Book Reviews

What I love about this book?

If you’ve been hurt in life and really want some solid hope each day this is for you.  It may be that you’ve suffered deep loss or maybe you’re overwhelmed by everyday disappointments — either way this collection of daily reflections are full of grace, comfort and encouragement.  But it’s not because Nancy Guthrie is a great writer (although she is) or because she’s suffered great loss herself (which she has), but it’s because she writes from God’s Word.  Every day you’ll get reminded of God’s promises and his compassion.  It’s real and doesn’t shy away from the hard things.  This devotional is deeply rooted in God’s word and there are questions for reflection and directed prayer, which is wonderful for when you don’t know what to pray.

Who should read it?

• Anyone who is hurting, grieving or living with disappointment.
• Anyone who needs help to draw closer to God in hard times.

Review by Anne Eckermann

What I love about this book?

If you’ve been feeling uneasy about how the world is changing (feeling like it’s more and more opposed to God’s rule), you’re not alone.  You may be really anxious about what it’ll be like to live as a Christian in the next few decades or even tempted to keep your head down.  This book is for you!  Alistair Begg helpfully takes us through Daniel 1 – 7, because Daniel knew what it was like to live for God in world that opposed him.  Importantly, Alistair Begg doesn’t point us to Daniel and say, ​‘be brave like him’.  Instead, he points us to Daniel’s God who is sovereign and all powerful and worthy of trust.  Everyone I’ve recommended it to has loved it, no matter what their age or stage.

Who should read it?

• Anyone who is feeling anxious about living for Jesus in the years to come.
• Anyone who has forgotten where our gaze should be fixed — not on our circumstances or our abilities, but on our God (Daniel’s God).

Review by Anne Eckermann

What I love about this book?

This book looks at Jesus in the context of the gospels — Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  Rebecca looks at 9 truths about who Jesus was and is that will leave you amazed by Jesus all over again.  This book can strengthen and deepen your faith as you see Jesus more clearly.  There’s also a study guide and video study that you can purchase to do with small groups.  Rebecca’s writing is accessible, youthful and energetic — great if you like a fairly fast paced journey that covers a lot of ground.

Who should read it?

• Seekers and anyone with questions: anyone who wants to explore who Jesus is and why he matters — the gospels will do it best, but Rebecca can take you on a guided tour. 
• Any Christian: anyone who needs a reminder of eyewitness testimony about Jesus and who he really is.  If you want to be amazed by Jesus all over again, you should read it.
• I think younger readers will particularly like this but it’d be great for anyone.

Review by Anne Eckermann

What I love about this book?

It’s written really honestly about Shona’s experience of burnout and exhaustion and everything that went with it.   I’m often wary of books that address these sorts of issues because I’ve found they can tend to either over-spiritualise everything, or they focus only on the physical or medical side of things — which, in my opinion, both extremes are unhelpful because we’re souls in physical bodies, so surely, we should be caring for both.  I think this book has a pretty balanced approached.  It realises that we’re finite beings and that the brokenness of this world impacts our bodies in real ways, but also that we don’t want to care for ourselves in self-centred way that’s all about my happiness — we want to care for ourselves in a way that honours God and helps us better serve the people who are under our care.  It speaks practical biblical wisdom that I think we’d do well to consider, whether we’re actually experiencing burnout, or whether we’re just re-evaluating how we’re going and how our lives look.

Who should read it?

• Women who feel ongoing exhaustion or busyness.
• Women in a busy stage of life.
• Women who want to re-evaluate how they’re going both spiritually and physically.

Review by Anne Eckermann

What I love about this book?

I love the practical discussion about REAL rest that’s anchored in God — that’s actually all about Him and my place in His story.  It’s a pretty humorous book, mostly because Adam’s naturally a really hard worker who isn’t good at stopping, and it’s really helped me with making space for relationships and tackling self-reliance.  I really found this book and the ​‘Refresh’ book helpful to read like a set — both are practical and God-honouring, and both are rooted in Scripture.

Who should read it?

• All Christians!
• Anyone who feels like they’d like to understand rest and sabbath more.
• Those who feel like their ​‘rest’ isn’t deeply refreshing.

Review by Anne Eckermann

What I love about this book?

I love a great devotional book, even though reading someone else’s reflections on God’s word isn’t the same thing as reading God’s word itself — it’s no substitute.  But if we’re taking care to read God’s word for ourselves, then a good daily devotion like this one can be solid gold.  Alistair Begg is one of my favourite authors because he handles Scripture so carefully, as he should, and he has really practical insights and wisdom that challenges and sharpens.  The daily readings are a good length, they’re Christ-centred and they’re practical and encouraging.  I highly recommend it.

Who should read it?

• Anyone who needs a little guidance in starting each day with God’s word and wants to think deeply about big truths throughout the day.
• Those who like to meditate on ​‘bite size’ but profound truths, all anchored firmly in God’s word.
• Individuals, couples and families with older kids would all benefit from reading this together or separately.

Review by Anne Eckermann

What I love about this book?

This book is all about Jesus’ heart for sufferers and sinners, and it’s grounded in Scripture.  It challenged me from the start because I feel like I often reflect naturally on what Jesus has done, but sometimes I miss the heart of who he is — he himself said he’s gentle and lowly.  I’m someone who can be tempted to feel like God probably looks at me and rolls his eyes, but this book brought me comfort and challenge by helping me understand better that the Lord DELIGHTS in showing mercy to me, and helping me understand God’s tenderness and love for me in a deeper way.  Keep in mind that this book isn’t trying to give a complete picture of the perfect character of God, but rather focusses on deeply exploring Jesus’ heart for sinners and sufferers.  And I love how Dane writes with such gentleness, sensitivity and compassion — ​‘Gentle & Lowly’ really is balm for the downcast soul.

Who should read it?

• Anyone who is feeling bruised or weary.
• Anyone who needs a trustworthy refuge.
• Those wondering if they’re too far-gone to be saved.
• People who want to know Jesus better by understanding more of who he is.

Review by Anne Eckermann

What I love about this book?

This book is so easy to read and it’s steeped in Scripture.  Nancy Guthrie always writes with such compassion and wisdom, which is good because she always deals with such heavy issues!  This book helped me understand that when God looks at the ​‘emptiness’ in my life (pretty much all the things I wish were different!), he sees his greatest opportunity to fill that emptiness with himself.  
Nancy doesn’t just offer a feel-good pep talk through well-turned phrases, but instead offers real hope because she shows us God’s work to fill up emptiness as it’s revealed in the Bible.  Full disclosure — I never really trust books written about deep suffering unless they’re written by people who have deeply suffered… but Nancy has deeply suffered and her hope is real.  This book is a game changer for hurting people who need to trust the promises of God, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Who should read it?

• Anyone who feels empty in some way — whether it’s unrealised hopes or dreams, disappointing relationships, wounds, loneliness, grief… all the heavy things.
• Those who need to trust the promises of God in hard times..

Review by Anne Eckermann

What I love about this book?

Christian women want to know God better and be imitators of Christ.  We know we need to actively study him, as he’s revealed himself in his Word.  Jen Wilkin knows this.  She said ​“we will not wake up ten years from now and find we have passively taken on the character of God”.

But we sometimes find it hard, so we allow sermons, podcasts, books, the notes in our study Bibles, or blogs to be our primary source of intake for the Bible.  But God means for you and me to actively engage in his Word with the help of His Holy Spirit.

This book helps us learn how to do it.  Its practical, real, and relatable.  You’ll be challenged and convicted but also encouraged, inspired and equipped.  There’s real help in this book.  She shows you HOW to study the Bible with purpose, perspective, patience, process and prayer.

Who should read it?

• Everyone wanting to engage well with God’s word for themselves and know God better.
• Anyone who teaches the Bible to someone else.
• Women’s workers.
• Anyone who reads one-to-one.
• Bible study leaders.
• Mums with daughters.

Review by Anne Eckermann

What I love about this book?

Parenting advice by experts can be really helpful.  But at some point every parent realises there are no simplistic formulas or fail-safe methods.  We actually need wisdom from God’s Word to parent.  As a parent, the greatest desire I have for my kids is that they wholeheartedly take hold of Christ and grow in Him.  But that’s also my greatest desire for myself, and for my family and friends.

This book is gold.  Nancy Guthrie weaves together biblical wisdom and insight for each day’s reading, but I found it wasn’t just good for my parenting — although it’s been priceless for that.  It was good for me!  My desires and aspirations for myself and my kids were becoming shaped more by Scripture than by the culture around me.

There are profound prayers at the end of each daily reading which you insert your kids names into, but I inserted my own name or the names of my friends too — it’s a game changer.

Who should read it?

• Every parent.
• Anyone who has kids in their lives (nieces, nephews, grandchildren, youth groups).
• Anyone who wants to worry less and pray more.
• Anyone who wants a daily dose of biblical perspective, hope and grace.

Review by Anne Eckermann

What I love about this book?

If you’ve ever tried to read a commentary and found it a bit tedious or boring, rest assured there’s nothing dry or hard to understand about ​‘James for You’.  I love Sam Allberry’s writing — he’s candid and writes with empathy about how God’s wisdom lands in our homes, in our workplaces, our churches and our communities.

This book is simple and clear.  It’s insightful, convicting, encouraging and accessible.

Who should read it?

• Anyone who wants to understand James better and see how what it means for your everyday life.
• Anyone who teaches the Bible to others.
• Bible study leaders.
• Ministry workers.
• Everyone.

Review by Anne Eckermann