Book Review: Noah by Mark Ludy

Noah-A-Wordless-Picture-Book

When I received an invitation from Handlebar Publishing to review Mark Ludy's new book I jumped at the chance. I personally love the story of Noah and I was disappointed at the poor reviews the newly released movie had, that I chose not to watch the movie.

When I first opened the book I was surprised that it was a wordless picture book. Immediately though the pictures drew me in and I could hear the story forming in my mind as I flipped the pages. The pictures also surprised me because they seem much more modern then I normally picture Noah's story. For example, the pages where we see Noah in his house specifically in his study/library type room with with windows and a desk. That is not how I envision Noah's home looked like but something about the depiction in those pictures still stays true to the character of Noah. Even though I never pictured him in a study I can picture him going alone to a place where he could clearly hear what the Lord was telling him. I love the drawings of the ark that he draws based on the dimensions God gives him. 

The lush beauty of the woods an the vibrant colors Mark utilizes totally captivate the imagination. Although, the place I imagined Noah lived in should have been more wild. 

Mark creates a feel of a paradise lost. There is order, growth and life. Everything flourishes there all is vibrant and alive! 

I can see  this book becoming a favorite for my son. He loves books that he can look at for hours finding new things in the pages every time he turns them. The depiction of the animals is great. They look as they would in real life. The different ones illustrated here make us realize it was all the different species of animals not just the easy ones to imagine in the ark. 

This book gives us glimpse into the beauty of an imagination created by God. I love catching glimpses of everyday life for Noah and his family because then we are able to relate with the characters. God's promises are depicted in beautiful illustrations that cause your imagination to soar enraptured in the beauty of a Creator that made this world and is faithful to us even when we are not.

Gracefully,

Daisy

Disclosure: I received a free book in exchange for this review all the thoughts are my own. 

Book Review: Where Lilacs Still Bloom by Jane Kirkpatrick

Where Lilacs Still Bloom

This book is based on Hulda Klagger's life and her quest to create beauty in her own garden. Although at first she is no supported by her husband, he begins to understand her passion and her God given gifts. Amidst tragedy and natural disasters she perseveres and finds ways to help and love other young women around her. I love how the author weaves two other women's stories to come together at Hulda's garden. Hulda without knowing it influences these ladies to find and create beauty where they are. As the years go by she continues to find and create beauty although her world has been rocked to the core, her faith and eternal perspective are beacons into her destiny. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it.
Received it from Blogging for books.

Gracefully Daisy

Awakening by Stovall Weems

A practical, informative, and much needed guide to faith, fasting and Spiritual Freedom.
I enjoyed reading through this book but was even more excited to see the practical pages towards the end of the book. There is a 21 day plan for fasting and praying that you can use over and over again. step by step the plan is laid out from what you will need to starts, meal plans, a calendar set up and more. I can't wait to use these tools during my 21 day fast.
I really appreciated the testimonies at the end of each chapter of people that participated in the 21 days of fasting and the impact it made in their life. This book is very easy to read and understand. It walks you through the scripture of the importance these spiritual practices play in your daily walk with the Lord.
I would recommend this book.

“I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review”.
Gracefully Daisy

Book Review: The Love and Respect Experience A husband friendly Devotional that wives truly love by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs

A few years ago my dear Josh and I went through the bible study " Love and Respect" and we really enjoyed it. We really gleaned so much from it that we own the book. So when I saw this devotional from book sneeze I knew I had to get it. The book contains 52 Devotions that are  based on the three cycles that make up the base of Love and respect.

 These cycles are: the crazy cycle, the rewarded cycle, and the energizing cycle.

When I received it in the mail I was thoroughly surprised and impressed. It is beautifully leather bounded. The colors are rich and pages are smooth and inviting. I love the way the pages are set up, especially that at the end we have a time of prayer and an action to take on after reading that devotional. My husband and I have been reading it before we go to bed and we are able to recall the information we learned before; but for those who have not read the book there are many resources at the end of the book. Devotionals are not on the men's top picks for book to read, so when I saw that this one was especially geared for men I knew we had to give it try. My husband is very satisfied with it and the only thing he wished for was for a bookmark as part of the book to mark the place we left off at. We highly recommend this devotional. Warning: you might not only be able to read one at a time or one a week for that matter!

Gracefully Daisy and Josh

Book Review: Doing Virtuous Business by Theodore Roosevelt Malloch

 
Doing Virtuous business strives to explain the connection between a free economy and freedom of religion.
Through out the book he presents different virtues and how they have made a difference in specific businesses as they were practiced. He argues that doing virtuous business makes the world a better place as well as making the companies who practice it more profitable and successful.
   The tittle caught my attention. In our world we don't see virtuous business occurring often. So I wanted to explore what this author had to say about this. I think I was expecting a book that displayed biblical truths and principles to help make the argument of virtuous enterprise. What I discovered instead was a fragmented look at virtue. Fragmented because he used so many different ideas from different philosophers and religions. It was laced with too much new age thinking to my liking. In my opinion when you don't make a distinction between Christian principles and new age ideas you create confusion. I would not recommend this book.

Gracefully Daisy

Book Review: Beyond all Measure by Dorothy Love

Ada Wentworth arrives in Hickory Ridge, Tennessee after answering an ad for a job with a  plan in mind to salvage her meager finances.She is a young Bostonian that leaves all that is familiar to her and steps into a town that is still rebuilding itself after the Civil War. She took a step into the unknown driven by shame, heart ache, and loneliness after a broken engagement without explanation. She arrived by train  expecting to be picked up by Hannah but encounters Wyatt instead -her boss who has hired her to care for Lillian, a strong willed old lady set in her ways! She soon discovers that she was hired to assume all the chores of the household as well as care for Lillian. Ada's expectations soon begin to change as she embraces her new job and finds her heart opening up to love, to Hickory Ridge and to the new people in her life. Tension rises when Ada takes under arm a mulatto orphan by helping her with her school lessons. Despite the threats Ada continues to help the orphan and after Lillian passes away she finds herself alone again and a crossroads.In running away from her past, she realizes she must face it and and give it over to God, trusting him to heal her heart so that she embraces  the new future He has prepared for her.


The historical setting of this book, the rebuilding time after the civil war parallels the rebuilding that is happening in Ada's heart. This book reminds me that we must trust God with all the areas of our life. We can't hold on to unforgiveness and expect our heart to heal after it has been hurt. It was an inspiring story that left me wanting to learn more about Ada and look forward to reading the other books about Ada.





Gracefully Daisy

Book Review: Matar a Lutero

Matar a Lutero es una obra ficción acerca de un corto tiempo en la vida de Lutero. Durante la primera parte de este libro vemos a Lutero huyendo después de su famosa defensa en la Dieta de Worms.  La segunda parte comienza con la  llegada al Castillo de Wartburg Y el trabajo que emprende mientras está escondido. En la tercera parte vemos los resultados de sus decisiones y como responde a la situación que se ha desarrollado en Alemania durante su ausencia.

Aunque he escuchado la historia de Lutero nunca la he estudiado detalladamente. Este Libro ha sido para mí una buena introducción que me impulsa a estudiar la vida de este hombre de fe. Porque es una obra de ficción y no estoy muy bien familiarizada con la historia se me hizo difícil distinguir que era ficción y que era realidad. En mi opinión pude captar aunque sea un vistazo de cómo era la vida cotidiana de aquellos tiempos. La pasión que salta de las páginas del libro me ayudo a entender cuanto arriesgaba Lutero en esa época y cuan necesaria era la reforma. Leer este libro abrió una puerta para aprender más acerca de estos hombres de fe que arriesgaron su vida para que la palabra de Dios fuera accesible a todos. 

Recomendaría este libro.

Now in English:

Matar a Lutero(To Kill Luther), is a fictional work about a short time in the life of Martin Luther. During the first part of this book we see Luther running for his life after his famous defense them at the Diet of Worms . The second part begins with his arrival to at the Wartburg Castle where he begins his exile and begins to work on translating the New Testament. In the third part of this book we see the results of his decisions and how he responds to the situation in Germany during his absence.

Even though I had heard the story of Luther I had stopped to study it in detail. This book has been a good introduction that impulses me to study more about the life of this man of faith. Because it is a fictional work and I am not completely familiar with the history it became difficult for me to distinguish between actual history and fiction. In my opinion I was able to capture a glimpse into everyday life of those times. The passion that jumped at me from the pages of the book helped me to understand how much was at stake for Luther and how imperative the reform was. Reading this book opened a door through which I will walk through to learn more about these men of faith who risked their lives so that the word of God could be accessible to all. I would recommend this book.

Gracefully Daisy

Book Review : God's Wisdom for Mothers, compiled by Jack Countryman

      Wanting a little encouragement after the baby's three hour losing battle with sleep?

What about the day when the laundry seems to be a mountain,

 the baby wants your arms as well, 

and the sink is calling out from underneath the every growing pile of dishes? 

God's wisdom offers a little refreshment even if you are rocking the baby, doing laundry or starting dinner. The book is tiny you can take it with you from room to room and read a little nugget at a time. 

When I opened it I felt like I was opening a box of chocolates and I was able to have one and savor it, or have two at a time and not feel guilty but instead feel calm.

     In summary this book is a collection of  bible verses. The bible verses are divided into nine sections. These sections include: God's Wisdom, God's wisdom with Children as well as God Walks with Mothers, and six more sections of areas relevant to a mother's walk.

       When I chose this book from the book sneeze website I was not sure what I was going to get. When I opened it to the first chapter I got very excited because it was straight up bible verses compiled in a sweet little book! As a new mother I need all the help I can get from God's Wisdom! I enjoyed the convenience of having a  little book with me around the house that I can pick up and instantly connect with a piece of God's wisdom, especially on those days when I need a little pick me up! I was inspired by this tiny book with its golden nuggets of truth so readily available. I would love to gift this book at a baby shower, or when I visit a new mother in the hospital after their baby is born. It is so wonderful to know that the Lord cares about mothers and their daily lives! Reading out of the bible is a great thing but it feels wonderful to be able to pick up one book and within it almost instantly find the verse you are looking for without having to go through 66 books!

      I highly recommend this book.