The Hand of God by Alistair Begg updated edition

A favorite verse of many Christians is Romans 8:28. Begg explores the truth of that verse, the biblical doctrine of God's providence. It is not surprising that he uses the life of Joseph to do so.

I thought this book might be another same old kind of study but I was pleasantly surprised. Begg helps readers understand the experiences Joseph went through. Joseph quickly went from favored son to slave. What a shock. Yet God was accomplishing His purpose even when it must have seemed to Joseph that everything was going wrong. It is a lesson for us to trust God even in the darkest times.

Another lesson from the book related to our own disappointment when everything isn't the way we'd like. We look for the ideal place to live, to work, to worship and more. Begg reminds us the ideal is saved for heaven. Our search for the ideal circumstances will only lead to disappointment.

I was impressed with how Begg showed God forming Joseph's character, even during his childhood and youth in a dysfunctional family. That was encouraging. That gives hope. Even though there was trauma and death, God was there shaping Joseph for the future.

There are many other lessons Begg reveals to readers such as not becoming bitter and prospering in drudgery. There were even some lessons to learn from Potiphar's and Jacob's actions.

I recommend this book to readers who would like some good insights from a familiar story in the Bible.

You can read an excerpt from the book here.

I reviewed the updated edition of this book releasing January 1, 2019.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Alistair Begg was born in Scotland and spent the first 30 years of his life in the United Kingdom. He went to Trent University, London School of Theology, and Westminster Seminary. He served two Scottish churches following graduation. He has been the senior pastor at Parkside Church in suburban Cleveland since 1983. He is the daily speaker on the national radio program Truth for Life and is the author of several books. He and his wife have three grown children.

Moody Press, 256 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Catching Christmas by Terri Blackstock Blog Tour

About the Book

Book: Catching Christmas  
Author: Terri Blackstock  
Genre: Christian Fiction, Romance, Christmas  
Release Date: October 9, 2018  

This Year, Christmas Comes Just in Time As a first-year law associate, Sydney Batson knows she will be updating her resume by New Year’s if she loses her current court case. So when her grandmother gets inexplicably ill while she’s in court, Sydney arranges for a cab to get her to the clinic. The last thing cab driver Finn Parrish wants is to be saddled with a wheelchair-bound old lady with dementia. But because Miss Callie reminds him of his own mother, whom he failed miserably in her last days, he can’t say no when she keeps calling him for rides. Once a successful gourmet chef, Finn’s biggest concern now is making his rent, but half the time Callie doesn’t remember to pay him. And as she starts to feel better, she leads him on wild goose chases to find a Christmas date for her granddaughter. When Finn meets Sydney, he’s quite sure that she’s never needed help finding a date. Does Miss Callie have an ulterior motive, or is this just a mission driven by delusions? He’s willing to do whatever he can to help fulfill Callie’s Christmas wish. He just never expected to be a vital part of it.

Click here to purchase your copy.

My Review

Blackstock's novel is not a lighthearted, sweet Christmas romance. There are some heavy aspects to it. For example, there is the meaning of success and the price one is willing to pay for it. Another one is burnout in an occupation. There are several serious issues regarding family relationships too. The relationship between Sydney and Finn, the main characters, gets off to a rough start. Readers are aware of their feelings as the point of view alternates between them. Their interactions are mostly stressed and that a romantic relationship would quickly develop between seemed a little unrealistic. Both characters are plagued with guilt over neglecting loved ones and surprisingly, that obstacle was not really overcome before romance blossomed.

This Christmas novel is for readers who would like one with serious issues woven into it and who are not frustrated when some of the issues have not been resolved at the end. The novel does contain a message about priorities. Having a good relationship with God is touched upon but not to the extent that a salvation message is included.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author

Terri Blackstock has sold over seven million books worldwide and is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author. She is the award-winning author of Intervention, Vicious Cycle, and Downfall, as well as such series as Cape Refuge, Newpointe 911, the SunCoast Chronicles, and the Restoration Series. Catching Christmas is her first Christmas romance. Visit her website at www.terriblackstock.com Facebook: tblackstock Twitter: @terriblackstock

From Terri Blackstock

Enjoy this premium excerpt from Catching Christmas:

https://aerbook.com/books/-128993.html?utm_source=pubpage 

To get you in the Christmas mood, here’s an early holiday playlist: “White Christmas” sung by Bing Crosby “I Heard the Bells” sung by MercyMe “Light of the World” sung by Lauren Daigle “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” sung by Amy Grant “Don’t Save it All for Christmas Day” sung by Avalon “Till the Season Comes ‘Round Again” sung by the Katinas.

Blog Stops

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The Power of Words, December 16

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, December 16

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Among the Reads, December 17

Kathleen Denly, December 17

By The Book, December 17

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Cultivating Us, December 18

Simple Harvest Reads, December 18 (Guest Post from Mindy Houng)

Remembrancy, December 18

Caffeinated Christian Raves – N – Reviews, December 19

Jennifer Sienes: Where Crisis and Christ Collide, December 19

Christian Author, J.E. Grace, December 19

All-of-a-kind Mom, December 20

amandainpa, December 20

Christian Chick’s Thoughts, December 20

Multifarious, December 21

Cathe Swanson, December 21

Stories By Gina, December 21

Connect in Fiction, December 22

Have A Wonderful Day, December 22

Splashes of Joy, December 22

Bibliophile Reviews, December 22

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 23

Lis Loves Reading, December 23

Mary Hake, December 23

Bigreadersite, December 23

Book by Book, December 24

Pause for Tales, December 24

To Everything A Season, December 24

Southern Gal Loves to Read, December 25

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, December 25

Vicky Sluiter, December 25

Tell Tale Book Reviews, December 26

Inklings and notions, December 26

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, December 26

Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, December 27

Captive Dreams Window, December 27

Texas Book-aholic, December 27

A Baker’s Perspective, December 27

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 28

Older & Smarter?, December 28

Janices book reviews, December 28

Carpe Diem, December 28

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review.

The Confident Woman Devotional Expanded and Revised Edition by Joyce Meyer

I certainly appreciate a good dose of confidence building every day. That's exactly what I found in Meyer's devotional. I appreciate Meyer writing from her own experience. Sexually abused as a child, she did not grow up with confidence. She had to learn it. Meyer is not writing in theory but as a result of her developing confidence in God's love for her. Since she knows what it is like to struggle with lack of confidence, she wants to help women in the same situation.

I like that Meyer concentrates on women developing their self-image and worth in Christ, not in worldly success or appearance. I like a year devotional on the subject because we women get pressured by the world every day. Confidence didn't happen immediately for Meyer and it won't for us. We need daily encouragement to develop our confidence in Christ.

Does she deliver? Yes. I really appreciate the encouragement in this book. It is based on truth from the Bible. Meyer includes a Scripture, a paragraph or two of encouragement and a prayer. Readers familiar with Meyer know she is not shy in her teaching. Devotionals are about being secure in your identity in Christ, having the right mindset, refusing to quit, stepping out in faith, and much more. These are not feel good devotions but rather hard hitting messages on being who God wants us to be.

This is a revised and expanded edition of the devotional originally released in 2011.

I recommend this devotional to women who need daily reminding of the true basis of image, worth, and confidence. Single women should know some of the devotions are aimed at wives and mothers.

Food for thought: “You can do whatever you need to do in life.” (May 29)

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Joyce Meyer is one of the world's leading practical Bible teachers. She has been teaching the Word of God since 1976 and has been in full time ministry since 1980. She is a New York Times bestselling author and has written nearly 100 inspirational books. She has also released thousands of audio teachings, as well as a complete video library. She and her husband are the parents of four grown children and live in St. Louis, Missouri.

FaithWords, 432 pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Start Writing Your Book Today by Morgan Gist MacDonald

You may have thought about writing a book. Research indicates most people do. If you are wondering how to determine the topic, how to develop good writing habits, how to keep the momentum going, this book is for you. MacDonald does a good job of helping you get clarity on the message to share and how to determine the length of the book. She has practical suggestions to prevent self sabotage, writing the first draft and saving editing for later.

I really appreciate the information in this book. While I learned a great deal about the writing process, my favorite part of the book is about receiving criticism. Her insights on that topic are very helpful.

MacDonald inspired me to commit to writing and has given me the tools to do so. While she is an advocate of independent or self publishing, this book ends at the finished manuscript. How to get that book loaded up to a retail site and actually available for purchase is not included.

I recommend this book to people drawn to writing, suspecting they have a message to share. You'll find out how to get clarity on the message and receive valuable information on the writing process.

My rating:4/5 stars.

Morgan Gist MacDonald is a writing coach and editor of nonfiction writing, as well as the founder of Paper Raven Books. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and three children. You can follow her informative blog at http://paperravenbooks.com/blog/.

Paper Raven Books, 138 pages.

Mind Games by Nancy Mehl Blog Tour

About the Book

Book: Mind Games  
Author: Nancy Mehl  
Genre: Suspense  
Release Date: December, 2018  
Publisher: Bethany House 

FBI Behavioral Analyst Kaely Quinn’s methods may be highly unorthodox, but her talent is undeniable. She’s done her best to establish a new life for herself after being demoted and transferred to St. Louis when a reporter revealed she’s the daughter of an infamous serial killer. But when that same reporter claims to have received an anonymous poem predicting a string of murders, ending with Kaely’s, it seems her old life has followed her. When a body is found that fits the poem’s morbid predictions, Kaely and her new partner, Special Agent Noah Hunter, are forced to move past his skepticism of her approach and work together to unravel the deadly riddle. With a brazen serial killer who breaks all the normal patterns on the loose, Noah and Kaely are tested to their limits to catch the murderer before anyone else, including Kaely, is killed.

Click here to purchase your copy!

My Review

This is the best character driven Christian suspense novel I have read in ages. Mehl's development of Kaely, the major character, is masterful. I was fascinated by Kaely's thought processes as she had insights into the villain. I liked how she had to work through and overcome a number of issues, beginning with being the daughter of a serial killer. The novel includes some powerful and well presented theological discussions about God and evil in the world. I liked Kaely's explanation of how she came to her firm belief in God.

On top of that, this novel is a good mystery. Mehl provides many suspects and I had a great time trying to identify the villain before Kaely figured it out. I liked the suspense at the end too.

I have read a number of Mehl's books and I think this may be her best one yet. I recommend it to readers who like a character driven mystery. I am really looking forward to the next in the series.

My rating: 5/5 stars.

About the Author

Nancy Mehl (www.nancymehl.com) is the author of more than thirty books, including the Road to Kingdom, Finding Sanctuary, and Defenders of Justice series. She received the ACFW Mystery Book of the Year Award in 2009. She has a background in social work and is a member of ACFW and RWA. She writes from her home in Missouri, where she lives with her husband, Norman, and their Puggle, Watson. She is part of The Suspense Sisters: www.suspensesisters.blogspot.com, along with several other popular suspense authors. She is also very active on Facebook.

Guest Post from Nancy

Writing Mind Games is a dream come true. I’ve been interested in FBI profiling for years. I’ve read about it, studied it, and watched every TV special I could find on the subject. So when the chance finally came to write the book I’ve always wanted to write, I jumped at it. Thankfully, through the help of another writer, I was hooked up with a retired FBI profiler. I was so excited. Until I found out I had almost everything wrong. Yes, I had some understanding about profiling, but I knew nothing about the FBI and how it works. First of all, the FBI doesn’t call the men and women who profile criminals, profilers. They’re called Behavioral Analysts. The plot for Mind Games had my analyst running around the country solving crimes while she was stationed in St. Louis. Uh, no. Behavioral analysts do travel, but they all work out of Quantico in Virginia. So…I rewrote. There were ways around my conundrum, but one solution led to more and more problems. We finally worked through them. Then I spent the next few months learning acronyms. CIRG, CJIS, NCAVC, HRT, UNSUB, CNU, THU, ViCap, CODIS, SWAT, ERTU, OPU, THRU, ERT… Well, the list goes on and on. The FBI is made up of many specialized units. And a plethora of acronyms, it seems. I rewrote Mind Games three times before my source said we were good to go. If you assume I’m out of the woods now, you’d be wrong. I haven’t had the nerve to open up the manuscript I sent her for book two in my Kaely Quinn Profiler series. I figured I had Fire Storm right but… Well, I can tell from her email comments I’ll be doing more rewriting. Sigh. So is it worth it? A resounding yes! I love learning, and as long as my analyst friend hangs in with me (she has the patience of Job), I’ll keep at it. I hope you enjoy Mind Games. It’s edgy but fun. Kaely Quinn is a quirky character. She was thrown out of Quantico because her version of profiling is… Well, you’ll just have to read the book to find out!

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, December 11

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amandainpa, December 11

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Reading Is My SuperPower, December 13

By The Book, December 13

Lighthouse Academy, December 13

Multifarious, December 14

Jennifer Sienes: Where Crisis and Christ Collide, December 14

Splashes of Joy, December 14

Back Porch Reads, December 15

Real World Bible Study, December 15

Robin is Bookish, December 15

Janices book reviews, December 15

C Jane Read, December 16

Ashley’s Bookshelf, December 16

The Becca Files, December 16

Bigreadersite, December 16

Quiet Quilter, December 17

Margaret Kazmierczak, December 17

Godly Book Reviews, December 17

All-of-a-kind Mom, December 18

Just the Write Escape, December 18

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, December 18

Simple Harvest Reads, December 19 (Guest post from Mindy Houng)

Mary Hake, December 19

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 19

For the Love of Literature, December 20

Remembrancy, December 20

Inklings and notions, December 20

Carpe Diem, December 20

Tell Tale Book Reviews, December 21

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 21

Pause for Tales, December 21

A Baker’s Perspective, December 21

Have A Wonderful Day, December 22

Book by Book, December 22

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, December 22

Bibliophile Reviews, December 23

To Everything a Season, December 23

Southern Gal Loves to Read, December 23

Cafinated Reads, December 24

Texas Book-aholic, December 24

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 24

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review. The rest of the copy of this post was provided by Celebrate Lit.