Do you want to live a life without rival? Although I had never identified it in quite those terms before, a new book from Revell helped me realize that my answer was, indeed, yes! “Without Rival: Embrace Your Identity and Purpose in an Age of Confusion and Comparison” is the newest book written by bestselling author Lisa Bevere. With love, humor, and an upbeat writing style, “Without Rival” drew me in from the first page and helped me look at many aspects of Christian life with refreshing and often exciting insight. Continue reading
“The Jesus Bible: Sixty-six Books. One Story. All About One Name.” The title of this new NIV Bible grabbed my attention right away, and when I saw the descriptions of the study features included inside I knew it would be a special volume. Featured in this Bible are essays by Louie Giglio, Max Lucado, John Piper, Ravi Zacharias, and Randy Alcorn on the overarching narrative of Scripture, plus the sidebars contain numerous articles discussing the revelation of Jesus through each book of the Bible. Introductions to each of the sixty-six books are designed to highlight the ever-present story of Jesus in every page of Scripture, and to help us understand the purpose of each individual author in pointing us towards Him. 
Are you searching for a high-quality, durable, and reader-friendly Bible that is suitable for everyday use? So was I, until I found a lovely new version from Thomas Nelson, entitled “NKJV Journal the Word Large Print Bible: Reflect, Journal, or Create Art Next to Your Favorite Verses”. From the floral-fabric encased hardcover to the thick, cream-colored pages, this Bible delighted me from the start. Of course, the special feature of this edition was also a bonus – the lightly ruled lines vertically bordering one side of each page allow for plenty of room to include notes, reflections, or even art next to the verses themselves. 
Does your family include any furry members of the feline variety? If your answer is yes, I have just the book for you! “Kit Kat and Lucy: The Country Cats Who Changed a City Girl’s World” by Lonnie Hull DuPont is a sweet and charming book about a pair of cats who truly fulfilled the title of their story, in both remarkable and everyday-ordinary ways.
“In the beginning, you were made well. Designed with divine imagination, shaped by sacred hands, and crafted by the Curator of creation. You and I were called good. We were already enough.” Such is the opening line of Jenny Simmons’ new release from Baker Books, “Made Well”. The subtitle describes it best: “Finding Wholeness in the Everyday Sacred Moments”. 
Have you been looking for a Study Bible that will actually look interesting to a tween-aged child – particularly a boy? If so, then look no further than the “Kids Study Bible: Airship Genesis Legendary Bible Adventure”! The back cover says it best: “‘The Airship Genesis Kids Study Bible’ brings Bible stories to life and helps kids discover vital truths from Scripture, finding real-life applications for children living in today’s world.” Some of the features included in this fun, appealing edition of the NKJV Bible are: 
Some books are just plain difficult to review… “The Rewired Brain: Free Yourself of Negative Behaviors and Release Your Best Self” by Dr. Ski Chilton, with Dr. Margaret Rukstalis and A.J. Gregory, is just such a book. Published by BakerBooks in the fall of 2016, this title immediately caught my attention because I have learned a great deal from similar works (most by Dr. Caroline Leaf, who I highly recommend) about improving our thought lives. Since “The Rewired Brain” was published by a Christian company, I assumed that the content would be based upon Scriptures and would perhaps give new insight into “renewing our mind” from the viewpoints of both science and the Bible. While this is somewhat the case, another element that I hadn’t anticipated also came into play… 
We all know the Christmas story. Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, the long-awaited Messiah, the Savior, the Great I AM in the flesh comes to earth as a humble infant, born of the virgin in a lowly Bethlehem stable. Truly, the story of Christmas, is one of the two greatest stories ever told (Easter being the other). But to many, the story is one that has become so familiar, that it has, perhaps, lost its feeling of wonderment. Sometimes it would seem as though we have lost our ability to truly be awed by the fact that the Creator of the universe came not only to us, but as one of us… yet so much more! 
I adore Susie Larson’s writing style. It is warm and personal, sweet and conversational. So, when I discovered her newest book had been released, I couldn’t wait to read it… “Your Powerful Prayers: Reaching the Heart of God with a Bold and Humble Faith” was published by Bethany House in the fall of 2016, and as the title reveals, is focused entirely on the purpose and value of prayer in the life of a Christian. 
If you or someone you love has ever experienced a season of sadness and desolation, if you (or they) have ever felt hopeless and overwhelmed by life, you simply must read a new book published by Revell in 2016. It is appropriately entitled “Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey through Depression”, and was written by Dr. Michelle Bengtson. This book is NOT a textbook-like volume filled with the latest scientific studies and newly discovered “cures”, nor is it a memoir filled with all the details of one person’s struggles. Instead, this book is a combination of many things, and each one points toward the truth of God’s word on the subject. 
Prairie Sky Book Reviews 