The Promise of Provision by Derek Prince

The Promise of Provision is a book of God's promise to his faithful followers of abundance.  It is not however a book preaching to pray for whatever it is that you want/need and it will fall from the sky.  It is a book of the Bible stating not only that if one prays for abundance of whatever your needs are that you will recieve them but also stating what the Bible states what it is that God wants you to do with that abundance.  This is different from the greedy abundance books that seem to abound on the popular Christian bookshelves today.  This brings forward the scripture, "To whom much is given, much is required."  Prince takes the reader step by step into how to aquire abundance from God but also in the confines of this rather small book (175 pages) but also step by step into what your requirements are. 
I have to say that I am not much of a "self help book reader".  I am also not much of a "pray for money and you will have bushels of it readily available no matter how stupid you are about your spending habits" kind of a person.  This book however drew me in and got me with all the clear instructions and Biblical background.  This is a book that I can readily advise others to read.  It will not only increase your finances but will more importantly increase you spiritual well-being.  This is a book with scriptural background that did not pick and chose small verses on which to base a book but chose much of the whole Bible to base his theory.  I would recommend this book for reading for any Christian-a new Christian so that he would get off on the right foot and an experienced Christian because we all need to be reminded of our duties as Christians.  One of the quotes that I find most enlightening is that "God is not I was or I will but I AM.
This book was provided free to me for this review by Chosen a division of Baker Publishing Group.

The Fourth Fisherman by Joe Kissack

The Fourth Fisherman is a true story of how 3 Mexican fishermen became lost at sea with only their past history of survival techniques, their faith in God and a Bible lived for over 9 months on the open ocean.  They lived on raw fish, turtles and rainwater.  It also tells the story of the author who was a drug and alcohol addicted wealthy man in Hollywood.  This man was rich in money and poor in faith.  The connection is that both were lost and that is told in the intertwined story of faith--The fishermen's continued faith and the rich man's finding and learning to live within God's loving arms.
I liked the way that this book tells both the stories together and shows how being lost in faith is much worse than being lost at sea.  Being lost at sea is only for this life but being lost from God's love is a forever thing.  I look forward to being able to see this story told on the big screen because I can see it being a story to tell to the masses in way that a book cannot.  So many young people are willing to go to see a story but are not willing to read the book and this is a story that needs to be told.  The only critique that I would put forward is that the book drags at the end where it tells of getting the story to market.  Other than that kudos to the author, JoeKissack, for having the convictions to tells a story that was not easy to tell and to his wife Carmen for sticking with him (it couldn't have been easy).
This book was provided free to me for this nonbiased review.

The Harvest of Grace by Cindy Woodsmall

The Harvest of Grace by Cindy Woodsmall is about Sylvia Fisher who at the beginning of the book has just had her fiance dump her for her sister.  Sylvia has always helping in the running of her father's dairy farm and to help deal with the feelings of rejection she has decided to leave the family farm and go away to work for another farmer who had placed an ad for work in the paper.  This is a big decision for Sylvia both financially, (she stands to lose her inheritance as well as her life savings) as well as she needs her father's blessing to avoid being shunned.  Sylvia pours herself into trying to revive a poorly run farm and get it back on its feet.  To further complicate matters Aaron Blank the alcoholic only son of the farmer returns after spending time in rehab with the plan to move his parents to an easier lifestyle in town.  His plan is to sell the farm and buy a business in town.
The Harvest of Grace is the third of the Ada House series.  I wished that I had read the first two books as they were probably just as good as this one and I would have more easily followed the story line but even so Cindy Woodsmall has a little 1 1/2 page catch up telling the previous story so far.  This is a delightfully well written book of life in one Amish family.  These people have the same problems as in any family but are solving them following the rulings of the Amish church to which they belong.  I loved this book and I would suggest this as good reading for any age. 

Nearing Home by Billy Graham

Nearing Home Life, Faith and Finishing Well by Billy Graham discusses getting your spirit ready to die.  He discusses heaven and being prepared for the end of life whether of old age like him or dying young especially unexpectedly.  There are the usual Biblical messages as only Mr Graham can give.  He speaks of growing up in a Christian family and growing old as a man who has lived the good life in the work and worship of God.  He is anticipating heaven and all of its rewards and being reunited with Ruth, his wife.  He speaks of the slow leaving of his life work in the hands of the next generation which includes his children.
This book has a different feel than the rest of his books.  It is not nearly so upbeat.  It has a "good-by" feel.  He is getting ready to leave this earth and he is wanting to make sure his work here is done.  It reads slower than the rest of his books.  I had the feeling that I was reading his very last book.  It will be sad to hear of his passing when it comes but it is good to know that he is ready to go in a way that many of this country are not.  This country will not soon have a man who can do the work of Billy Graham and there is never going to be a replacement for him.  May God continue to bless him at this part of his life.

Mine is the Night by Liz Curtis Higgs

Mine is the Night is a great Christian romance set in 18th century Scotland.  It is a story of riches and titles lost and how these 2 women and their poor cousin learn to live and love and trust again.  It is the end of the war and the jacobite cause has lost.  Marjory has lost her husband, both her sons, her title and the riches that go with it.  Most of all she has lost her beloved home and now with Elizabeth her widowed daughter in law she must go and beg to live with a poor cousin, Anne.  Anne has been ignored by her wealthy relatives but takes them in to live in her one room home.  Marjory and Elizabeth Kerr learn that when all is lost they must trust in the Lord.  They learn what true loyalty is and find friendships among those poor that had been previously rejected.  They learn who can be trusted and loved.  The three women find that love of family does not depend on monetary values but what is inside themselves.  They find strength in themselves and each other then they find the love of  a good Christian man.
I liked the way that this book tells a little of the Scottish poor of the 18th century.  So many of historical romance books tell of only the rich and though this one also tells of the rich the poor are the major focus characters.  I also liked that there was a Scottish glossary in the back of the book to help with understanding the language differences of the times and the country.  Great book.  It reads quickly and keeps the reader interested by all the turns of the story.  Not just a good romance a good story.
I recieved this book from Waterbook Multnomah Publishing for this review.

Reclaiming Lily by Patti Lacy

Reclaiming Lily is a novel about a Chinese family caught in the middle of  China's Cultural Revolution.  The family must make choices and one of them is to put their new baby girl,Lily, into an orphanage.  This baby grows becomes adopted by an American and is raised in Texas by good well meaning Christians, Andrew and Gloria Powell.  Joy, as the girl is named by her new parents, grows into a rebellious teen.  Kai is one of the 3 sisters left behind in China and she promises her mother on her deathbed that she will find her sister and give Lily her pearl necklace.  The mother is dying of a disease called Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD).  Kai as a way into America fought and won the ability to be educated as a physician and research PKD as a way to find Lily.  Through much hard work Kai has finally found Lily and meets with Andrew and Gloria.  This book is about the love that Kai, Andrew and Gloria have for Joy/Lily and working through those difficulties and getting Joy tested for PKD which is genetically transmitted.

This is a good story of no matter how well meaning and loving of a family a child grows up in sometimes the child needs more than parents can give.  If God sends that someone else into the family's life then if you trust that God knows what He is doing then swallow your pride and accept that help everyone benefits.  It tells of some of the difficulties of raising teens as during this meeting Andrew gets the call to come meet Joy at the local jail as she is being arrested for shoplifting.  It tells how no matter how much love a parent has for a daughter they make many mistakes but they can through love and hard work be the daughter can be reclaimed.

I recieved this book from Bethany House for this review.

Behind the Veils of Yemen by Audra Grace Shelby

Behind the Veils of Yemen is a book about a missionary family who leave the comforts and safety of the USA and answer the call of God to "Go Ye into the world and teach the Gosple".  After they recieve the call and start to train for their assignment they continually are tested but God continues to call them and they answer that call and go into Yemen.  Audra and her family learn that praying is not too little to do when faced with the daily life and death decisions that they must face but is the biggest thing that one can do in any crisis situation.  God still hears one still small voice.  Audra learns the language and the culture as she goes through the 3 years that this story covers.  She learns to love these people of Yemen-God's people, and to take to the women of Yemen the message of Jesus, the Messiah.  That God loves them and sent His only Son to die so that they, women of Yemen could have life and have it abundantly.  These were women who were treated as objects by their own family.  Women who most likely had been treated badly since their birth.  Women who had no chance to ever be treated well by their family ever had a God and Messiah who loved them and wanted eternity for them.  To these women and their families Audra and her family brought hope and and planted the seeds of faith into their hearts.
I really liked this book.  It helps me to see into the lives of these Moslem women and help to understand the culture that can only be learned by close relationship with them.  It told their story from a Christian's perspective but in a loving way not filled with fate as so often is heard even on the Christian media outlets.  We cannot preach of God's love with hate filled words.  Jesus taught us through example to love our enemies and we cannot improve on that.  God does not just call us to do great things.  Sometimes He calls us to do little things and He makes them great.  We must answer God's call in our lives as He asks.
I recieved this book free for this review from Bethany House Publishing.