Daring to Hope by Katie Davis Majors

Katie Davis Majors is a beautiful human being who has God at the center of her life. This is her story. When Katie went on a mission trip to Uganda, she could never have dreamed about what God had in store for her and what an impact she would have on people's lives by letting God completely direct her paths. Katie now lives in Uganda with her husband, her son, and her 13 adopted daughters. Daring to Hope is a heartbreaking, yet hopeful glimpse into Katie's life. Page after page is filled with beauty and brokenness and Katie reminds us that sometimes we have to face the storm to find the beauty. We can always hope and we can find that little piece of beautiful inside the ugly if we just trust God. God will prevail.

Katie is a gifted writer who doesn't just write books. She writes life-changing books. Daring to Hope is the perfect follow-up to Katie's first book, Kisses from Katie. Katie's life stories inspire us to make the change, take the chance, trust, and HOPE. Hope to find the beauty and the goodness, no matter what you are facing. I am honored to be chosen to be on the launch team for Daring to Hope and I am thankful for the chance to hear Katie's incredible story.

Look & Find Bible Storybook

Look & Find Bible Storybook is a delightfully colorful and interactive book of beloved Bible stories that will keep young readers occupied for hours. This brightly illustrated storybook includes 8 Bible stories: The Creation, Noah's Amazing Ark, The Exodus: Escape Through the Sea, David and Goliath, Jonah and the Big Fish, Jesus is Born, Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand, and Jesus has Risen. Take a peek under the large flap featured for each story and a look and find checklist is revealed. Children may use a dry erase marker to check items off the list as they find them.

This storybook is the "Where's Waldo" of Bible stories. Children will enjoy searching for animals, Bible characters, and much more. The stories are told in straightforward terms which offers better understanding to preschoolers and elementary aged children. This book has the potential to be enjoyed by a variety of children in different ages and stages of life. Whether taking this book on a road trip, using it as a learning tool in Sunday School, or buying it as a gift, readers will not be disappointed in the content that is revealed within the pages of this beautiful book. I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Every Piece of Me by Jerusha Clark

Can I just start by saying that I love the cover of this book. The colors are beautiful and this book would definitely catch my eye if I saw it in the store. In Every Piece of Us, Jerusha Clark helps us to determine that our true identity can be found in Christ and our desire to be more like Him. We don't have to spend all our time trying to please and impress others because that is not what God expects of us. We are here to glorify Him. Clark's latest release offers up personal experiences that we can relate to and her studies and facts are very well-researched. One part of the book that I thought was very helpful is the questions section at the end of each chapter. These questions would be great for a women's Bible study or in your own personal quiet time and spiritual growth. If you read this with an open mind, you will be blessed. I received this book from Baker Books in exchange for my honest review.

Whisper by Mark Batterson

Whisper is only the second book I have read by Mark Batterson and it definitely did not disappoint. Mr. Batterson has a way with words that makes you want to just sit and ponder on each point he has to make. I found myself doing just that as I read this book. There were so many parts of the book that spoke to me so strongly that I couldn't begin to highlight them or I would have been highlighting the majority of the book! In Whisper, Batterson focuses on how we can hear God speaking to us through 7 different "languages" which include scripture, desires, doors, dreams, people, promptings, and pain. Each of these can be a way for us to hear from God if we just be still and listen for his voice. 1 Samuel says, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening." We need to listen for God's whisper and pay attention to all the ways he tries to connect with us and draw us closer to him. This book is one that could be read time and time again and you would find something new in it each time. Batterson adds humorous touches and real-life stories that keep the reader interested and engaged. I look forward to reading more books by this author and I am honored to have been chosen to be on the launch team for Whisper.

Loving my Actual Christmas by Alexandra Kuykendall

Christmas in September! Why not?? No, seriously though, I love celebrating Christmas all year! I listen to Christmas music in July, watch Christmas movies on any random day, and I put my Christmas tree up at the beginning of November. I. Love. Christmas. For some people, Christmas can be a stressful time because they just have too much on their plate and forget about the real meaning of Christmas. Or if you are like the author of this book, you may be grieving the loss of someone you love which makes it hard to feel like celebrating. If either of these things are true for you, you will enjoy this book. The author performs an experiment of sorts to scale back on Christmas and focus on the most important parts of the season. Kuykendall divides her experiment into sections focusing on the Advent ideals of hope, love, joy, and peace. I can relate to the author in the terms of wanting to be in control of all situations. But the truth is, GOD is in control. And if we accept that each day, not just Christmas, will be more joyous and we can better serve Him. I really liked the concept of this book and I think it offers great advice and tips for helping you to focus on Jesus this Christmas season and let go of some of the so-called "obligations" that are stealing your joy. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. I received this book from Baker Books in exchange for my honest review.

How to Listen So People Will Talk by Becky Harling

How to Listen So People Will Talk offers practical advice to help improve your communication skills which in turn will strengthen your relationships with others. There was definitely a lot of great material in each chapter that I can use in my day to day life in order to help me to become a better listener. I really enjoyed the chapter on distractions. In this busy world, we are often in a hurry and we don't take the time to really listen to others. The author tells us how important it is for us to cut back on the multitasking and really focus on hearing what others have to say. This book would be great for a small group study or even as a journal companion because at the end of each chapter, there are questions and activities that help you put these communication tips to the test in order to better improve yourself and your ways of communicating. This interactive part of the book is one of my favorite aspects. Everyone can use a boost in their communication skills and this book is just the tool you need to help you achieve that. I received this book from my Bethany House in exchange for my honest review. Thank you, for helping me continue in my journey with the Lord.