A Bountiful Read

When I heard of a new impending release by Tessa Afshar, I was excited. Biblical Fiction is one of my favorite genres to read, and after reading her previous book, A Pearl in the Sand, I expected a great story. I was not disappointed as I saw the creation of a strong character in Sarah who provided a look at what could have been.   If you are familiar at all with the Biblical story of Esther, this is situated right after the death of Queen Esther, King Xerxes, and is during the time of King Artaxerxes and his Queen Damaspia. There is little mentioned on this time, so a lot of creative license can be taken.   Sarah is immediately someone a reader can relate to, a scared girl who wonders if she is valued, loved. We all deal with that inadequacy, wondering if we lack something. Afshar’s take on this character as well as her handling of the delicate issue of being a female scribe in a job that is commonly held by a man is refreshing.   I picked this book up at 6pm and did not place it down until I’d finished reading it, something around 10pm. It was not a short book, but it was one I found hard to place down. With engaging characters and dynamic storylines, Afshar immerses her readers in the world of which she writes, a world that leaves us wanting for more, even when the story ends.   If you enjoy Biblical Fiction, this is a book you will not want to miss. For that reason I am giving Afshar’s book 5 out of 5 stars for what I consider an excellent addition to the genre of Biblical Fiction.   I received this book for free from Moody Publishers in return for my honest review.

More than Enough

Psalm 23 is one of my all-time favorite Chapters of the Bible. It's also the first one I memorized all the way back in second grade. Seeing this book and the picture on the cover really made me interested in reading it.

All too often I get caught up in the day to day minutiae. In his book, Tony Evans reminds that God is more than enough. Whenever I read Psalm 23 before, I never really unpacked it to go into as much depth as Evans did. However it's true. David's God, that same God is with us now. He leads us better and more capably than we could lead ourselves.

Each chapter in God is more than enough is about one of the verses, looking at the words and their contextual meaning. This was an incredibly easy read, 70 pages in length.

Based on content and topic. I am happy to give this book 4/5 stars. I would definitely recommend it to individuals who find themselves getting overwhelmed. Remember that all we have in God is MORE than enough.

The title of this book reminded me of Enough, by Chris Tomlin. I hope you enjoy listening to the song as you read this book as much as I did. Remember, that God is always enough.

I received a complementary copy of this book from Multnomah Publishers for reviewing it.

The Jesus Mission - A Call to Action

 
If there was ever a book that kicked me in the gut just how far removed I was, it was this one. It's hard to be confronted with your own failings, or rather just how misguided you are. The Jesus Mission, was a wake-up call for me and it did so by taking a look into Jesus' life and what made it unique, what missions that were given to us during His time on Earth.

I must admit, when I sat down to this book I was skeptical, after all, just what could this 'Jesus Mission' be about. I knew that He came here to save us, to die on the cross, to show us His example. This book touches on these points but goes beyond. Providing a thought provoking and convincing argument for belief in Christ, as well as fulfilling and living out the missions.

It's not enough to believe. Your belief should spur you to action, should cause you to take up the missions that Christ has assigned to us.

The author was very repetitive in his attempt to convey his message. This is not a bad thing, however for some this style may be a bit annoying. I found it refreshing and appreciated being reminded of different points, especially the important ones.

For those of you who think you know Jesus' mission for us, I invite you to read this book, to explore the reasoning and logic used by Scott to refresh and renew your relationship with Christ.

For what does it prosper a man if he gains the world but loses his soul...

This genre is not one I read as much, however I've been trying to more often of late. On the basis of the writing, the scripture quoted, and the overall feel of the book I will give this book 4/5 stars. I found it engaging and thought provoking, a good book to read with friends and discuss.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group 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."