to the unseen.  The message is beautifully presented with images that support the story and further draw in the reader.  Written simply enough that younger elementary children can read the words, but deep enough for the adult reader to fall in love with.  This is just truly a beautiful book to share wtih the children in your life.

The illustrations in this book are just beautiful and engaging, with a broad depth of color, texture and detail.  Children and adults alike can find themselves lost in the pictures as they page through the story.  With a cover that captures eyes with it's many minute details, it is truly a fun book to look at as well as read!

My children have enjoyed reading and exploring this book with me, and it has opened up conversations about many different topics.  We are curious, now, to check out more of Ruthie Godfrey's work!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR More than two decades in education have given Ruthie Godfrey a unique perspective for the struggles that students often face in day-to-day school life. She enjoys teaching and pouring into children. She also loves adventures with her husband, Wayne, and their spotted fur-baby, Johnny Cash. For more information on Ruthie, visit RuthieGodfreyBooks.com or find her on social media.

God Made It All is available in several formats and locations. You can download it (ISBN 978-1-952402-38-8, ebook, $2.99) on Amazon, and it is free through Kindle Unlimited. Other formats are available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever fine books are sold. (ISBN 978-1-952402-37-1, paperback, $12.95; ISBN 978-1-952402-36-4, hardcover, $24.95.)

**Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book to review for free in exchange for my honest and un-biased thoughts.

Anchor My Soul

 

Anchor My Soul

by Andrea P. Bourgeois

If anything, the past two years have taught each of us that life has storms we cannot be prepared for.  Whether these storms be acutal natural storms, or the emotional and physical trials this life throws our way, we are bound to face pain and struggle in this life.  

Andrea P. Bourgeois tackles this thought in a manner that offers hope and the idea that God has a purpose for your pain.  Through a memoir of 25 women's stories as they walked through storms of life, the reader also learns of the author's experience living through Hurricane Laura during the Covid-19 Pandemic.  This collection of stories offer a glimpse into the ways God remains steadily with us, offering love and mercy when we are desperate and struggling.  

The heartbreaking honesty of the stories shared by the collective of writers is relatable and genuine.  No matter what the difficult season one may be facing, whether it be a natural disaster or a personal circumstance, there is hope in these pages, found in the words of other women who have also walked difficult paths of pain, frustration, fear, anxiety, despair, loneliness, grief and shock.  In reading their stories, there is a glimps of encouragement and God's steadfast love.

I was detached from the hurricane season during the pandemic, living in a state nowhere near this type of threat, but walked my own line of trial and tribulation through the anxiety the pandemic brought, in addition to the other pitfalls that seemed to fall in my path as though a hurricane had indeed passed through my life.  Reading these stories, one at a time, and thinking through the prompts included at the end of each memoir, I found myself relating in many ways and finding ways to make conections between the pain of another and myself, even with un-related situations. 

I recommend this book to any woman walking through a season of despair, whatever the source.  It is not a cure-all, a self-help, or even and quick fix, but instead a way to reflect and realize God's love and faithfulness.

Available from: https://amzn.to/3BWonG2
Publisher: Arabelle Publishing at http://www.arabellebooks.com/

Instagram: @arabellepublishing

Facebook: @arabellebooks

Twitter: @arabellebooks

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Andrea P. Bourgeois is the Co-Founder and Host of Pain into Purpose Virtual Summit. Along with 30 guest speakers, she shared personal testimonies that led to healing, restoration, and freedom in Christ. With a heart for serving teens and women, Andrea is involved in many ministry events, and speaks at churches and women's groups. She recently released her first book, a Bible study, Just Breathe: A Modern-Day Exodus Journey to Revive Your Soul. Anchor My Soul is her second book. Visit Andrea at andreapbourgeois.com.

Disclaimer:  I recived a copy of this book for free from the publisher in exchange for my honest and un-biased review.  The opinions expressed are fully my own.

God With Us: A Journey Home

 

God With Us: A Journey Home

written by Jeremy Pierre

illustrated by Cassandra Clark
(268 pages) 

With a wealth of children's Bibles available, why write another?  Author Jeremy Pierre, along with illustrator Cassandra Clark set out to give a vibrant, beautiful answer to this question with their new release, "God With Us: A Journey Home".  They  want children to grow up knowing that this world is not our home, but instead a stop on the way home to Heaven.  Their goal is to teach children this idea as young as possible to give them the tools to make sense out of our very sad, yet wonderful world.  They aim to share their vision of our world as an in-between place and to begin guiding them toward bravery as they journey toward their true home with God.

Written more as a story than as a Bible, the reader gets lost in the beautiful imagery painted by the words.  With language easy to understand, yet not babyish in talk, the child (or any reader) is invited to flow through the story a section at a time to understand the full story of the Bible in a condensed version that still honors the truths and the characters within.  From the perspective of an onlooker, a heavenly observer, to the reader, it is a very personal letter that immerses the reader in the story fully, placing them at the center of the action.

This storybook is beautifully illustrated with images that are vibrantly colored.  With pictures more like those of a graphic novel than of a child's Bible, this book is more appropriate for 5 and up, but still appropriate and friendly enough for younger eyes as well, just not as cartoonish.    

My children and I have enjoyed exploring this book, not only soaking in the story, but also studying the pictures, which tell a story all on their own.  With a wealth of pages to explore, a message I want my kids to hear, and a format friendly to kids, this is a win for me and going on my list of books to recommend!

Check out what others have said about this book:

“God with Us delivers truth with imagination, creativity, and beautiful illustrations.

The gospel message becomes clearer with every turn of the page. Like a symphony

of truth that crescendos to the final fanfare, God with Us ends with a finale that

connects the gospel dots and offers an invitation to believe. Bravo and well done!”

—Marty Machowski, Pastor and author of The Ology, Wonderful, Long Story Short,

and other gospel-centered resources for church and home

“This is a beautiful re-telling of the most beautiful story ever told.”

—Karen Swallow Prior, Professor of Christianity & Culture, and author of On

Reading Well: Finding the Good Life through Great Books

Buy God With Us: A Journey Home now!

https://www.shepherdpress.com/products/god-with-us/

https://bit.ly/god-with-us

Check it out on the website:

https://www.shepherdpress.com/godwithus/

Watch a video about the book here:

https://www.youtube.com/user/ShepherdPress/videos

Disclosure: Many thanks to Shepherd Press for providing this product/product information for review.  Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.  I did receive the product in exchange for this review and post.

#GodWithUsMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

Moving Beyond Anxiety Review

Moving Beyond Anxiety
by David Chadwick

We are living in a time filled with fear and anxiety.  When the world around is so uncertain and unfamiliar, the mind tends to wander toward the worries.  This book comes out at the perfect time as more and more people are suffering from anxiety, depression and mental health decline.

Written by pastor David Chadwick, "Moving Beyond Anxiety" addresses the Christian way to address anxiety via 12 practical strategies designed to help the reader re-think and renew their minds.  From the very start, Chadwick introduces readers to the definitions of fear and anxiety and proposes that to address fear, we must first address anxiety. 

This book is an easy read, chock full of scripture, sound reasoning and Christian guidance to help lead individuals struggling with anxiety toward a path of renewal and healing, on toward a life where anxiety is no longer in control, but instead viewed as a tool of the enemy used to draw our eyes from our faith in Christ.  It is written in a soothing, fatherly manner that is calming and feels as if one is sitting down to chat with a trusted friend or counselor as opposed to being "taught".  Very refreshing and comforting to read!

Being one of the people struggling with anxiety terribly over the pandemic and the crisis abounding in our nation and even in my state and nearby cities, I was so excited to get my hands on this book, with hopes of freedom or at least some relief from the struggles I have daily with my mental health.  I have not been disappointed.  I have picked up many tools and ideas to lead me on my walk toward tackling this part of my thinking.  There is so much in this book that I am set to read it a second, and probably third time because I want to fully absorb every bit of wisdom I can.  I have also recommended it to many of my friends who are in similar situations currently on their walk through anxiety.

 I cannot recommend this book enough!

Below are some resources you can check out to learn more about this wonderful resource!

Book website: https://www.movingbeyondanxiety.com
Moments of Hope website: https://momentsofhope.org/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MOHDavidChadwick/
David’s video introduction for Moving Beyond Anxiety: https://vimeo.com/408616090/bb523284cf

#MovingBeyondAnxiety #FlyBy

About David Chadwick:

David Chadwick is presently the pastor of Moments of Hope Church in Charlotte, N.C. He
has been a pastor for almost 40 years. He played basketball under the legendary coach,
Dean Smith, at the University of North Carolina and was a member of the Final Four 1969
team. David also has a graduate counseling psychology degree from the University of
Florida and an MDiv and DMin from Columbia Theological Seminary. These post graduate
degrees have allowed David to combine therapeutic counseling theories with biblical truth.
David is the author of nine books and hosts a weekly talk show on faith and values on
WBT in Charlotte, N.C. He has been married to the love of his life, Marilynn, for 42 years
and has three children, Bethany, David Banner, and Michael. They have given David and Marilynn seven grandchildren.

“Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255:  “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”):  Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing the product/product information. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.  I did/will receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Front Porch Diaries: The Farm and the Risky Ride by Judith Grimme

The Farm and the Risky Ride

by Judith Grimme

From the Front Porch Diaries series, this book (volume 3) is the third in the set of stories that follows the children of the Miller family.  Set in the 1960's, the series is about friendship, growing up, life and more.  Readers follow Lucy, Eddie and their friends along adventures.  

Geared toward youth readers, this book is probably most appropriate for 5th-8th grade children.  The chapters are short and easy to follow, topics seem safe for younger readers while still offering some learning as they explore ideas and events from the 1960's in a fictional way.

Having not read the first two books in this series, I jumped into this book unaware of previous story lines or characters.  It was clear there was some explanation and development of characters and location in prior stories, but it was still easy enough to determine the plot and follow along, though I did wish for some information to fill gaps.  In this story, young Lucy and her friend Simone have a summer adventure at her grandparent's farm.  

I have an advanced 4th grade reader who would love this series, however I am holding back on sharing it with her as the next book in the series involves a love interest it seems.  This is why I feel this series is more appropriate for the middle school crowd.

Disclaimer:  I received a copy of this book for free as a part of the Book Crash program in exchange for my honest and un-biased review.

You can see my review and more on Good Reads and Amazon