Book Review ~ The 10 Commandments of Marriage by Ed Young ~ 7/23/2021

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Title:  The 10 Commandments of Marriage by Ed Young

Series:  

Pages:  216

Date Published:  October 1, 2014

Publisher:  Moody Publishers

 Blurb:

Marriage is God's idea. He planned it. He designed it. And if you follow His blueprint, it will be more rewarding, more loving, more exciting than you ever imagined.

In 10 Commandments of Marriage, Dr. Ed Young shares the “thou shalts” and the “thou shalt nots” of successful relationships—straight from the pages of God's Word. Long-married couples will find love-building precepts that will revive a failing marriage and make a great relationship even better. Soon-to-be-marrieds will discover what marriage is all about and gain priceless insights into starting on solid ground.

In words that are profound, often humorous, but always biblical, Dr. Young draws from decades of counseling couples to provide 10 commandments for a lifelong marriage that sizzles. God wants your marriage to be nothing short of incredible. And it could begin with this amazing book.

My Thoughts:

I can't believe that I'm finally writing a Book Review.  The last one I wrote was in March.  I should have known that a non-fiction read would be the way to break my reading block/slump.

This book caught my eye at the store because (as you might know already) my daughter will be getting married in 3 short weeks!!  (Yikes!)  All things wedding and marriage have been on my mind lately.  I purchased the book after reading the blurb on the back of the book and seeing just what the "10 Commandments of Marriage" were.  I love that they were listed plainly for all to see before buying the book.

Originally, I thought the book would be a great gift for Kaylee and Shawn in their soon-to-be married life.  I wanted to read it first to make sure I was gifting good, Biblical reading material.  I will be giving this book to them but I might have to buy another copy to keep for myself!

As you might be guessing, I loved this book!  I have never read anything by this author before, but his writing style is so easy to read and entertaining as well as informative.

Some of my favorite chapters were:

"Thou Shalt Be Selfless"

"Thou Shalt Continually Communicate"

and

"Thou Shalt Romance the Home

I easily could have listed all 10 chapters because they were ALL so very good.

I highly recommend this book to those engaged, young in marriage and those who have been married for YEARS.  I wish my husband were the reading type so we could read it together!

I purchased this book at Wal-Mart.

Onto the next book!

Book Review ~ A Confident Heart by Renee Swope

 

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Title:  A Confident Heart by Renee Swope

Series:  N/A

Pages:  225

Date Published:  August 1, 2011

Publisher:  Revell

 

 Blurb:

 

    Often the biggest obstacle to living out our faith is our own doubt--about our worth, our abilities, our relationship with God, and situations in our lives. A Confident Heart gives voice to the questions, doubts, struggles, and hopes so many women have. Author Renee Swope shows women how to identify, overcome, and even use doubt in order to live confidently in God's power, truth, and grace.

 

Perfect for women's small groups or individuals, A Confident Heart is an authentic, insight-filled and encouraging message for any woman who wants to exchange destructive thought patterns with biblical truth that will transform the way she thinks, feels, and lives.     

My Thoughts:

 

I started off my "10 Books of Summer" Challenge with a non-fiction read and decided to end it with another non-fiction book.  Yep, I finished a challenge!!!

 

This is a book that I had on my shelf for quite some time.  As you can see above, it was published in 2011.  I'm not sure exactly when I got it but it has been a while.

 

With everything that has been going on my life and the lives of my family members, I really liked the title and felt like I really needed to read about "How to Stop Doubting Yourself & Live in the Security of God's Promises".

 

Although I didn't agree with all of the author's beliefs (See Way of Salvation in my header), I enjoyed her take on the subject of becoming a confident woman.  That confidence being a confidence that God created us to be exactly who we are.

 

I particularly like the fact that Ms. Swope wasn't afraid to show her own insecurities, fears and doubts.  I related to so many of the chapters.

 

I think I picked this book up to read at just the right time in my life.

 

 

 



Colletta

Book Review ~ Beauty Begins by Chris Shook and Megan Shook Alpha

 

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 Blurb:

 

You are, and always have been, beautiful.

“Beauty begins. That’s the point of this book. Our understanding of beauty got started somewhere and somehow, and probably due to someone. Now that may have been a good start, but then again it may not have. But regardless of what your past looks like, we want to offer up this word of hope: it’s never too late to make peace with your reflection.”

We live in a culture that’s obsessed with beauty. Walk by any magazine stand, turn on a television, or visit the local shopping mall, and you’ll be bombarded with the images and ideals that our culture believes are the epitome of what it means to be beautiful. And if you’re like most women, you’ve probably spent countless hours trying to measure up to this standard of beauty whether you realize it or not.

But if you don’t make peace with your reflection, you’ll end up declaring war on yourself.

That’s where mother-daughter team, Chris and Megan Shook, want to help. In Beauty Begins, they explore the origins of beauty (hint, it didn’t start with a fashion magazine) and challenge each of us to trade the pressure of perfection for God's perfect love.

Poignant, relevant, and relatable, Beauty Begins is for every woman who wants to reclaim what it means to be truly beautiful.

Do you feel beautiful?
 
When you look in the mirror, what do you see? Others may tell you that you’re beautiful, but do you believe them? Why not? Don’t let another day go by without believing and knowing that you are fearfully and wonderfully made.
It’s time for you to exchange society’s cookie-cutter suggestions for what is beautiful and instead discover and reclaim what true beauty looks like – and the One who created it.
In Beauty Begins, Chris and Megan Shook share with you their own experiences and struggles with appearance and body image, as well as equip you with the wisdom to distinguish what’s artificial beauty and what’s real. Filled with heartfelt encouragement, insightful challenges, and undeniable truth, after reading Beauty Begins, you’ll never look in the mirror the same way again.

 

My Thoughts:

 

I can't believe my last book review was almost 4 months ago!  Crazy!

 

I was in such a reading funk (I go through those now and again) that I decided to switch things up with a non-fiction book and this one jumped out at me from my shelf.

 

I thought it was going to be all about not looking at the outer self.  Instead it was all about looking at the INNER self and then the outer self will follow.  Such a slight difference but so thought provoking!

 

The book has three sections:  The Beautiful Truth, The Beautiful Struggle and The Beautiful Rebellion.  I think The Beautiful Rebellion was my favorite as I had never thought about being a rebel as a good thing.  I kinda like the thought of being a rebel :)  It is a good thing!  Really.

 

I loved how each chapter ended with Reflection Questions (just one or two) and a Prayer.  It really brought the whole chapter together and made an impact.

 

"Beauty Begins" was such a great book; for me as a 41-year-old wife and mom as it would be for my soon-to-be 18-year-old daughter getting ready to start College.

 

I think I'll have her read it this summer :)



Colletta

 

P.S.  I hope you can stop by my ETSY SHOP!

What I'm Reading ~ 7/23/18

Today I'm reading:

Just like you, Ann Voskamp hungers to live her one life well. Forget the bucket lists that have us escaping our everyday lives for exotic experiences. How, Ann wondered, do we find joy in the midst of deadlines, debt, drama, and daily duties? What does the Christ-life really look like when your days are gritty, long and sometimes even dark? How is God even here?

In One Thousand Gifts, Ann invites you to embrace everyday blessings and embark on the transformative spiritual discipline of chronicling God's gifts. It s only in this expressing of gratitude for the life we already have, we discover the life we've always wanted, a life we can take, give thanks for, and break for others. We come to feel and know the impossible right down in our bones: we are wildly loved by God.

Let Ann's beautiful, heart-aching stories of the everyday give you a way of seeing that opens your eyes to ordinary amazing grace, a way of being present to God that makes you deeply happy, and a way of living that is finally fully alive. Come live the best dare of all!    

What are you reading?

Colletta

P.S.  Make sure to enter the giveaway for City on Fire.  Click the picture on my sidebar!

 

 

Book Review ~ Now by Sarah Coller ~ 1/12/17

 

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Blurb:

 

 Do you have big goals that seem impossible? Are you ready to step out into fulfilling your dreams but everything seems so overwhelming? In Now: Purposeful Steps Toward a More Abundant Life, Sarah Coller shares practical steps for living a fulfilling life, no matter your life circumstances. This simple devotional offers readers a place to journal thoughts and prayers and is excellent for both individual and small group study.    

My Thoughts:

 

I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

 

And my honest opinion is:

 

I want more!

 

This was such a great little devotional for helping to set goals and act on them.  (Something I really need help with even though I am getting better, I think!)

 

As it progresses, the book helps to define your goals, set time apart for your goals, and chips away at them until your goals are a reality.

 

The study question were thought provoking and very applicable.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the author a bit through her own life stories and experiences.

 

I look forward to reading more from this author :)

 

 

 Thanks for stopping by!  Please leave a comment with a link so I can return the visit!

  

Linking up to:  Share Your Cup;  Grandma Ideas, Literacy Musings and Saturday Situation, Booknificent. Party at My Place , Saturday Review of Book , Book Nook