Stuck by Jennie Allen

*sigh*

The river. It's nice to get away. I've been at the river all weekend with The Husband. Don't tell him, but I actually love going up there. It gives me a chance to get away from everything, unwind, and let all the stress I've gathered slip away.

Lately I've had a lot of stress. I have a job I don't like, and is going nowhere. I worry about our finances, and I feel just plain old stuck.

Have you ever felt stuck before? You're in a place you don't really like; you don't know what you are suppose to be doing or what you are suppose to be working towards. You feel overwhelmed and under-appreciated in so many areas of your life.

You're stuck. Your stuck in a life that seems to be going nowhere.

You cry out to God for help, for guideance, for something.. but He just sits there. He's just there waiting. "What are you waiting on, God?" you ask.

He's waiting on you... on me.... to surrender.

He's waiting on us to surrender to Him, His ways, His will.

He is waiting on us to surrender and die. Die to our wants, our desires, our dreams, our ideas of what our life should be like.

And when we do that - when we die- we are free. Free to give our entire lives to God. Free to live for Him and not for ourselves.

I was stuck, but now I am free. And I am alive! More than I have been in a while. And it's exciting. I still don't have all the answers, but I am okay with that. I know I am in God's will and I trust him.

I still have the same job, our finances are the same, but I know that's not the end of my story. God has great things in store for me.

All this I learned from the Bible study Stuck by Jennie Allen. This study helped me recognize what I was stuck in: brokenness, anger, discontentment, fear, sadness, overwhelmed. Then it helped me let go of all of this and let God have control. This study was exactly what I needed right now, and I'm sure I'll be going back to it from time to time.

The study consists of a study guide, a dvd, and conversation cards to be used in a group study. This study is an 8-week study with different activities for each day of the week. It was the perfect length. Jennie Allen gets straight to the point in this study which is what many of us needs. We need to be told "This is your problem, and this is how you can solve it." There's no dancing around the issue.

It's simple. We all get stuck from time to time, and this study helps you understand why you are stuck and how to get unstuck. I would definitely recommend this study.

I was provided a leader's study guide by Booksneeze to review this study, but the opinions are completely my own.

Heaven is for Real by Todd Burp

What an amazing story! I could not put this book down! I think I read the entire thing in just a few days. Heaven is for Real is a  "true story of a young boy's visit to heaven after life-saving surgery. Told by the father but often in Colton's own words, the disarmingly simple message is heaven is a real place, Jesus really loves children, and be ready there is a coming last battle." 


I have been a Christian for 16 years now, and I look forward to heaven; but the selfish side of me wants to stay here a little longer to be married, have children, and grow old. However, after reading this book, after reading the way Colton describe heaven, I long to see it and be there! I long to see the rainbow colors and Jesus' "markers". I long to look into those beautiful eyes of Jesus that captivate you and calms your soul. 


I would definitely recommend this book to anyone and everyone! It is definitely worth reading! Colton has been blessed with a gift of seeing a glimpse of heaven; although, it was a tough road for this family. But I would venture to say that the greatest gifts are given after a dark storm. 


*BookSneeze did provide a copy of this book for me to review; however, the opinions are 100% my own.

The Baker's Wife by Erin Healy

     *sigh* I love a good suspense book. And The Baker's Wife is just that! I could not stop reading! Audrey beings her day like any other until she finds herself the suspect in a seemingly fatal car accident with no body to be found. To make matters worse, a leading detective - who hasn't had the friendliest of relationships with Audrey and her family - is the husband of the missing victim. Audrey must solve the mystery herself before the detective crosses the line.
     I enjoyed this e-book very much! It was easy to read, and it really got me thinking about my relationship with God and how far I would go to help someone in need - especially someone whom I don't get along with very well. Audrey is a great character to look up to. She is strong and passionate about her work for the LORD. Although, like the rest of us, she does fall and stumble at times, but she gets right back up and keeps running this race called life.
     I believe we could all use a spiritual check-up every once in a while, and a good Christian book is a nice way to do that. You get to enjoy a nice read, and you get tid-bits of information that make you think about and analyze your own walk with the LORD and how your relationship is growing.

*BookSneeze did provide a copy of this e-book for me to review; however, the opinions are 100% my own.

God's Love Letters to You by Dr. Larry Crabb

I usually don't have or make much free time in the mornings to read a long Bible study. However, God's Love Letters to You was just the right length for a devotion in the morning. He gave you a verse or two from God's Word to think about, a short devotional, questions to make you think about your own life and experiences, and a short prayer to start off your day.

I really enjoyed the questions Dr. Crabb asked at the end of every devotional. They made me stop and really evaluate my life, circumstances, and experiences. Dr. Crabb definitely held my attention throughout this book. There was always something he mentioned in the devotionals that could relate to some situation that was going on in my life. And starting your day off reading a few verses from the Bible and saying a short prayer always puts a person in a good mood. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a devotional to help start their day off right.

First Book from Booksneeze

I got my first book in from Booksneeze!

It's called God's Love Letters to You: A 40-Day Devotional Experience by Dr. Larry Crabb. Here's the back cover of the book:

What if you had a letter from the Lord of the Universe, written specifically to you with unique insight into who He is and what He has planned for you? What if you could enter into a real conversation with the God of the Bible? 

WELL, YOU DO. AND YOU CAN.

The greatest love letters of all time did not come from the pen of a playwright or the mouth of a poet. They weren't formed on warped sheets of music or with t he quills of romantics. These letters come from the Word of the Almighty God.

Based on 66 Love Letters - Dr. Larry Crabb's intimate conversation with God - this devotional experience offers the chance to completely change the way you think about love.

Give yourself forty days to fall head-over-heels in love with the Savior who calls you by name and welcomes you into a sweeping, incredible relationship with Him. Discover the language and story of true love as it was originally intended - personal letters from God to you.

Dr. Larry Crabb is a well-known psychologist, seminar speaker, Bible teacher, author, and founder/director of New Way Ministries. He is also Scholar in Residence at Colorado Christian University, is visiting professor at Richmont University, and serves as Spiritual Director of the American Association of Christian Counselors.
www.newwayministries.org

After reading the book, I'll be posting a review so remember to look for that! Have a good day!