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Book Review: An Unexplainable Life: Recovering the Wonder and Devotion of the Early Church (Acts 1-12) by Erica Wiggenhorn

An Unexplainable Life

From the Back Cover

Can you explain your life apart from God?

Most of us live a shadow of the life we’re called to. Perhaps more than any other book in the Bible, Acts shows us what life can be when lived in the power of God.

An Unexplainable Life is an in-depth study meant to reignite a movement of the Holy Spirit in us individually and in our churches collectively.

  • Verse-by-verse study of Acts 1–12, spread over ten weeks (5 lessons/week)
  • Full of biblical, theological, and historical insights
  • Text-based discussion questions that truly provoke thought

Erica’s love for God, His Word, and His church shines on every page. She masterfully guides us deep into the text, challenging us with Scripture as she shares how it is challenging her.

Engage honestly with this study, and you will be changed. Go through it with a small group, and you will come away as a powerful force. Complete it as a church, and who knows what the Lord will do?

“Acts is the story of Christ’s mission becoming reality in the lives of His followers. To study it is an invitation for it to become your reality and mine.” —Erica Wiggenhorn

About the Author

ERICA WIGGENHORN is the founder of EveryLifeMinistries, bringing the truths of Scripture to transform lives. She teaches in various local and national venues and serves on the women’s ministry leadership team for her church. She’s also taught women in the Arizona State Prison system, and overseas. She loves to bring God’s Word through Bible teaching, conferences, seminars and retreats. A graduate of Azusa Pacific University, Erica lives in Phoenix with her husband, Jonathan, and their two children, Eliana and Nathan. For more information about Erica, her Bible studies, and writing/speaking ministry, visit www.EricaWiggenhorn.com.

My Review

NOTE: I reviewed the paperback version.
When I received this book, my first word was “WOW”. This is a Bible study that takes the reader verse by verse through Acts 1-12. This is an intense study that is perfect for those who truly want to know the word of God better. I like how all the questions and activities are in blue ink while all the commentary from the author is in black ink. The number of questions impressed me. The study is also full of cross references that pertain to the study. The introduction explains about a group leaders guide and some extra material available on the authors website. The book is organized beautifully. I love the touch of watercolor that ties into the blue colored questions. The paper is a nice thickness to be able to journal and write as you go through the study. This book is really a work of art. I wish I could find more Bible studies like this one.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free in exchange for my honest review from the publisher through the Moody Blogger Review Program. http://www.mpnewsroom.com/content/blogger-review-program I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Book Review: Angels: Who They Are, What They Do, and Why It Matters by Jack Graham

AngelsJackGraham

From the Back Cover

The Truth About Angels

Myths about angels are everywhere. Do we become angels when we die? Are angels always hovering nearby, on guard to protect us from danger? Can we talk to them? Many of our ideas about angels come from the media, which is more interested in ratings and ticket sales than truth. It’s important for Christians to understand what angels really are.

Pastor Jack Graham walks you through Scripture, revealing the truth about angels and what they offer us: encouragement, counsel, confirmation of God’s will, strength, protection, wisdom, companionship, and more. Focusing on practical application, Dr. Graham separates fact from fiction and demonstrates that the main role of angels isn’t to draw attention to themselves, but to point us toward Christ.

My Review

Angels: Who They Are, What They Do, and Why It Matters by Jack Graham discusses the topic of angels in a unique way. Instead of making a reference style book, Jack Graham tells stories involving angels and the character of God.  Jack Graham splits the book up into four sections: Part One The Wisdom of Angels and You Start the Journey, Part Two The Protection of Angels as You Sustain Life’s Blows, Part Three The Encouragement of Angels as You Soar on Eagles’ Wings, Part Four The Presence of Angels as You Stay the Course With Christ. Each section is broken up into three to four chapters. FORGIVENESS When You’ve Sinned Against God, PERSPECTIVE When You Can’t See Strait, PROVISION When You Are in Need, CONFIDENCE When You Are Being Led by the Spirit, COMFORT When You Are Afraid, COURAGE When You Are in Danger, ADVOCACY When You’re Excluded or Despised, SHELTER In the Midst of the Storm, SPURRED ON When You’re Spiritually Lethargic, FAITHFULNESS When You’ve Been Broken, VICTORY When You Are Tempted, COMPASSIONSHIP When You Are Lonely, PERSISTENCE When You Want to Give Up, ASSURANCE When You Are Dying, INSPIRATION When You’re Short on Hope. Each chapter has several stories related to the chapter title. The wide range of subtopics leaves a wide variety for everyone to find something to relate to. My favorite part was in the first chapter where Jack Graham talks about the holiness of God. Jack Graham brings a new light to people found in the Bible and their encounters with angels that will leave the reader changed in a positive way. I recommend this book for anyone needing encouragement and anyone wanting to learn more about angels.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Bethany House Blogger Review Program. http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/bethanyhouse/bookreviewers I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Book Review: The Daniel Prayer by Anne Graham Lotz

From cover:

Many people today find that their prayers don’t “work.” And like a broken cell phone, DVD player, or TV remote, they throw prayer out as unnecessary “clutter” in their busy lives. Anne Graham Lotz has found that while prayer does work, sometimes the “pray-ers” don’t. So she has turned to the prophet Daniel for help.
The Daniel Prayer is born deep within your soul, erupts through your heart, and pours out on your lips, words created by and infused with the Spirit of God quivering with spiritual electricity. It’s really not an everyday type of prayer. It’s a prayer birthed under pressure. Heartache. Grief. Desperation. It can be triggered by a sudden revelation of hope. An answer to prayer, a promise freshly received, a miracle that lies just over the horizon…
Join Anne in a thrilling discovery of prayer that really works.
This book will help readers pray effectively for their nation, for their families, and for themselves. She will answer such questions as:

  • Does God only hear the prayers of good people?
  • How do I know the God to whom I pray will listen?
  • How do I know God cares about my prayer?
  • How do I know God will answer my prayer?
  • Why should I pray?
  • Does it matter where I am when I pray?
  • Are words in prayer all that matter, or does my attitude affect prayer?
  • What difference does my prayer make?

The book also includes some of her original prayers that demonstrate the principles taught in The Daniel Prayer.

My Review:

The Daniel Prayer by Anne Graham Lotz is full of prayers that would change lives personally, in communities, across the nations and the world. The Daniel Prayer is based on Daniel 9. Anne shows the reader to prepare for prayer, how to plead in prayer, and about how God answers prayer. the last section of the book is helpful for learning prayer patterns about prayers that are centered, compelled, confident, contrite, clear and for warfare.  The Daniel Prayer by Anne Graham Lotz shows the passion that is poured out in Daniel 9 and how we can have that passion today for our world today. The note section in the back stood out to me with a beautiful walk though of all the scriptures used and other notes about the book chapter by chapter. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting deeper and more effective prayer either in group or personal study.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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We are God’s Obsession


2 Kings 4:1-7 “Now a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord ; and the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.” Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.” Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels at large for yourself from all your neighbors, even empty vessels; do not get a few. And you shall go in and shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour out into all these vessels, and you shall set aside what is full.” So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons; they were bringing the vessels to her and she poured. When the vessels were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not one vessel more.” And the oil stopped. Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt, and you and your sons can live on the rest.”

We are vessels of God. Like the vessels in 2kings 4, God searches for vessels that are capable of carrying His glory. There are conditions that the vessels have to meet to qualify. God heals the broken vessels and makes them stronger. God creates each of us vessels like a master potter.

Like Adam, God searched all of creation for a bride for His son but no created thing was worthy or able to carry His glory, so He created man and women in His own image so that we could have the relationship with Him that His Son was desperately desiring.

We say that God is our obsession but really we are Gods obsession. He took His very words and formed them into man to relate with our form so that He could take upon our sins. He came and lived a perfect life so that He would be worthy for us, worthy of taking our sins, dying, concerning Hell and taking back the keys that we were so foolish with and raising up again. That’s obsession.

Now the Holy Spirit searches for vessels that He can fill like the widow was going all over hunting vessels for oil. Gods glory isn’t fading. His glory is multiplying like the oil in 2kings. God is looking for willing, worthy vessels that have been cleaned so they don’t pollute the oil. Jesus is looking for His bride.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxTSrDY9F6Q]