Book Reviews

Heart Hunger, Letting God Meet Your Emotional Needs, Cindi McMenamin. This book talks to women about their deep emotional needs and how to develop a relationship with Christ who can fill them. 

Mary of Magdala, Margaret George. This is a powerful, fictionalized account of Mary's life, from childhood to old age. I enjoyed getting insight into what it  might have been like to be possessed by demons, healed, disowned by family and friends, and to be a disciple of Jesus. 

Knowing God, J. I. Packer (Intervarsity Press). Do you know God or do you just know about him? This is a great book to help you get to know God better (with the exception of one chapter which I found a bit on the legalistic side). 

His Word in My Heart, Janet Pope (Moody). Scripture memorization - something we often feel we don't have time to do. Or we think it's just for kids. Janet Pope shows how it is a vital part of the Christian's inner life, and how easy it can be. Once you read her book and try memorizing (whole books at a time!), you will want to make it part of your daily life for the rest of your life. 

Divine Conspiracy, Dallas Willard (Harper). This is a must-read, but not an easy read. Richard Foster, in the foreword, says the book is comprehensive, accessible, has great depth of insight and is written with great warmth. Willard helps us understand the meaning and purpose of human existence. A study guide is also available, written by Jan Johnson, Keith Matthews and Dallas Willard. 

Hearing God, Developing a Conversational Relationship with God, Dallas Willard. This is a great book about having a two way relationship with God. About half way through, I realized I will need to read it again, and practice some of the journaling methods I learned in Luann Budd's book for the second reading. Dallas Willard offers very down to earth observations and wisdom that every Christian needs to understand. 

Dream Big, The Henrietta Mears Story, Earl O. Roe, Ed. An interesting and inspiring biography of a very influential Christian woman, whose work for the gospel continues today through those she taught. 

Journal Keeping, Writing for Spiritual Growth, Luann Budd. This is the best book on journaling I've read. It inspired me to pick up my pen again. Topics include Ordinary Things, Discovery Journaling, Drawing from Another's Well, Dialogue Journaling with Scriptures and When We Can't. 

Mad Mary, A Bad Girl from Magdala, Transformed at His Appearing, Liz Curtis Higgs. With her trademark humor and down to earth observations about things spiritual, Higgs blows away the myths surrounding Mary Magdalene and offers wonderful insights about our own spiritual understanding. A great book, especially poignant to read before Easter.

Really Bad Girls of the Bible, More Lessons from Less-Than-Perfect Women, Liz Curtis Higgs. If you read the first one, you'll love the second one. Higgs highlights some of the lesser known women of the Bible, inspiring and encouraging as always. 

Queenmaker, India Edghill. This novel about Michal tries to round out the sketchy information in Scripture about David's first wife and queen. At first I thought it was going to be very good, but the more I read, the more disappointed I became. It's not completely true to the Biblical account. It also paints David as a selfish brute, who cares more about power and image than God or others. I only finished the book because I hate to stop in the middle of something. Don't waste your time with this one.

A Lineage of Grace series, Francine Rivers. This series includes five novellas about "unlikely women who changed eternity." Rivers has beautifully filled out (in fiction form) the stories of Tamar, Rahab, Ruth Bathsheba and Mary, the mother of Jesus. I loved these books (and so did my 13-year-old daughter) for the way the lives of these ancestors of Jesus came alive. All are told from their own point of view. A study is included at the end of each book.

Please see previous reviews here.