Christian Shelves

It's been such a gift to revisit the period of the Great Revival through Joy of Heaven , a collection of prayers edited by Robert Elmer. It certainly is a joy to echo the prayers of historic Christians such as Jonathan Edwards, John Wesley, Charles Wesley, D. L. Moody, F. B. Meyer, Amy Carmichael, George Müller, Charles Spurgeon, Susannah Spurgeon, William Wilberfoce, and Robert Murray M'Cheyne. Many thanks to  Baker Publishing Group  for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis "Let me fall again to prayer and praise." - William Wilberforce Covering a span from the early 1700s to the early 1900s, Joy of Heaven captures prayers from dedicated believers who lived out their faith in a rapidly changing world. In the midst of upheaval there also came a spirit of revival, particularly during the times we call the First and Second Great Awakenings. The early evangelicals prioritized holy living, seeking Go...

For Clearly Christian Readathon 's March Buddy Read, I was thrilled to get to read Until the Last Note by new-to-me author, B.M. Baker , in time for the anniversary of the Titanic sinking on April 15, 1912. This poignant story about a modern-day student and a couple navigating a musical stint aboard the RMC Titanic carries repercussions that echo far past the early 20th century. Book Synopsis Two couples over a century apart. One antique diary that ties them together. Present Day : Junior college student Greyslin Rogers enjoys a good challenge. But when she takes on an extra credit assignment in theater class, she realizes she may have overestimated her abilities. Encouraged by her best friend, Stanley Pritchard, to give it her best, Greyslin dives into researching the Titanic encounter and writing her script. After coming across an antique diary as an inspiring memento for her project, little does she know the tragedies and beauties the century-old words will uncover. When c...

Who knew that from one car accident, many lives could be changed and new relationships could be forged? One of those is with Cole and Gwen, with Gwen as the repentant driver who makes a mistake that leads to the love of her life. The second book in the Devine Family series ,  Anywhere With You by Courtney Westerhof is a continuation of how we can witness God's grace in the midst of the everyday. Many thanks to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis They overcame the biggest challenge of their relationship. But can they survive long-distance? Cole and Gwen met through a car crash, not exactly the typical meet-cute. Being able to survive that dramatic start to their relationship made them feel invincible. But when Gwen has to move for her job, they are suddenly and unexpectedly thrown into a long-distance relationship. Will they be able to stay strong and connected even when they’re forced to be mi...

Not only does this book have a catchy title, but it reinforces the notion that retreat is not always the best defense. Looking back at church history, I am always amazed that how God uses His people to stand up for justice, truth, and righteousness. However, this is not done as a result of anyone's personal strength or will. God is the one who equips, with followers obediently living up to the call that has been placed on their lives to understand the times and how best to interact with them. A Compelling Faith in a Compromising Culture by Mike Tatlock is a blueprint on how we can follow these steps today. Many thanks to  Moody Publishers  for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis When our faith is challenged, the best response isn’t to fall back. It’s to go deeper. We’re living in a cultural storm. Perhaps you feel it. Postmodern philosophy and secular ideologies have trickled from academia to the broade...

What a joyous experience in getting to read Pepper Basham 's first novel for young adults! The Cinderella Plot is written in a way that provides depth and maturity while capturing the innocence of youth, creating the perfect blend of a high school senior's world that is on the cusp of very adult decisions that will shape her future trajectory. It's fun and insightful, while warning us that identity shouldn't be taken lightly. Book Synopsis Paisley Harper is invisible. Not in a superpower way. More like the people-look-right-through-you-in-the-hallway kind of way. She’s the girl with the oversized cardigan, random book knowledge, and the uncanny ability to tutor the school’s star quarterback without actually being seen as anything more than helpful. Meanwhile, her aunt and uncle’s beloved small-town bookstore is under threat from a shiny corporate chain, her best friend keeps giving her looks that feel suspiciously loaded, and Homecoming is looming like a glittery remin...

I realize ARCing isn't quite a real verb; however, I'm sure that fellow readers can understand the actions involved in experiencing ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) books, so please indulge my creative use of this word. I started reviewing ARCs 18 years ago, and though I certainly haven't been consistent, I'm grateful to have picked up a thing or two since that time, with many more lessons learnt since I've ramped up my volume in the last several years. Some of the biggest discoveries I've made in my reading journey have included the following: 1. Be discriminate, in the best ways. Over time, it's been easy for me to spot beloved publishers and even have an idea of an author's content and style, even if they're new to me by checking out the author's websites and platforms, along with review sites. This mostly applies to traditional publishing where it can be easier to source information, but the principles apply to indie books and authors as well. As ...