MERCY PRAYER by Robert Gelinas

    The Mercy Prayer: The One Prayer Jesus Always Answers by Robert Gelinas was not what I expected based on the title. Headlined as “The One Prayer Jesus Answered” I expected to read about how to pray effectively when going through difficult times. What I read was a book on God's mercy throughout scripture.

    For a better understanding of God’s mercy reading The Mercy Prayer: The One Prayer Jesus Always Answers would be very helpful. The author walks the reader through a Biblical study of how Father God reveals His love for His children in their times of need.

    My hesitancy in really liking this book is the complexity of the concept as the author Robert Gelinas presents it. I have been taught and teach the simplest prayer is: “Help” no need to pray “Lord have mercy” as the author suggest (page 62).  I believe God’s mercy by definition has nothing to do with what we do or do not understand but more with His love and compassion for us, saved or unsaved. Therefore, it is important to understand that He is a merciful God (reading this book will help) however we have no control over whom He shows mercy to.

I will cause all My goodness to pass before you, and I will declare My name, the Eternal One, before you. I will show mercy to whomever I choose to show mercy, and I will demonstrate compassion on whomever I choose to have compassion. Exodus 33:19 The Voice

  The basis of The Mercy Prayer: The One Prayer Jesus Always Answers is to teach people how merciful God is, I don’t think we will ever in our humanistic mind be able to fully grasp this subject. It is easy to believe God will forgive our sins it is those individuals who are on the major sin list (ideologically speaking) that cause us to not fully accept the mercy of Father God. As believers all we can do is to trust Him and lean not to our understanding.

I recommend this book to my readers. I would suggest getting an eBook or borrowing a copy. xxx Marsha L Randolph

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a review.   

EVIL DOES NOT HAVE THE LAST WORD by Eric Shoars PhD

    "Evil Does Not Have The Last Word" by Eric Shoars Ph.D. is a slow paced Biographical / Inspirational book.  It is a one sided conversation in which the author explains to the listener, or in this case the reader, how to overcome dark times. It is not just the author’s experiences that are discussed but those of others who have encountered difficult times which could be considered evil.

  I am struggling to write a review only because I see where the author was going however the pace of the book made it difficult for me to stay interested. Perhaps if I was going through some personal tragedy it would have been easier to follow.

   Now, I am thinking that perhaps this is a “guy”. In “Evil Does Not Have The Last Word” Dr. Shoars uses comic heroes to make some points.  This is definitely not like many of the other books on hope that I have read in the past.

   The fact that “Evil Does Not Have The Last Word” is not like any other books may be why this book is well worth reading.  Often when we are going through difficult times the books seem to read and say the same thing. Because his approach is different perhaps this is really the one you need particularly if you have just experienced a tragedy.

I recommend this book and though it is worth the purchase you might want to read a few pages first.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a review. 

DOWNSIDE UP Transform Rejection Into Your Golden Opportunity by Tracey Mitchell

    Just because a book is written by a woman does not mean that it is just for women. “Downside Up: Transform Rejection into Your Golden Opportunity ” by Tracey Mitchell is categorized as: Religion/ Christian Life/Women’s Issues, though technically true for purposes of who should read it I would classify it as Self-Help/ Motivational.

    Maybe the chapter “Divas, Deceivers, and Drama Queens”  is not something men can directly relate to, unless of course they are married, have a daughter, have a sister or two or have female friends but this same chapter presents 7 questions everyone should ask themselves regarding the people they are around.  “Let’s be honest: we have made some rather hasty if not outright bad decisions when it comes to selecting friends or business associates.” (page 54)  Ms. Mitchell writes.  Is this something that only women have difficulty with?

    “Downside Up: Transform Rejection into Your Golden Opportunity ” well help you get out of the slump you are in if you are a sales person, or if you have just ended a long term relationship. Reading this book will help you evaluate various relationships as well as behaviors so that “it” will not happen again.

    The book is divided into chapters, 11 total. At the end of each chapter there are chapter principles, Words of Wisdom (a Bible Quote), a Power Quote and a plan of action.

    I recommend this book. It would be difficult to check this one out of the library because you will want to keep it.  xxx Marsha L. Randolph

I was given a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

THE DISILLUSIONED BY D. J. WILLIAMS

    Some books you should not start unless you have time to finish it without interruption “The Disillusioned” by D. J Williams is one of them.  I declined an invitation from my husband to go out so that I could finish this book. Yes, it is better than good.

“You don’t just wake up one morning and decide to die.”

    What an ominous statement. (page 52 of my copy)  To answer this question Sam and Danny had to understand their mother’s will. How do you make sense out of something that does not make sense? Particularly when you believed you knew everything there was to know about your parents. How do you ascertain the truth when you do not know where to look? What would the truth look like; particularly after discovering that you believed in  an illusion?

     “The Disillusioned” is truly a well written novel filled with intrigue that just so happens to involve a church. Now there are jabs here and there about traditional religion and I think they were very appropriate, under the circumstances.  If you attend a mega-church put your sensitivity aside, no one is talking about you! The book is fiction.  If you hate big churches, please remind yourself that the book is fiction; this really did not happen even though it reads like a true life story. Get past the church thing and enjoy this very well crafted story of the individual journeys of 3 people who were destined to meet despite the circumstances.

Of course I recommend this book, it is to good to pass up! And I would suggest you purchase your own copy, don’t wait for it to come to a library.   MARSHA L. RANDOLPH 

I received a complimentary copy  in ebook format in exchange of an honest review.

THROUGH THE CRIMSON MIRROR

     I was sucked into the zone of “Through the Crimson Mirror” from the first sentence. As a reader I was able to appreciate the somber philosophical writing style of author Daniel Alexander. As a writer I understood the need to put his emotions into words and as a reviewer I appreciated his parenting observations.

    The eBook is less a do’s and don’ts of parenting and more of a consider this when you do that collection of very important ideas.   As the subtitle implies “Through the Crimson Mirror” is a biographical reflection such a complicated way of saying “how I got to be me”.  Daniel Alexander’s story is a reminder that there is no set formula to raising the perfect child yet there are some things that we as parents can do to not raise a troubled child. 

    If you are one who likes to pick up a book and read progressively, step one do this step two do that, you may have difficulty digesting the information in the book. There are “Symphonies” and “plays” and “scenes” in lieu of chapters. Don’t put the book down. I suggest you find a quiet space, take a deep breath and read one word at a time. 

“Through the Crimson Mirror” is a direct reflection of the author Daniel Alexander’s personal experience and it therefore reflects such.  In terms of parenting the reader may find some areas in which he or she is in 100 percent agreement and other areas in which he or she may strongly disagree with. Hopefully, upon completion of this book you will grow not just as a parent but as an individual.

I recommend this book and would strongly suggest you purchase it.

I receive a complimentary copy of the book in order to provide and honest review.