SEEING THE UNSEEN, by Randy Alcorn

This book is a devotional, meant to cover 90 days. The author, Randy Alcorn, has included devotions for 90 days. Each devotion is titled, followed by a quote from Alcorn. Each chapter gives the reader several paragraphs of thoughts. He provides relevant Scripture verses after each chapter. Alcorn wraps up each devotion with quotes from prominent Christian authors, mostly from the past. He ends with an Author Bio, Notes about his Eternal Perspectives Ministries nonprofit, and finally, with Notes from sources consulted. Alcorn is the Founder and Director of Eternal Perspectives Ministries. He is the New York Times best-selling author of more than 50 books.

I knew exactly what to expect from this devotional. For I have read so many of Alcorn's other works. These include both nonfiction and fiction. He balances truth (God's holiness and justice) with grace (God's mercy and love). His theology stresses discipleship and maintaining an eternal perspective in everyday life. It is the focus of his ministry. A close second mission is to challenge Christians to live sacrificially on behalf of a suffering world. He has been strongly influenced by Christian leader and writer, John Piper. And this devotional is no different. It is both challenging and encouraging. I have been using it in daily devotions.

This book comes recommended for anyone. It's suitable for any Christian, regardless of stage of spiritual growth. It's suitable for pastors and Christian leaders to use, as they have to work on their own spiritual lives. For it's so easy, in Western culture, to keep an ongoing eternal perspective on the unseen things of God. This book can help. Unless they are searching for truth, this devotional may not interest anyone outside the Christian community.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through BLOGGINGFORBOOKS, in exchange for my honest review. This book I received was an Advance Review Copy and any review should be checked against the published version. I wasn't required to give a positive review of this book.

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THE RED-LETTER WORDS OF JESUS, by Jack Countryman

This book brands itself as illuminating words of Jesus. It is actually a devotion. The author, Countryman, starts his book with a short Introduction. Then he launches into his first verse. It is followed by a page of thoughts about the verse. And he similarly spreads his content across 100 verses. Countryman follows every verse with thoughts about it. These thoughts are meant to challenge the reader to apply the verses to his/her life. This is a small volume. The cover is true to the title and is red in color. Each verse is in red text. Red ridges appear at the top of each page of meditations for the verses.

I must say I was disappointed when the book arrived. I had waited for it believing that it would pick chosen verses apart, give details on the historical background of each verse, and then personalize these passages for application. This was because the headline to this book seemed to indicate this. Instead, I discovered that it is simply another devotional. A pretty good devotional. But still a devotional. I had no intention of reviewing another devotional. The theology of this devotional is good as it is solidly based on the Bible. It doesn't make any use of psychology or make any modern comparisons with modern-day people or modern-day issues. Avoided are controversial issues like abortion or same-sex marriage. It's great as a way to get into the Word as it can be hard to do that without guidance. But the shortness of the devotions gives the silent message that unresolved personal issues and spiritual needs can be resolved by simply looking to God.

I recommend this book for Christians. Especially I recommend it for those who don't like to read or have little free time. It may help ground new believers in the CHristian faith. The volume may not be enough for more seasoned Christians who hunger more theology and actual historical context to each chosen verse. And it does not yield its meaning to those who don't identify as believers in Jesus.

I have received a complimentary copy of this book through BOOKLOOKBLOGGERS in exchange for my honest review of this book. I was not required to give a positive review of this book.

SIMPLE PURSUIT by Various Authors

This book, a devotional, is by, for, and about young people. They seek to reach those who fall into the age range of 18-25. This devotional provides material for one full year. Louie Giglio writes the Introduction to this volume. Matt Redman writes a "declaration" that sums up the purposes that his readership should have and focus on. He also includes a "statement" which gives his thoughts about pursuing God. These devotions are arranged by each of the 365 days, not by date. Each brief devotion begins with an applicable Bible verse. Then we get the devotional itself. A brief prayer ends each one. Following the last devotion, the names of the contributing writers are provided. All the Bible verses used in this devotional are given at the end of this volume. Each of these authors falls into the age range of those they seek to reach. Other than their names, we get little information about these authors.

These devotions aren't for the faint of heart! Let me disclose that I'm not a member of the target audience for this book. The book makes clear that the authors are millennials (ages 18 to 25). They intend their devotions for their peers. So I read these devotions in this context. Thus, I found lots of challenging and convicting material. It's clearly meant to challenge young adults to live their best lives for Christ and give all they have and are to Him. This isn't comfortable reading, or meant to curl up to with your favorite drink. Like the Bible, the authors demand commitment and action in every devotion. But it was the last two sections that I found hardest, emotionally, to read. In these sections, the authors focus on our Christian responsibility to deliver the Gospel to any and all people we rub shoulders with. I found myself sighing throughout this entire section, as a shy individual who doesn't relish initiating conversations, certainly not with people I don't even know. Yet I had to mentally concede, "Amen, amen," as Jesus clearly commands that we Christians make sharing our faith central in our lives. The authors talk about the grace of God, but seem to focus on our responsibilities and performance much more. These devotions read more like brief spiritual lectures. I think that's because of the target audience, often fresh out of school. Or in higher education.

This book is for young adults, ages 18 to 25. Obviously, I recommend this volume for those who fall in this age range. This book has little to offer older adults, who usually can't relate to "the student life" of commuting to college, dorms, or lecture halls. Teens may find these devotions useful and want to use them in their quiet time. I recommend this volume for youth leaders and leaders of millennial Bible study groups. Others may find these devotions useful as long as they read it in context of the targeted audience.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through BooklookBlogger,in exchange for my honest review of this book. I wasn't required to give this book a favorable review.

MOMENTS WITH THE SAVIOR by Ken Gire

This book is a devotional. These devotions are based on the life of Jesus, as depicted in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Ken Gire starts his devotional with an Introduction. He promptly follows it up with his unnumbered pages. Each one begins with a Bible story quoted directly from Scripture. He follows up each story with his meditations, basing them on the story just shared. A prayer follows each story and meditation. This book's structure is simple but appealing. It includes a blue ribbon that the reader can use as a bookmark. The author, Ken Gire, is the bestselling author of over twenty books. They include The Divine Embrace and Intimate Moments with the Savior.

This book is easy and fast to read. Gire makes it all that these devotions promise to be. Throughout my time reading this book for review, I have been using this book in my own private devotions. And I continue to use it. It's that good. The SCriptures each devotion are based on give me the exact words of God. Then the meditation following the Bible story provides insight on on the meaning of the verses. Also, the meditations make the Bible story real and relatable to us today. I read in each one the couching of the Bible story in modern terms. For example, in his meditation on the story in Jesus' healing of the women with internal bleeding. He illustrates her angst, shame, utter distress and ultimate desperation in seeking cures from many doctors to get her out of her misery. SHe prays and prays and feels ignored even by God. He dramatizes Jesus' compassion in restoring her dignity, health and hope by calling her forward and calling her "Daughter." Every devotional behaves like this. I plan to continue to use the devotions in my life. Also the mediations challenged me as Gire has a way of making application quite personal and specific.

I recommend this book for all people. I'd suggest it for non-Christians. In these pages they can discover Who Jesus is and what He can mean in their lives. They aren't Gire's target audience but they can benefit from sections of this book, especially the stories of Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman. I recommend this book for all Christians regardless of stage of spiritual development. Pastors likely won't find these devotions challenging. Small groups may want to use this book in the private devotions of members and have members discuss each chaper even though there is no discussion guide. It's great for teenagers.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through BookLookBloggers.com in exchange for my honest review. I wasn't required to write a positive review of this book.