The Shelter of God's Promises By Sheila Walsh

Another inspirational book by Sheila Walsh!! This book targets ten 'bedrock promises of God.'  The Chapters Titles are: Promises, Provision, Peace, Confidence, Love, Grace, Hope, Strength, More (this is knowing God has blessings in store for His children) and Home. Not only is this book timely considering all the peril this world is plundering into deeper and deeper each day, but this book is biblical.

I enjoyed reading the Introduction. Most people probably skip the intro, but don't this time! The story of Sheila losing her tent to a sheep! Exodus 33:21-22 was so perfect in this intro as Sheila slept in a cave to get out of the cold one night while on a girl's camping outing. Her friends were confused when they woke up the next morning and she was not in her tent but instead a sheep took her spot on her tent. That story stuck with me.

Ms. Walsh's sharing of personal accounts is not only enjoyable but relatable. On page 27 I read about John The Baptist. The biblical account was given from Herod's perspective Luke 9:7. Amazing account and just one example in this book in which the author provokes the reader to ask the hard questions and to ponder the Truths of God's Word.

I quote, "The disciples must have been distraught too. John had given his life to prepare the way for Jesus - and his life ended in a barbaric way for a drunken crowd. Where was God? What about His promise to provide protection and care? The chapter continues with Jesus' response to John The Baptist's death Mark 6:32. Ms. Walsh writes, "Mark 6:32 tells us simply: "so they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place." Do you see how Jesus meets us in our need? How He met the disciples? There are times when words don't  help, when friends can't touch our grief. Our deepest need is to pull away with Christ - "Far from the Madding Crowd," as Thomas Hardy titled his book."

One resource included in this book is a chapter-by-chapter Bible Study. Questions are listed along with Scripture references to read, questions to challenge, and a Scripture memory verse. Quite useful for a group study guide!

So much to take away from The Shelter of God's Promises! I will never bless food the same way again (page 34). You too will not be the same person who started in the intro as the person who completed the Bible Study at the end. And for this we rejoice!

"When we come to the end of ourselves, Jesus, our Cleft in the Rock, calls. Come away with Me."

- Sheila Walsh

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com 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.”

Are you a manufacturer of a product or currently market a service? Christina will review it! Email christina@wordsofgrace.info with product name, description and manufacturer's suggested retail price along with any other information relative to said product. You will receive a response via email within two weeks if product will be reviewed. Please note not all products will be considered reviewable. Please do not send products without prior consent. Note: Products sent for review will not be returned. Product submission authorizes consent for said product to remain in sole possession of recipient. No monies shall be exchanged for product submission nor permission granted for reviews prior to submission. Reviews shall remain effective and in full force at sole discretion of blog administrator and/or authors related to http://www.christinawillreviewit.blogspot.com/.

The Goodness of God by Randy Alcorn

This petite book began on a wonderfully comforting note with this quote by Paul Scherer which I found just after the Contents Section. I quote, "I know the things that happen: the loss and the loneliness and the pain...But there's a mark on it now: as if Someone who knew that way Himself, because He had travelled it, had gone on before and left His sign; and all of it begins to make a little sense at last-gathered up, laughter and tears, into the life of God, with His arms around it!"

Yes! I deeply breathed in the sweet perfume of Jesus in the very first pages of Mr. Alcorn's book. But the lovefest does not end there. On page five I enjoyed the section entitled, "When Losing Faith is Good." Here's a taste, "Evil and suffering have a way of exposing our inadequate theology. When affliction comes, a weak or nominal Christian often discovers that his faith doesn't account for it or prepare him for it. His faith has been in his church, denomination, or family tradition, or in his own religious ideas - but not in Christ. As he faces evil and suffering, he may, in fact, lose his faith."

Ouch. Preach it brother!! On page 31 Mr. Alcorn again nails the Truth with his discussion of secondary doctrinal issues. He states, "I don't believe in picking fights about secondary doctrinal issues. But I'm convinced there's a great deal at stake in this issue of open theism, as it attempts to redefine the very nature of God. Fortunately, God will always remain who he is. The question is, as we try to modify him to resolve our intellectual struggles, what will become of us?"

Chapter Five entitled The Great Drama was my favorite chapter. This chapter focused on "Reviewing the Roles of Evil and Suffering in Christ's Redemptive Work." Page 45 quotes 2 Chronicles 36:15-16 (NIV) which states, "But they mocked God's messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the LORD was aroused against his people and there was no remedy."

I loved hearing Mr. Alcorn speak of Jesus as well as his childhood. I appreciated Mr. Alcorn's weaving of Aslan from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe into this chapter. This example was used to remind the reader that though Jesus leaving earth was sad, as Aslan depicted also in the The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, there was hope and victory because this was not the end of the story!!

Chapter Five helps us to understand what we are going through right now. As this world becomes more evil and we become persecuted for our faith we learn to stand firm on God's Word. Page 47 entitled "Last Word" was a shot in the arm for all Christians who understand what Jesus did on the Cross for them. Everyone should read this story about the baby who almost got burned and the mother who did get burned saving her. We see not only goodness but gratitude in this account. Amazing writing!

There is so much I could share about this petite book by Mr. Alcorn. I know it would be perfect for anyone suffering or knowing of someone else suffering. This book was a great reminder how God does not change and is always perfect and good and loving toward all of us (John 3:16).

Yes, this may be a petite book but it is a powerfully packed book which can be given as a gift or kept to remind the reader of just how truly Good God is...

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group as part of their Blogging For Books 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.”

Are you a manufacturer of a product or currently market a service? Christina will review it! Email christina@wordsofgrace.info with product name, description and manufacturer's suggested retail price along with any other information relative to said product. You will receive a response via email within two weeks if product will be reviewed. Please note not all products will be considered reviewable. Please do not send products without prior consent. Note: Products sent for review will not be returned. Product submission authorizes consent for said product to remain in sole possession of recipient. No monies shall be exchanged for product submission nor permission granted for reviews prior to submission. Reviews shall remain effective and in full force at sole discretion of blog administrator and/or authors related to http://www.christinawillreviewit.blogspot.com.