The Extraordinary Power of Praise by Becky Harling

Here is the book summary:

When stress abounds, soothe your anxious heart with peace and praise.

From constant waves of negative news to meeting family, career, and community needs, women today often feel more anxious than ever. Amidst the clamor of the world and the internal longings for peace, our overwhelming need is for more of God’s extraordinary presence, peace, and power in our lives.

Join Becky Harling for a 6-week study that looks to Psalm 94:19: “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy!” The Extraordinary Power of Praise will help you put into practice the two-step process for soothing an anxious heart: finding joy to replace anxiety and learning to pour out our hearts to God in praise. Each day includes a study of a Psalm, thought provoking questions, and short morning and evening prayers. You’ll also find suggested praise songs and prayer journaling prompts to help you engage more deeply with God. As you meditate on the Psalms throughout this 6-week study, you’ll experience the genuine joy of God’s presence, develop a positive outlook in the midst of the world’s stress, and find victory over fear and anxiety.

The Extraordinary Power of Praise is suited for both individual and group use. For more of Becky’s engaging, empathetic Bible teaching, go deeper into this study with the companion video series, available on Vimeo or for download. You can also find more peace through the Psalms with Becky’s latest daily devotional Psalms for the Anxious Heart.

And now, my review:

I found The Extraordinary Power of Praise book by Becky Harling to be a delightful read.  As I was reading along, I found myself nodding my head in agreement with what she was saying.  She shares parts of her story that intersect with the book and how her firsthand experiences play out in her own life.  For that, I find that this is a great resource to add to my library of loved books that help a person walk with the Savior day-by-day.  I would highly recommend this Bible Study in the Psalms.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.amazon.com/Extraordinary-Power-Praise-Psalms-Anxious/dp/0802420095/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1TTFQGOU5Y32E&keywords=the+extraordinary+power+of+praise&qid=1639698673&sprefix=the+extraordinary+power+of+%2Caps%2C218&sr=8-1

https://www.christianbook.com/extraordinary-praise-study-psalms-anxious-heart/becky-harling/9780802420091/product-reviews/2420091?submitted_review=1

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-extraordinary-power-of-praise-becky-harling/1139641045?ean=9780802420091

Keeping the Faith by Lianna Davis

Here is the book summary:

An In-Depth, Theologically-Rich Study of the Book of Jude

In a culture of subjectivity and "speaking your truth," we need to know how to lovingly fight for our biblically-based, truth-filled faith. That’s where Jude comes in. With a striking combination of humility, genuine love, doctrinal faithfulness, and directness, the biblical writer Jude teaches you how to treasure the gifts of salvation, the faith, the Church, and—most of all—Jesus Christ. By unpacking Jude’s meaning-laden words, we can learn to keep ourselves for Christ, even as Christ is ably keeping us for Himself.

You’ll be amazed at how much you can learn as you walk verse-by-verse through this small epistle. You’ll learn:

·       Why Jude uses metaphors like waterless clouds and wild waves

·       What was going on in Jude’s time theologically and why it matters

·       Why the warning passages can be a deep comfort to the believer

·       To appreciate new dimensions of your belonging in Christ

Get to know the oft-neglected voice of Jude, be comforted and challenged in your faith, and build community as you gather friends and study His Word together in Keeping the Faith.

And now, my review:

I found Keeping the Faith by Lianna Davis to be a blessing of a study in God’s Word.  The Book of Jude is only 25 verses long but it sure does pack a punch.  As with every Book of the Bible, studying them is so important.  There is a part of a verse from it that keeps coming back to me over and over in verse 4, “For certain people have crept in unnoticed…”  There is a call to beware!!  The author mentions a cross-reference of Matthew 7:15 which calls us to beware.   Throughout the study the author has weaved in personal experience/testimony with God’s Word along with commentaries.  I found that it really brought it “home” to me.  I was encouraged by her personal sharing.  As she breaks each day down with just a very small portion of Scripture, I took time to just think on that in relation to everything building up to that point.  This really is a great way to find oneself memorizing the whole Book of Jude by the end. 

I received a copy of this book from Moody Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.amazon.com/Keeping-Faith-Study-Lianna-Davis/dp/0802419313/ref=sr_1_16?keywords=keeping+the+faith&qid=1582899262&sr=8-16

https://www.christianbook.com/keeping-the-faith-study-in-jude/lianna-davis/9780802419316/pd/419316?product_redirect=1&search_term=keeping%20the%20faith&Ntt=419316&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/keeping-the-faith-lianna-davis/1132209507?ean=9780802419316#/

Unexplainable Jesus by Erica Wiggenhorn

Here is the book summary:

When’s the last time you were captivated by Jesus?

Crowds clamored, women wept in awe, disciples dared to do the impossible—all because of Jesus. Somewhere in the overly familiar we’ve lost our fascination. Whether you’re worn thin, filled with questions, or desperate for more of God, come encounter Unexplainable Jesus. Experience the culture and customs of His day and follow Him into a life unimaginable. This study features:

·       in-depth study of Luke (40 lessons over 8 weeks)

·       historical and cultural insights

·       soul-searching questions

·       access to extensive online resources

Step into the streets of Jerusalem and encounter the Jewish Rabbi who turned the world upside down. After rediscovering Jesus on the pages of the book of Luke—or maybe discovering Him for the very first time—you’ll see there is no other plan, goal, ambition, or Person worth following but Jesus.

Plus, check out the Unexplainable Jesus DVD, which contains hours of all-new video teaching content from Erica Wiggenhorn.

And now, my review:

I found Unexplainable Jesus by Erica Wiggenhorn to be a blessing.  It is an 8-week Bible Study on the Gospel of Luke that is broken down into 5 days a week.  She really expounds a lot as we work through the Scriptures and she pulls the questions from the Word with relevant questioning to bring us into the book of Luke.  You can’t go wrong studying any book of the Bible, but there is just something about studying the gospels and learning about the unexplainable wonders of Jesus, the Savior.  I highly recommend this one.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.amazon.com/Unexplainable-Jesus-Rediscovering-Thought-Knew/dp/0802419097/ref=sr_1_1?crid=GXFIIVSF7V39&keywords=unexplainable+jesus&qid=1570834469&sprefix=unexplainable+%2Caps%2C165&sr=8-1

https://www.christianbook.com/unexplainable-jesus-rediscovering-you-thought-knew/erica-wiggenhorn/9780802419095/pd/419090?product_redirect=1&search_term=unexplainable%20&Ntt=419090&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/unexplainable-jesus-erica-wiggenhorn/1129761277?ean=9780802419095

If God is For Us by Trillian J Newbell

Here is the book summary:

Sure we know in our head that God is for us, that there’s great hope in his relationship with us and salvation for us, but sometimes these truths can be hard to believe in the midst of exhaustion, busyness, and a world of spiritual and physical opposition. If God Is For Us is a devotional Bible Study on Romans 8 designed to cement in your soul the great truths of our salvation and an understanding for how the Holy Spirit guides our new life in the Spirit, all found in this beloved chapter of Scripture.

Why just the one chapter? The simple answer: there’s so much there! It’s no wonder that so many Christians list Romans among their favorite books of the Bible and Romans 8 as their favorite in the book. Romans is packed with profound truth after profound truth which are then followed up with life-changing promise after life-changing promise. In this 6-week study, Trillia Newbell will walk you through Romans 8 and help you cement deep inside yourself the scandalous truths of our great salvation, our inheritance, the assurance of our faith, and ultimately the love of our good Father.

Each week will include:

·        5 daily readings out of Romans

·        A devotional for each daily reading

·        Questions for reflection and study

If you’ve experienced the comfort of Romans 8 before, but want to plant it more deeply in your person this is the Bible Study for you. And it’s great for individual or group settings.

If you’re ready to live a life that shouts: “God is for me, who can be against me,” let’s get started today.

And now, my review:

If God is For Us by Trillia Newbell is all about Romans chapter 8.  She does open us up in our first lesson with an overview of the book and she has us all over Romans but then she narrows in on the richness of chapter 8.  She has the book broken into 6 weeks of studying 5 days a week and I felt that the arrangement was really user-friendly to move through.  She shares personal insight and asks great questions to spur on thinking and digging deeper, which I personally enjoyed as an Inductive Bible studier myself.   I hope to see more by this author in the future.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.amazon.com/If-God-Us-Everlasting-Salvation-ebook/dp/B07F7PRB6N/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1VIAX3BH5DPST&keywords=if+god+is+for+us+trillia+newbell&qid=1559315109&s=gateway&sprefix=if+GOd+is+for+us%2Caps%2C150&sr=8-2

https://www.christianbook.com/the-everlasting-truth-our-great-salvation/trillia-newbell/9780802417138/pd/417139?product_redirect=1&search_term=if%20GOd%20is%20for%20&Ntt=417139&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/if-god-is-for-us-trillia-j-newbell/1129021605?ean=9780802417138#/

Inexpressible by Michael Card

Here is the book summary:

God's identity is beyond what we could ever fully express in human words. But Scripture uses one particular word to describe the distinctiveness of God's character: the Hebrew word hesed.
Hesed is a concept so rich in meaning that it doesn't translate well into any single English word or phrase. Michael Card unpacks the many dimensions of hesed, often expressed as lovingkindness, covenant faithfulness, or steadfast love. He explores how hesed is used in the Old Testament to reveal God's character and how he relates to his people. Ultimately, the fullness of hesed is embodied in the incarnation of Jesus.
As we follow our God of hesed, we ourselves are transformed to live out the way of hesed, marked by compassion, mercy, and faithfulness. Discover what it means to be people of an everlasting love beyond words.

And now, my review:

Inexpressible by Michael Card was an excellent book about God’s amazing character that is hard to find the complete English translation for this complex word.  This book is full of Scripture and the fullness of sharing the idea of the word Hesed.  As the Scriptures poured over me, I found myself very refreshed and encouraged to yield to the Holy Spirits work of living out hesed in my life to those God places in my path.  Even though this is a deep concept, I found that the author puts it in a way that is easy to read and is inviting to dig deep.  I highly recommend this read.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.amazon.com/Inexpressible-Hesed-Mystery-Gods-Lovingkindness-ebook/dp/B07KPPMXFC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1548613009&sr=8-1&keywords=inexpressible

https://www.christianbook.com/inexpressible-hesed-the-mystery-gods-lovingkindness/michael-card/9780830845491/pd/845491?event=ESRCG

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/inexpressible-michael-card/1129366090?ean=9780830845491

Sovereign Hope by Claudia Barba

Here is the book summary:

Sovereign Hope: A Study in the Minor Prophets explores the lessons taught in the last twelve books of the Old Testament. Many of us are unfamiliar with what God has to teach us through the accounts of the Minor Prophets. The men chosen to share the Lord’s message lived in times as turbulent as ours. In this study, the Minor Prophets show you how to trust a mysterious God in Habakkuk, to obey God no matter what in Jonah, and to confront pride, procrastination, and more in Obadiah and Haggai. As you work through the passages in the Minor Prophets, you will see the sovereign hope the Lord gives us.

And now, my review:

Sovereign Hope by Claudia Barba is a book about the Minor Prophets and I just love it when an author chooses to take on something that is not often taken on.  She’s upfront and comes across in a way that connects me to what I’m reading.  You don’t have to wonder where she is coming from because she addresses her position right away.  She brings about the facts she mentions in ways that challenge me to contemplate the Truth and if I’m lining up to it correctly.  She equips the reader with nuggets to share.  This book is a great reference for me after I have studied a book Inductively and I’m excited to have it in my library.  I look forward to more from this author in the future.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.amazon.com/Sovereign-Hope-Study-Prophets-Reflections-ebook/dp/B07K7J27H3/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1543609271&sr=8-2&keywords=sovereign+hope

https://www.christianbook.com/sovereign-hope-study-the-minor-prophets/claudia-barba/9781628565478/pd/565479?event=ESRCG

He is Enough by Asheritah Ciuciu

Here is the book summary:

Discover the Secret to a Full Life

We live in a world of scarcity. We say, “I don’t have enough time… maybe when we have more money… if only I had a little more help…” But Scripture says if we have Jesus, we have enough.

In this 6-week study of Colossians, Asheritah Ciuciu leads readers to discover the life-altering importance of Jesus’ sufficiency and sovereignty. And you don’t need hours a day to enjoy this Bible Study. Each day’s study contains two paths:

·        Snack on the Go: a bite-size morsel of truth to chew on throughout your busy day

·        FEAST: a dig-deep guide to maximizing the “meat” you’re getting out of your Bible study

·        PLUS! a supplemental "Serving and Leading" section that includes service challenges for making theory a reality

You can enjoy this study in whatever way works best for you. Discover the joy and freedom that abounds when we know deep in our hearts that Jesus truly is enough.

And now, my review:

As a woman who takes Bible Study seriously, it is refreshing to see this book come out!  This author has sent hours digging into the depths of His Word and helps us as readers to dig in as well.  She helps with offering different options to digging in.  You can go quick or you can go long.  She mentions word definitions and historical context.  She helps with ideas for application such as are there areas in your life that you haven’t believed that Christ is enough.  It’s not about having more knowledge alone from living it.  It’s about learning, understanding, applying, and sharing it with others.  It’s internal, powerful, and missional.  I can’t wait to read another by this author and highly recommend this book.  Because HE IS ENOUGH!   

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.amazon.com/He-Enough-Living-Fullness-Colossians-ebook/dp/B076BDRQ9L?crid=BSUXOM1ISOAV&keywords=he+is+enough+asheritah+ciuciu&qid=1540681979&sprefix=He+is+en%2Caps%2C150&sr=8-1&ref=sr_1_1

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/he-is-enough-asheritah-fanny-ciuciu/1127208005?ean=9780802416865

https://www.christianbook.com/enough-living-the-fullness-of-jesus/asheritah-ciuciu/9780802416865/pd/416861?event=ESRCG

In All Things by Melissa B Kruger

Here is the book summary:

This accessible and practical Bible study of the book of Philippians invites you to discover a joy and contentment that will carry you through every circumstance of life.

With warm teaching and perspective-shifting insights, Bible teacher Melissa Kruger walks you through the power-packed words of the apostle Paul to believers in the early church to discover what he knew about the secret to unshakeable peace--and how his insights can help any woman discover a secure and satisfying contentment no matter what life may bring. With the Scripture passages printed right in the book for handy reference, this is an ideal resource for busy women of any life stage who want to deepen their spiritual life and increase their daily joy.

And now, my review:

God’s Word is life and power and in Him, there is fullness of joy!  I was super excited to get my hands on this one as I have just recently studied the book of Philippians in my Precepts Bible Study.  I have the motto of: never stop learning because His Word is ALIVE.  I’m a HUGE encourager of studying inductively and that’s the way that this book is set out.  What a blessing to hold when I have sat in His Word and come out with JOY, HOPE, and REFRESHMENT.   Inductive study is all about the observation, interpretation, and application.  The importance each one plays in correctly dividing the Word of Truth is super important and not just gathering head knowledge, which is important and has its place but living it for experientially knowing Him.  ENJOY this one!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.amazon.com/All-Things-Nine-Week-Devotional-Unshakeable-ebook/dp/B075HY44JV/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1538054382&sr=8-1&keywords=in+all+things+melissa+kruger

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-all-things-melissa-b-kruger/1127085497?ean=9780735291140#/

https://www.christianbook.com/things-week-devotional-bible-study-unshakeable/melissa-kruger/9780735291140/pd/291140?product_redirect=1&Ntt=291140&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP

Numbers - Learning Contentment in a Culture of More by Melissa Spoelstra

Here is the book summary:

Something in us aches for more—more hope, more joy, more freedom. All around us people are dancing to the steps of bigger, better, and faster, and we can easily join in without even realizing it. Before long complaining and comparing accompany our desire for more, yet we’re not any closer to filling the ache inside. God offers us another way.

In this study of the Book of Numbers, we’ll find a group of people that wandered in the desert for forty years, unable to enter the Promised Land because of their complaining, grumbling, and lack of faith. The New Testament tells us that their story was written to warn us (1 Corinthians 10:6) so that we would not make the same mistakes and suffer the same consequences. God sent his only Son to die to buy our freedom from the sin that leads to discontentment, and we find our own promised land of peace and contentment in the life he gives us.

By exploring Numbers we can come to identify the reasons for our complaining, learn contentment while being authentic about the difficulties of life, accept short-term hardship in light of the greater good of God’s ultimate deliverance, recognize the relationship between complaining and worry, and discover how to realign with God’s character and promises.

Together we will learn contentment as we discover more of our incredible God who truly is more than enough. Only God can fill that ache inside and help us focus on his provision and purpose in the midst of life’s joys and pains.

The participant workbook includes five days of lessons for each week, combining study of Scripture with personal reflection, application, and prayer.

And now, my review:

Contentment, Paul speaks of it in Philippians 4 and here this author walks us through what we can learn through the book of Numbers regarding it.  In a world of more and more it’s important to learn to be content with what God has allotted you.  This Bible Study is set up where you’re studying it 5 days a week for 6 weeks.  I like how the author leads us to see contentment in different areas in our lives.  There is Scripture Memory and loads of Scripture reading involved in this which is great!  May He wash us by the water of His Word.  May you turn your attention to what God Almighty wants to teach through this study!  Enjoy.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.amazon.com/Numbers-Participant-Workbook-Learning-Contentment/dp/1501801740/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1508704289&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=numbers+womens+bible+study+participation+book

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/numbers-womens-bible-study-participant-workbook-melissa-spoelstra/1125466410?ean=9781501801747

https://www.christianbook.com/numbers-learning-contentment-culture-participant-workbook/melissa-spoelstra/9781501801747/pd/801740?event=ESRCG