Suddenly Single Mom - Jeanette Hanscome

Raising children alone is something no one dreams of but in her new book, Suddenly Single Mom, author Jeanette Hanscome provides 52 messages of hope, grace, and promise. Hanscome is the author of more than four hundred articles, and stories, and five books. In this particular book, she shares insights that she gleaned from her first year as a single mom to two boys. Her own struggles and triumphs are intended to help the reader when to stand on your own and when to ask for help. Leading the family alone can be difficult and lonely because you are the sole bread winner and everyone is looking at you for answers. Especially in those times they need to be reminded more than ever that God is always with you and that His love is faithful to give you the strength to face whatever life may bring. Each devotion has a Scripture verse, a story, survival tip, and a prayer.

Expectant Blessings by Susanna Foth Aughtmon

“Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of the came to be” wrote King David in Psalm 139:16. Pregnancy is one of the most beautiful adventures to be experienced in a woman’s life, writes Susanna Foth Aughtmon in her new book Expectant Blessings. The experience of growing a new little person is an amazing and awe-inspiring season of life. God is actively working, as the Psalmist records, as He crafts this baby in the mother’s belly. He is active physically and spiritually. There are forty chapters and they are short so they can be read rather easily.  The combination of prayers, Scripture, poems, and devotions provides different options for each day. Read it and be blessed!

Good God by Lucas Miles

“God is neither responsible for your pain, nor is He allowing it,” writes Lucas Miles in his book Good God. Miles is a writer, speaker, and senior pastor of Oasis Granger, a church he planted in 2004. This book is Miles’s attempt to understand pain and suffering. But the underlying theology of this book sounds eerily similar to what you’d hear from the word-of-faith movement. It is a movement that has permeated virtually the entire globe with its pernicious teachings of suffering which states that it is a result of lack of faith and it is never a result of a sovereign God. As I was expecting he gets the theology of Job wrong. He states that for centuries Christians have mistakenly concluded that the book of Job is about God’s testing and Job’s faithfulness (90).  Yes, this has been the historic understanding because it corresponds with Scripture.  “Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him” said Job (Job 13:15) and he was vindicated by God Himself. Obviously the “why” of suffering was not answered because God has His reasons which Job nor us can understand in our finitude. That is precisely the essence of faith – trusting God even when we don’t understand. As Philip Yancey puts it, "faith is trusting in advance which will only make sense in reverse”  To get a biblical understanding of pain and suffering in light of God’s sovereignty read books by Philip Yancey (Where is God when it hurts) and Joni Eareckson Tada (When God weeps)

Bedtime Snuggles by Patricia Reeder Eubank

“The sun slowly sinks in the darkening sky. The stars will soon shine and bedtime draws nigh” are the opening lines of Bedtime Snuggles by Patricia Reeder Eubank. Ms Eubank has written and illustrated many Children’s books. Her love for animals shines through on nearly every page of the many books she has illustrated. This particular work is an excellent children’s book that has an endearing story and beautiful illustrations. As the sun recedes from the horizon, little farm animals of all sizes and shapes cuddle with their mothers for a good night sleep. And Mama cuddles baby in the rocking chair before whispering a sweet good night. This board book is perfect for bedtime reading for your young ones.

Reaching Your Prodigal - By Phil Waldrep

Prodigals come in different shapes and sizes.  Phil Waldrep, in his book Reaching Your Prodigal, writes your prodigal might be an embarrassing prodigal, defiant, intellectual, complacent, religious, or fill in the blank. The parable of the Prodigal Son reminds us that you don’t have to leave home to be a prodigal. Waldrep tackles a topic that has been much neglected in the Christian world today. He offers six principles: getting over your guilt; removing the barriers; extending unconditional love; allowing the pain of wrong decision; watching your words; and praying the hard prayers. He also has questions for personal or group study at the end of the book.

My Mother’s Quilt By Ramona Richards

“A quilt is a love that serves a purpose,” writes Ramona Richards in her book My Mother’s Quilt: Devotions of Love, Legacy, Family, and Faith. Ramona Richards is an award winning editor, writer, and speaker and has worked on the staff of Abingdon Press, Thomas Nelson, Rutledge Hill Press and Ideals Magazine. With sincerity and humor, Richards shares her memories and lessons she had learned from the quilters whose legacies live on their work. In each of the devotion, the reader will find the threads of God’s grace and faithfulness woven beautifully.  The book is replete with color photographs of quilts that show the style and artistry of each beautiful work. Each entry begins with Scripture followed by a devotional and ends with prayer.