7 Family Ministry Essentials by Michelle Anthony and Megan Marshman

I'm not in the ministry but I am heavily involved with the children's ministry in our church. I like to read different books like this one just so I can learn more about helping to reach our children with the gospel.

The book focuses on 7 points:

• Empowering families to take spiritual leadership in the home
• Forming lifetime faith that transcends childhood beliefs
• Teaching Scripture as the ultimate authority of truth
• Understanding the role of the Holy Spirit to teach and transform
• Engaging every generation in the gospel of God's redemptive story
• Making God central in every biblical narrative and daily living
• Participating in community with like-minded ministry leaders

When I look at what should be integral in a children's ministry or a student ministry, I land on these same points. The thing that I loved the most is that it goes back to families. For so many years, it's been about taking the children away with activities. Now it's more about doing ministry as a family.

I found that this book is very applicable to parents, as well. It offers very helpful tips on being intentional in the home. I would recommend this book to even moms and dads.

Read more reviews at http://litfusegroup.com/author/anthonymarshman.

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7 Family Ministry Essentials

Author: Michelle Anthony and Megan Marshman

7 Family Ministry Essentials: A Strategy for Culture Change in Children’s and Student Ministries (David C. Cook, June 2015)
With decades of ministry experience, Michelle Anthony and Megan Marshman capture the guiding essentials of life-changing family ministry.
These seven essentials for children and student leaders emphasize:
1. Empowering families to take spiritual leadership in the home
2. Forming lifetime faith that transcends childhood beliefs
3. Teaching Scripture as the ultimate authority of truth
4. Understanding the role of the Holy Spirit to teach and transform
5. Engaging every generation in the gospel of God’s redemptive story
6. Making God central in every biblical narrative and daily living
7. Participating in community with like-minded ministry leaders
7 Family Ministry Essentials will energize and equip you with the practical steps, inspirational stories, and biblical foundation you need as you lead those in your ministry.
Learn more and purchase a copy.

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I received this book free from David C. Cook and Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

The Good, the Bad, and the Grace of God by Jep and Jessica Robertson

Our family enjoys watching Duck Dynasty and I have read all of the books from each one in the family. Just like the others, I appreciated the honesty in this book. It takes a lot to admit your mess ups and to share it without knowing how you'll be judged by others. Jep and Jessica both honestly shared the good and bad times they've had separately and together.

I can relate a lot to Jessica's desire to please other people. I never felt it as strongly as her, but being a people please myself I can see how easily it would be to fall into the traps she did. It was interesting to learn more about them because they aren't made to be a huge part of Duck Dynasty. Jep is just the funny younger brother that gets picked on! I'm glad he shared about the whole duck taping incident because I really didn't think they had done that! That would have really hurt!

Jep and Jessica share about how God used their bad in their lives to lead them to not only help others but to easily forgive each other. I say easy, but it's never easy. However, God showed them how He could rescue you from a deep dark spot and forgive for anything. They used that in marriage when it came to the make it or break it decision.

Another thing I love about the them (and all the Robertson) is that divorce is never an option. Every marriage has hard spots and times when you don't particularly have those warm fuzzy feelings. It takes hard work. You get a glimpse of that hard work that Jep and Jessica had to do in their own marriage. Television can make it seem as though they have a perfect marriage. I'm glad they shared their struggles in this book and how God has blessed them since they chose to go through a really dark time together instead of throwing in the towel.

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I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Picture Perfect Love by Melissa McClone

I enjoyed this sweet short novel. I read it at the beach very quickly and found it to be a story that was hard to set down. I honestly wasn't expecting that because I usually enjoy full novels because of all the details that can be put into a novel. I think it takes a lot of talent to write these short novellas because you have to only include the important information.

Right away I liked Jenna. I couldn't stand Asher at first. He seemed arrogant and mean to me. However, he did grow on me as the story went along. I'm not certain that I could have been as gracious as Jenna was about the whole past two years. To deal with the Vance family with such graciousness, but also speaking her mind, was such a wonderful part of the story. Asher's sister drove me up the wall! I couldn't stand her attitude. I'm sure she really changed, but she was probably my least favorite character.

I have not read anything by Melissa McClone but now I'm going to be looking into her other books. I also haven't read any other novellas in this series, so I'd like to read the rest of those. They are the perfect novellas that I can read in a very short time.

Read more reviews on this novella at http://litfusegroup.com/author/mmcclone.

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About the Book

Picture Perfect Love (Zondervan, May 2015)
When image becomes everything, it’s up to love to refocus the heart.
Photographer Jenna Harrison wants every bride and groom to look picture perfect on their special day, putting her heart into every wedding to give the couple memorable images of their love. But her own heart is still broken, the unworn wedding dress hanging in her closet a reminder that relationships aren’t always as perfect as they look through her camera lens. But Jenna has faith that she will find true love. Until then, she must be patient and trust in God’s plan and His perfect timing.
Attorney Ashton Vance is the one that got away. When an embarrassing Photoshopped picture of put an end to his political aspirations, he blamed Jenna. So what if the photo led to his being offered a dream job and changing his life for the better? Jenna betrayed his trust, and two years later, Ashton’s heart still hasn’t recovered.
It was me. His younger sister’s three words turn Ashton’s world upside down. He must ask Jenna’s forgiveness, but can he risk his heart a second time? Even if Jenna can forgive him, dare he hope for a second chance at her love?
Learn more and purchase a copy.

Melissa McClone

Melissa McClone has published more than thirty novels with Harlequin and Tule Publishing Group. She has also been nominated for Romance Writers of America’s RITA® award. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, three school-aged children, two spoiled Norwegian Elkhounds and cats who think they rule the house.

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I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Summer's List by Anita Higman

I felt like this book had a slower start, but once I read a few pages I was hooked. I'll be very honest, though. I couldn't stand Desmond and Ivan. I dreaded seeing their names pop up in the story because they were just horrid!

At first I was even unsure about Martin. He grew as the story went along and was definitely not the same person as the he was described as in the beginning of the story. Summer was a sweet girl who had given up a lot to help take care of her family. I liked the idea of her grandmother creating a list for her to complete over a few weeks. Her grandmother was a lady who was very easy to like and made me miss my own grandma as I reflected over several parts in the story.

There was a little mystery in the book because no one knows where Martin's parents have gone. There's anger and bitterness and just pure hate. However, there's also love, forgiveness, confidence, and God meeting people where they are.

One of my favorite scenes in the story happens close to the end when Desmond does something that others view as heroic. I felt like that was the climax of the story and the story changed a little for me after that.

This wasn't a fast paced book, but it was a beautiful story of forgiveness and making things right, as well as redemption.

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I received this book free from River North Publishers and Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Laugh Out Loud Pocket Doodles for Boys by Rob Elliott

When I saw these little joke books come up for review, I was excited. My kids have just reached the age where they enjoy telling jokes. My son is 6 and enjoys drawing. This book is the perfect fit for him. In fact, I spotted it in his beach bag.

I think this book is even more fun because you get to draw in a book. I'm not certain what kid alive hasn't wanted to doodle in a book without getting into trouble for doing so.

As a mom, I like that these jokes are short and simple. They are funny for them to tell, but I think the part I enjoy most is seeing their drawing. The drawings have already been started and the child is to elaborate onto the picture. For example, there's a half of a horse drawn. The directions are for the child to draw themselves as the horse trainer and then what the horse would say to them. I think the cartoon drawings are very cute that are provided.

I reviewed both the doodle book for girls and for boys. I originally thought that it'd be the same book with just different covers. I was surprised to see that it wasn't. Or at least if they are, they are not in the same order at all. That makes it much nicer when both of my kids want to tell me a joke from the same page of their book!

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I received this book free from Revell Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book

Laugh Out Loud Pocket Doodles for Girls by Rob Elliott

When I saw these little joke books come up for review, I was excited. My kids have just reached the age where they enjoy telling jokes. My daughter is 5 and has carried this book around with her for the past few days.

I think this book is even more fun because you get to draw in a book. I'm not certain what kid alive hasn't wanted to doodle in a book without getting into trouble for doing so.

As a mom, I like that these jokes are short and simple. They are funny for them to tell, but I think the part I enjoy most is seeing their drawing. The drawings have already been started and the child is to elaborate onto the picture. For example, there's a half of a horse drawn. The directions are for the child to draw themselves as the horse trainer and then what the horse would say to them. I think the cartoon drawings are very cute that are provided.

I reviewed both the doodle book for girls and for boys. I originally thought that it'd be the same book with just different covers. I was surprised to see that it wasn't. Or at least if they are, they are not in the same order at all. That makes it much nicer when both of my kids want to tell me a joke from the same page of their book!

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I received this book free from Revell Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Two Roads Home by Deborah Raney

I think some of my favorite series have to be the ones that focus on family. In fact, some of my favorite television shows focus on family. I'm not certain why I enjoy it so much, except maybe it's because I feel like I get to know the characters so well and can easily imagine them as I read the books or watch the shows. Families are imperfect, so I like reading about the imperfect families... the ones who have flaws but continuously seek to become better.

That's exactly the reason why I like the Chicory Inn series. There's so much honesty, which makes it extremely easy to relate to. It reminds me that none of us have perfect marriages or families, despite what pictures say.

I think readers can relate easily to the marriage of Jesse and Corinne. Marriage is hard work and that's exactly what Jesse and Corinne realize. It's so easy to get swept away by the pressures of work and life in general that you don't have much time left to work on your marriage. In fact, it became so imperative that they focus on their marriage after a few events left them hanging on. Nothing like a wake-up call to realize all you've taken for granted.

I really like the cover of this book. It is so relaxing to look at. In fact, it got moved up on my reading list because I was drawn to the cover.

I am looking forward to reading book 3 in this series!

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Two Roads Home (Abingdon Press, June 2015)
What if it’s too late for dreams to come true?
Minor-but-nagging setbacks continue to sour Grant and Audrey Whitman’s initiation into the world of innkeeping, but larger challenges brew when an innocent flirtation leads to big trouble for the Whitmans’ son-in-law, Jesse. Jesse Pennington’s friendly, outgoing personality has always served him well, especially in a career that has earned him and his wife Corinne a very comfortable lifestyle. But Corinne and Jesse are both restless—and for similar reasons, if only they could share those with each other. Instead, too many business trips and trumped-up charges of harassment from a disgruntled coworker threaten their marriage and possibly put their three precious daughters at risk.
With their life in disarray, God is tugging at their hearts to pursue other dreams. Can Corinne and Jesse pick up the pieces of what was once a wonderful life before it all crumbles beneath them?
Learn more and purchase a copy.

 

Deborah Raney’s books have won numerous awards, including the RITA, National Readers Choice Award, HOLT Medallion, and the Carol Award, and have twice been Christy Award finalists. She and her husband, Ken, recently traded small-town life in Kansas—the setting of many of Deborah’s novels—for life in the (relatively) big city of Wichita, where they enjoy gardening, antiquing, movies, and traveling to visit four children and a growing brood of grandchildren who all live much too far away. Visit Deborah on the web at DeborahRaney.com

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I received this book free from Abingdon Press and Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.