Your Money God's Way by Amie Streater

Title: Your Money God’s Way

Author: Amie Streater

Rating: Good

Reason for Reading: I received this book through the BookSneeze program. The title jumped right off the list of available books as one Dawn and I would like to read. This is my review, but I am hoping she’ll read it and provide a review as well.

Summary: Streater describes the 7 money myths she has discovered from years of serving as the pastor for financial stewardship at two churches. These myths spawn from counterfeit convictions, misunderstandings of scriptural direction about how Christian’s should handle money. The include enabling the misbehavior of others, viewing the accumulation of wealth as evil, or expecting divine providence to rescue one from oneself.

Review: This is an outstanding book. It provides sound biblical advice about how Christians should put the money God has entrusted to them to do his work, while including funny, personable, relatable stories. The stories are even jaw-dropping sometimes, but they certainly illustrate the point that a misunderstanding, or outright ignorance, of scriptural guidance can lead Christians to having a financial life much less than what God has planned for them. And, Streater includes methods to correct one’s past mistakes and infuse the true convictions into your spirit and your habits.
I highly recommend this book to any Christian who thinks their financial life might not be all that it should be, and to the fellow Christians who know and love them. It can be hard to give someone else financial advice. If that puts you off, or if your relationship with someone who is struggling isn’t close enough to share, buy this book and put it in their hands. There is a wealth of knowledge here that will help any Christian.

Other resources: www.amiestreater.com

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com 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.”

Beautiful Things Happen When a Woman Trusts God by Sheila Walsh

Title: Beautiful Things Happen When a Woman Trusts God

Author: Sheila Walsh

Rating: Good

Reason for Reading: I received this as part of the Thomas Nelson Booksneeze program.

Summary: Beautiful Things is a book about Sheila Walsh's personal journey from stardom, through her breakdown, and finding her faith again. Sheila profiles people in the Bible who have trusted God through various circumstances.

Review: Beautiful Things is not what I expected. I fully expected a book more like Sandi Patti's Layers, where it chronicles a famous woman's journey through a difficult period of her life. However, Beautiful Things…is more like a Bible study than an autobiography. Sheila profiles lives of Biblical characters who have learned how to trust God in very unique circumstances. She chronicles the (first) death of Lazarus and the following resurrection. Through it, I learned a host of new details…things I either forgot or didn't pick up in Bible College. And while the book walks the reader through all these great little facts and details that aren't always readily present within the context of the Bible passage, it doesn't feel as if you're reading a college text or sitting in a lecture hall. Sheila's writing style is lively and engaging. Each chapter starts off with a personal anecdote, and then walks the reader through a historical account found in the Bible. Finally, each chapter ends with Sheila bringing her point home and explaining what the reader should learn from the passage, how the reader can apply the passage to his or her own life.

Be prepared to have your thinking and faith stretched. I was unable to sit and read the book cover to cover simply because it made me face my hidden faults and insecurities. If you're looking for a book to help you grow your faith and at the same time make you feel as if you're not alone in learning to trust God, then this book is for you.

Dawn