Drops Of Grace {#6}

It’s Friday again and I want to share some great links with you that have blessed me the past week or two.

• Do you find yourself struggling during the times you sit down to read the Word of God?  Do you want to learn, grow, dig in deeper…but just feel like you’re floundering?  Or maybe your daily (or almost daily!) time with God is going well but you are always interested in new tools to help you retain more from your time in Scripture.  Then this Secret Sauce is for you!
• Are you a Mom?  There are 2 great books on sale for the next few days from my mentor (print only…I don’t really know her in person!) who has taught me so much.  Hope you enjoy these!
• You know I like to read, but do you?  Here’s a good list of book recommendations from the wife of Joe Thorn.
• There is a lot of controversy over Mother’s Day.  But here is a very short post with a whole lot of wisdom on the matter.

Jesus Calling–Teen Edition by Sarah Young {Book Review}

Jesus Calling: Enjoy Peace in His Presence by Sarah Young
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Overview

This edition of Jesus Calling is a year's worth of daily devotions for the teen years. Each day there is a small reading which is written as if it's a direct message from Jesus Himself. Then there is a Scripture written out and one to be looked up in his/her own Bible for further reading.

These daily readings are not "light and fluffy", but rather solid truth that will encourage their young hearts to rest in the unending love of God. It is a great way to invest $15 that will teach and encourage your teen.

The Readability

It is a perfect blend of "short" and "deep" to make this a solid, yet easy-to-read devotional for teens and perhaps some tweens. It presents sound theology in a way that connects to the teens daily life.

The Highlights

The biggest highlight is that it's built on the solid foundation of God's Word and how it applies to a child's daily life. There are no cute little stories, but truth after truth to remind their minds of who God really is and what He has promised to those who believe on His Son for salvation.

The Downside

I really don't see a downside in this book.

The Recommendation

I highly recommend this book to parents, grandparents, or any adult looking for a Bible based devotional that takes the teens deeper than just another "example story". While it is meant for teens, some tweens (10-12) may enjoy this, too.

Burnout: Resting in God’s Fairness by Brad Hambrick {Book Review}

Burnout: Resting in God's Fairness by Brad Hambrick
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Overview

This mini-book is a quick overview of what burnout is, how you can prevent it, and how you can overcome it for those suffering now. It's like a short Bible study on what Scripture has to say and how God's Word has hope and practical answers for this challenge in our lives. Each point made in this booklet is followed by application steps to flesh out the Biblical principles into your life right now.

The Readability

The beauty of a mini-book is that it's short - making it simple to read within an hour or less. It's only 40 pages in length and very easy understand and digest.

The Highlights

My favorite aspect of this book is how he creates a word picture by relating our time to the idea of spending money. With this picture in my minds eye I easily grasped the concepts he shares.

The Downside

The one downside I saw was that there was only one little section on what burnout is. While there were lots of teaching and practical aids, I would have liked to read more about what causes and what happens in burnout cases.

The Recommendation

I recommend this book for people wanting to avoid or overcome burnout. It nicely compliments and goes hand-in-hand with Burned Out?, the mini-book by CCEF. This is a great resource for counselors,for small group leaders, and for anyone in general.

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I received a courtesy copy from P&R Publishing for review purposes only, but the opinion expressed is my own.