Boundaries for Leaders by Dr. Henry Cloud

Boundaries for Leaders by Dr. Henry Cloud is an excellent book with a very apt title.  Dr. Cloud explores the challenge of why some people get results and others don't.  He spends the first part of the book exploring the brain science behind success and then explains a program to help steer companies in the right direction of developing a culture that is conducive to growth and productivity.  It is a very well laid out book with a lot of very practical explanations to help leaders in a variety of situations to get the most out of themselves, out of their employees and all the other individuals they work with.

I can see how this book would be incredibly helpful for someone in the corporate world or as a leader in a church environment.  As a stay at home mom with an interest in leadership development, at times it felt quite over my head, but I did enjoy the read and found many relevant tidbits of information that could be applied to the different situations and interactions I find myself having with others.

I am a member of booksneeze.com by Thomas Nelson Publishers. In exchange for writing a review, I received this book for free.

Prayer Warrior Mom by Marla Alupoaicei

Prayer Warrior Mom by Marla Alupoaicei is an amazing book that encourages mothers to understand and develop their abilities to pray for their children in powerful ways.  She includes 15 short chapters, each containing a different principle of prayer that can significantly improve how we can pray for our kids.  She also includes a sample prayer, relevant scriptures for each principle, as well as discussion questions to be used in a small group or accountability partner environment.  The read is very simple, very compelling and very applicable.

From the first page, the author had my attention and was able to accurately discern my challenges and obstacles in regards to praying for my children.  The following chapters were so applicable, and doable.  I felt so encouraged from what she wrote.  This book was a great encouragement because it helped me to realize how easily I can improve how I pray for my children and the eternal value behind doing this job well.

I am a member of booksneeze.com by Thomas Nelson Publishers. In exchange for writing a review, I received this book for free.

The Great House of God by Max Lucado

The Great House of God by Max Lucado is a book that uses the metaphor of a house to walk through the Lord's prayer line by line.  The breaking down of such a familiar passage of scripture is a great way to catch the details that are often missed due to our frequent reading and speaking of the passage.  Max uses his comfortable and familiar style to guide his readers room by room through the details and promises that are contained within this powerful prayer.

I really enjoy the writings of Max Lucado, but with this book, I wish he would have gone into some more depth on the different sections of the prayer.  It often felt like he was just skimming the top of what he could be talking about.  What he had to say was very good, but I was left hoping for more.  A nice bonus with this book is the study guide at the back of the book that would make this very helpful for a small group or book study that would easily facilitate a deeper study of the materials. 

I am a member of booksneeze.com by Thomas Nelson Publishers. In exchange for writing a review, I received this book for free.

Redemption: A Rebellious Spirit, a Praying Mother, and the Unlikely Path to Olympic Gold

"Redemption" by Olympic decathlete Bryan Clay is a story about his life and upbringing and the path that he took in order to reach the pinnacle of sport - the Olympic games.  He chronicles his journey from a poor and challenging upbringing in Hawaii through the struggles he went through with school, his faith and his sport - considered one of the most difficult athletic achievements in the world.  Bryan finds ways to share his heart through these struggles and shows how there is always the opportunity to overcome, no matter what the circumstances.

I found the book to be a quick and easy read.  The writing was ok, but the message of hope and, fittingly, redemption, as the book is titled was very inspiring.  As a former athlete, I found I was able to relate to some of his challenges and successes and learned a lot from his journey.  This book  could be a great encouragement to young adults who are struggling with their transitions who have an athletic background or interest in sport. 

I am a member of booksneeze.com by Thomas Nelson Publishers. In exchange for writing a review, I received this book for free.

Running For My Life by Lopez Lomong

This book is a true story about a young boy and his horrific experiences of being ripped from his family in South Sudan to be used as a child soldier during the civil war in his home country.  He tells of the trials, challenges and seemingly impossible barriers that he had to overcome just to survive.  Lopez's story is inspiring and eye opening as he shares his journey from deplorable circumstances to the amazing opportunity to come to America and realize his dream of becoming an Olympian in track and field.

The story of Lopez's life was beyond comprehension!  The book was so fascinating that I was unable to put it down and finished it the same day I started it.  His honesty, faith and willingness to share openly about his journey was compelling and inspiring.  Anyone with an interest in sports or biographies will be drawn completely into his story.  The desires Lopez has to give back to his home country is remarkable and no doubt he will achieve what he sets out to do.  I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone and already have told many about it.

I am a member of booksneeze.com by Thomas Nelson Publishers. In exchange for writing a review, I received this book for free.

God Loves Broken People (and those who pretend they're not) by Sheila Walsh

This book addresses the issues of pain and suffering and helps people to cope with the challenges that come along with these difficult situations.  Using real life stories that are personal to her and those she knows, she tackles some of the hard questions people ask when things seem to go wrong.  She provides perspective, hope and encouragement to those encountering trouble.  There is something for everyone to gain from this book.

I found the first half of the book to be a tough slog.  She kept raising all these difficult questions, but didn't give any answers or solutions or really even much hope to the reader.  I ended up putting it down for a few months, then tried picking it back up again.  The second half of the book was much more encouraging and gave a really good perspective on dealing with challenging circumstances and ways to find healing while strengthening our faith at the same time.  If you can get through the start, the end is worth it. 

I am a member of booksneeze.com by Thomas Nelson Publishers. In exchange for writing a review, I received this book for free.

This Thing of Ours by Cammy Franzese

This is a book that is very easy to read that talks about the life and marriage of Michael and Cammy Franzese. Michael is an anomaly in the sense that he was able to walk away from his life as a former Mob boss and live to tell about it. The book is about Cammy's experiences of being married to Michael and the stresses and challenges of being married to someone who spent a lot of time in prison and has faced death threats multiple times. Cammy does a great job of weaving her faith and perspective throughout the book.

The story was a quick read, and Cammy does a very good job of giving a woman's perspective on dealing with a challenging marriage. She interjects her beliefs and faith in Christ throughout the story very effectively. I have previously read books that Michael Franzese had written about his former life, which gave me a lot of valuable background knowledge. I think this book would lose some of it's impact if that information is missing for readers, but it was still a great book to encourage women who are in difficult relationships that there is nothing that is beyond the reaching of God's redemptive power.

I am a member of booksneeze.com by Thomas Nelson Publishers. In exchange for writing a review, I received this book for free.