The Promises of God by Charles H. Spurgeon, revised and updated by Tim Chester

The Promises of God by Charles H. Spurgeon, revised and updated by Tim Chester ISBN-13: 9781433563249 Hardcover: 400 pages Publisher: Crossway Books Released: June 30, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
For a century and a half, Charles Spurgeon's classic daily devotional on God's promises has comforted the hearts of God's people. For each day of the year, Spurgeon reflects on a specific promise of God from Scripture that strengthened his own heart in times of severe depression and suffering. In this volume, Tim Chester allows Spurgeon speak to a new generation--updating archaic words, shortening sentences, and using modern word ordering--while maintaining Spurgeon's passionate and pastoral voice. These devotional readings will propel modern Christians to renewed faith in the promise-making and promise-keeping God of the Bible.


My Review:
The Promises of God is a 365 day devotional by Charles Spurgeon that was originally titled "The Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith." Tim Chester has updated archaic words and used more modern sentence structure to make reading easier while still maintaining the feel of the original. He also used a modern version of the Bible (English Standard Version) rather than the original KJV except when the KJV wording is directly referenced in the devotion. This does make the devotions easier to read and understand.

Each day's devotion started with a verse or two from the Bible, then Spurgeon gave a mini-sermon on that verse--what the verse means for us and how we live. I read an ebook version, but it looked like each day was only a page or two long. I enjoyed reading Spurgeon's insights and thoughts about the selected verses.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Flourish by Lydia Brownback

Flourish by Lydia Brownback ISBN-13: 9781433560651 Paperback: 144 pages Publisher: Crossway Books Released: Jan. 31, 2019

Source: ARC review copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine.

Book Description from Goodreads:
All women are looking to live a life that will satisfy their deepest longings. Worldly thinking offers false hope found in self-focused saviors such as acceptance from others, a checklist for better living, emotional fulfillment, comfort, accomplishments, and more—some of which has crept into the church. Featuring 6 chapters aiming to free women from self-consciousness, self-improvement, self-analysis, self-indulgence, self-condemnation, and self-victimization, this book will help readers discern subtle false messages from the truth in God's Word—exchanging a self-focused life for the abundant life Jesus promises them in the gospel.


My Review:
Flourish is about how we need to focus on Christ, what He's done for us, and our new identify rather than focus on ourselves. The author examined six main areas where we might struggle, and she pointed out (often using Scripture) how a wrong focus is at the root of each problem. There's a study guide at the end of the book which provides 5 days worth of questions for each chapter--so you or a group can read a chapter, then spend the next 5 days working through the questions about what was said in that chapter or looking up verses related to that topic and answering questions about them. Overall, I'd recommend this Christ-focused book.

She talked about: Focusing your decisions around what people might think of you or your actions. Struggling to be a better person. Basing your decisions on the pursuit of constantly feeling happy. Prioritizing comfort and pleasurable experiences, especially as a way to deal with bad things in life. Not feeling forgiven (i.e. taking the place of God in declaring what is sin and what has been forgiven rather than accepting what God has said and believing that Christ's work on the cross is big enough to cover every sin). Holding on to an identity of "victim."


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Discovering the Good Life by Tim Savage

Discovering the Good Life by Tim Savage ISBN-13: 9781433530371 Paperback: 176 pages Publisher: Crossway Books Released: March 31, 2019

Source: Review copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
We're all searching for "the good life." Too often, however, we encounter discouragement, failure, broken relationships, guilt, and dashed dreams, all of which leave us yearning for more. In this book, Tim Savage examines the fullest life ever lived: the life of Jesus Christ. Savage invites us to tap into that life--and experience the riches of the joy, satisfaction, and purpose offered to us in Christ.


My Review:
Discovering the Good Life looks at three important trees mentioned in the Bible: the Tree of Good and Evil (in the Garden of Eden), Jesus and the Cross, and the Tree of Life (as referred to in Revelations). The author explained the significance to us of these three trees. He included relevant Bible verses that helped explain the purpose of these these trees and the results of our choices in how we react to these events. He ended by explaining how a good understanding of these things (resulting in "plugging in" to Jesus) leads to an overflowing love and abundant life. The author stayed focused on the topic (so no funny story filler), but it was easy to understand and follow his points. Overall, I'd highly recommend this insightful, Christ-focused book.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Women Who Met Jesus by Dorothy Valcárcel

The Women Who Met Jesus by Dorothy Valcárcel ISBN-13: 9780800736019 Paperback: 272 pages Publisher: Revell Released: May 21, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Just like us, the women of New Testament times were ambitious, worried, broken, lonely, insecure, and unfulfilled. Discover the powerful stories of their encounters with the perfect, unconditional love of the Savior. Rather than trivializing their problems or ignoring women, Jesus responded to their deepest needs with compassion, reminding them of their value and transforming their past, present, and future. Let this engaging book introduce you to the man who loves women like no other.


My Review:
The Women Who Met Jesus is a study that looks at how meeting Jesus transformed 18 women mentioned in the New Testament. The author started by looking at why these women were so drawn to Jesus that they stayed with him even when he was on the cross. Then each chapter focused on individual women. The author would talk about a trial or challenge that she (or family or friend) faced that this woman also faced. She described the woman's story and how Jesus encountered her and met her need. The author provided verse references for where this event happened and quoted several verses that related to the topic. She drew out lessons to be learned from these women and their encounters with Jesus. She asked a series of questions about if you have experienced something similar and how does this woman's encounter change you, too? The last chapter focused on how Jesus can meet our needs and transform our lives. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting study.

The women were Mary (Jesus' mother), Anna, the woman at the well, Joanna, Peter's mother, the woman with the issue of blood, Jairus' daughter, the mothers who brought their children to be blessed by Jesus, the Canaanite woman, the woman who couldn't stand up straight, the widow from Nain, the woman caught in adultery, Martha, Mary, the mother of James and John, the widow who gave two small coins at the temple, Pilate's wife, and Mary Magdalene. The issues that they dealt with were feeling the pressure to be perfect, empty, rejected and unloved, lacking something fulfilling, fearful and off balance, isolated, hungry, worried about their children, like no one was listening to her concerns, hurt when called names, hopeless and grieving, shame and guilt, overwhelmed and overworked, misunderstood, misled by wrong priorities, trouble identifying what is truly valuable, like one must compromise and conform, and lonely.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.