Book Review--Outlive Your Life by Max Lucado

Have you ever labored in prayer over God’s plan for your life? What great thing would He have you do? Do you want to impact your world for God’s kingdom? It might be simpler that you ever imagined.

In Outlive Your Life You Were Made To Make A Difference, Max Lucado shows us how the first-century church, a group of ordinary, unsophisticated, uneducated people, lived out the teachings of Jesus Christ and changed the world forever. In 2010 God still uses the ordinary, common man who is willing to extend a helping hand and loving heart to a dying world.

This book not only inspires the reader to step up and reach out, but it also offers practical ideas and advice on how to take the first steps into simple ministry. It is well organized with each chapter clearly covering a wide range of topics such as breaking out of our shell, simple hospitality, preparing for persecution, humility, loving and helping the needy, and more. All sixteen chapters are stuck together with one strong common bond: “You want your life to matter. You want to live in such a way that the world will be glad you did.” We all want to outlive our lives.

The back of the book contains discussion questions and ideas for action that makes making a difference super simple right where you are.

Like most of Lucado’s works, this one is full of great quotable one-sentence thoughts that wake you up like a splash of cold water and comforts your soul at the same time.

I will recommend this book many times.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Imaginary Jesus--Book Review

So you think you know Jesus huh? What's he like? Does he talk to you? Have you ever chatted with him over a cup of coffee? Is he with you always? REALLY? What about the time your life fell apart and you were left completely devastated and alone--where was he then?

In Imaginary Jesus, Matt Mikalatos is in pursuit of Jesus, trying his best to follow him, but discovers it's not easy when Jesus is on the run! The Jesus Matt has been hanging out with might just be a figment of his own imagination. In his efforts to find the real Jesus, Matt encounters more than one--maybe even your--imaginary Jesus!

This hilarious journey will have you doing some soul-searching. Will you be able to recognize the real Jesus?

I enjoyed this book. I started reading with a little hesitation because I was not a big fan of The Shack, fiction, which attempted to give the reader a different perspective on God and the Trinity. I wasn't sure I was ready to tackle another half-truth half-fiction book about the person of Jesus Christ. I was pleasantly surprise with Imaginary Jesus.

With wit and a wonderful sense of humor, Matt uses fiction and his wild imagination to plant many questions and seeds of truth in the readers' minds. If you've ever wondered where Jesus was when you needed him most, this book will be a blessing to you.

Please watch this trailer for just a hint of the fun and adventure that awaits you in Imaginary Jesus.




Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for review. This review is my honest opinion. A link to the trailer was provided to me by Tyndale House Publishers. The title of this post is linked to Matt Mikalatos' web site if you would like more information.

Book Reviews

I love books. In fact, I think I could live in a bookstore and be quite content, especially if the store had one of those wonderfully smelling coffee shops in it. Ahhhh.

I don't have as much time to read as I'd like so don't expect too much, but here you will find my opinion of books I've read. I'll let you know if I like a book or not, and why. Some books I might recommend and others I might tell you to avoid. But keep in mind this just my opinion.

I'd love for you to leave comments and let me know if you read the same book and what you thought about it. If you know of a book you think I should read and review, leave a comment and let me know.

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Beautiful Things Happen When A Woman Trusts God

By Sheila Walsh

Life is hard, sometimes cruel, and often disappointing. Even if we are lucky enough to have great beginning, circumstances happen all along the way which are intended for our destruction.

In this book, Sheila gives biblical accounts of people like David, Paul, Joseph, and others to remind us that we are not the first to face such life changing circumstances, and that overcoming those circumstances then moving on into a place of victory is possible.  Her personal testimony is proof that even today, God brings hope, healing, and beauty into the messed up lives of people who choose to trust Him with everything.

In the introduction of the book, Sheila writes, “I trust that you will find yourself in the pages of this book…” I did. Is there a woman alive who has not, to some degree, been wounded or made fearful?

Many chapters, made me cry, and every chapter inspired me to pray. I was encouraged to trust God with the big stuff as well as with the smallest details of my life.

The in-depth Bible study at the end of the book is helpful. I wish I would have done the study concurrently with each corresponding chapter instead of waiting until I was finished reading to begin the study.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com  book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”