Blog Archives
Revelation
In Revelation, Erica DeWaard offers an approachable, chapter-by-chapter walk-through of the Bible’s most intimidating book, reframing it not as a code to crack but as an unveiling of Jesus, a story of judgment, mercy, endurance, restoration, and belonging. She begins by grounding Scripture in human texture, in “dust and blood and hunger and fear,” then moves through Revelation with a steady refrain: God isn’t panicked, evil isn’t permanent, and the Lamb is still standing. The book’s strongest through-line is its insistence that Revelation is less about predicting timelines than about forming faithful people.
I appreciated DeWaard’s instinct for nearness. She has a gift for taking theological material that often feels sealed behind stained glass and putting it back into the hands of ordinary readers. Her explanations of the seven churches, the 144,000, the mark of the beast, Babylon, and the bowls of judgment are clear without feeling flattened. I especially liked the way she treats difficult imagery as moral and spiritual pressure rather than spectacle. When she writes about Babylon as a system that looks glamorous but eventually devours the people who trusted it, the idea lands with a shiver of recognition. It’s not just ancient apocalyptic symbolism anymore. It becomes a mirror.
The writing itself is conversational, quick-witted, and emotionally generous. Sometimes the humor is wonderfully disarming, as when she jokes about charts, group chats, coffee, and “influencer energy,” and that levity helps keep the book from becoming airless. At its best, the prose has a pulsing devotional rhythm: short sentences, direct appeals, a cadence that feels spoken as much as written. The book’s purpose isn’t academic exhaustion. It wants to make Revelation felt, and in that aim, it often succeeds with surprising tenderness.
DeWaard’s Revelation is a thoughtful, warm, and accessible devotional guide that invites readers to stop treating the final book of the Bible as a locked room and start seeing it as a window. I’d recommend it especially to Christians who feel intimidated by Revelation, newer Bible readers who want a humane entry point, and believers who need to be reminded that the story ends not in panic, but in restoration.
Pages: 116 | ISBN : 978-1958023679
Listen and Learn
Come, Find Space With God is a guide to Christian spiritual formation designed for readers moving into adulthood and spiritual self-awareness. Why was this an important book for you to write?
We both recall our own mistakes along our journeys and realize how beneficial it would have been to receive wise, empathetic counsel early on. Come, Find Space with God offers wisdom and formation through stories, reflection, sacred reading, and practices that we wish we had access to during our times of transition. We could have benefited from experiencing more reflective spaces to slow down and listen to the still small voice of wisdom
What spiritual challenges do you think young adults face today that previous generations may have experienced differently?
Today’s young adults seem much busier, distracted, overwhelmed, stressed, confused, lonely, and depressed than previous generations. They hear a variety of conflicting opinions on social media; connections may be superficial and shallow, and may not be in person. The culture around them is moving at far too fast a pace to even process issues and make wise choices. They need to listen and learn from ancient spiritual ways of finding balance, peace, and freedom.
Was there a story in the book that was especially difficult to write about?
The story in Evaluating my thoughts and plans was the most challenging to write. I prefer people to think of me (Leoma) as a competent, self-assured person. Most of us want to project that persona. So, to describe the many ways in which I feel insecure, incompetent, and “less-than” in a public forum is daunting. However, I’ve learned over the decades that God’s opinion of me is the most important thing, not what anyone else thinks.
How can readers create a rule of life that feels realistic rather than overwhelming?
The book provides questions and structures in order to create the reader’s own rule of life that fits with his or her stage, schedule, vision, and purpose in life. The idea is really to take time with this and not rush the reflective process. Ultimately, a rule of life should bring balance, provide focus and clarity, offer spiritual growth, and free the reader up from being overwhelmed with life. A good rule of life should include SPACES in days for stillness to reconnect spiritually, and often, less is more. Mainly, this process needs to be about observing your daily habits and activities first and considering if they are still a good fit or if some things could be eliminated, especially time sucks like scrolling the internet or watching too much news. This needs to be intentional, or we will fill our time up and wonder why we have no peace. Not all the questions in the book need to be answered in one sitting; keep it simple.
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Come Find Space with God offers spiritual practices and reflections to help individuals navigate life’s challenges and deepen their relationship with God.
Come, Find Space With God
Come, Find Space With God, by Leoma Gilley and Carol Mullen, is a contemplative guide to Christian spiritual formation, written especially for readers moving into adulthood, responsibility, uncertainty, and spiritual self-awareness. The book walks through practices such as stillness, Scripture meditation, prayer, examen, discernment, surrender, sacred community, service, and a rule of life, pairing biblical reflection with personal stories and practical exercises. Its central invitation is simple but searching: make room for God not as another obligation, but as the One who can reshape fear, hurry, wounded thinking, and restless striving into a steadier life of trust.
What I found most affecting was the book’s refusal to treat spiritual growth as tidy or abstract. Leoma’s stories give the material weight: her prayer counseling in England, where a first-grade memory still carried the sting of shame; her long argument with God about Africa; her years caring for her mother; her decision to welcome Ben, Sara, and John into her home even when hospitality became costly and inconvenient. These moments keep the book from floating into devotional softness. The ideas here are deeply pastoral. “Space” is not presented as a pretty metaphor. It becomes a house opened to someone in need, a schedule interrupted, an ambition surrendered, a harsh inner voice confronted, a grief carried honestly before God.
The writing is warm, direct, and companionable, with a rhythm that feels suited to reflection. I appreciated how the authors blend story, Scripture, music, journaling prompts, and spiritual practices without making the reader feel rushed or managed. The structure can feel instructional, especially when the chapters move from story into exercises and group questions, but that same structure is also part of the book’s usefulness. I was especially drawn to the chapters on discernment, negative self-talk, and service because they press into the places where faith becomes concrete: what we do with fear, how we interpret our own failures, and whether we can serve without needing to fix people.
Come, Find Space With God speaks with the calm authority of people who have been formed by long obedience, real disappointment, and repeated redirection. The concluding emphasis on a rule of life gives the book a fitting sense of movement, as though all the earlier practices are gathering into a sustainable pattern rather than a burst of temporary inspiration. I’d recommend this book to Christians in seasons of transition, especially young adults, small groups, spiritual direction groups, and readers who feel crowded by anxiety, decision fatigue, or spiritual noise and want a grounded way to begin listening again.
Pages: 129 | ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0GX2XNR2T
The Shepherd: Experiencing Psalm 23
The Shepherd is a heartfelt and personal exploration of Psalm 23, written by James Collins, a pastor and veteran with a deep love for scripture. The book walks readers line by line through the famous psalm, connecting each phrase to stories from the Bible, real-life events, and personal anecdotes. It’s not a theological tome but rather a reflection, aiming to make the beauty and depth of Psalm 23 come alive for the everyday believer. With each chapter, Collins unpacks a single verse or idea, emphasizing God’s love, guidance, and care for His people in a way that’s accessible and full of warmth.
Collins writes simply, sometimes with humor, and often with deep emotion. He doesn’t try to impress the reader with scholarship; instead, he reaches for the heart. What stood out most to me was his ability to make ancient words feel fresh. His use of stories like the little boy in the hospital holding his ring finger or the Civil War soldier saved by a song brought me to tears. The message that “the Lord is always with you” is a good one, and it is repeated often.
I also appreciated Collins’s honesty about his own limitations. He says right out that he doesn’t know much about sheep, which makes his exploration of shepherding all the more relatable. That humility gives the book a kind of strength. But I also found myself wishing the book went deeper in parts. There’s a lot of comfort here, but not always a challenge. At times, it leaned into sentiment, which was moving.
By the end, I was glad I read it. This book is full of kindness. It doesn’t shout or try to prove anything. It gently reminds you that you’re not alone. I’d recommend The Shepherd to anyone who is hurting, anyone who’s looking for comfort, or anyone who wants to revisit the Psalms with a fresh set of eyes. It’s a good book to give to a friend going through something hard. It’s also a great companion to quiet mornings with coffee and prayer. It won’t shake up your theology, but it might just soothe your heart.
Pages: 114 | ASIN : B0F6M678SY
Un-Christmas: An Advent Study for Navigating Life’s UNs
The UN-Christmas offers a fresh perspective on Advent, turning the spotlight on life’s unexpected struggles. The “UNs”—like the unideal, unfair, and unexpected situations in life. Each chapter introduces a biblical figure who faced one of these UNs, connecting it with modern struggles. Through daily reflections, personal anecdotes, prayers, and interactive prompts, author Jackie Hardy crafts a unique guide for navigating Advent and beyond, emphasizing faith’s resilience.
Hardy’s storytelling approach is the book’s real charm. She introduces each character with an empathetic and personal tone that pulls readers in. Take Joseph, for instance, grappling with an “unideal” situation upon learning of Mary’s pregnancy. Hardy’s retelling brings Joseph’s emotions into focus, drawing parallels to her own experience during the 2008 housing crisis. This personal connection grounds her reflections, making the book feel as if it’s written for those who find faith challenging amidst adversity.
Day 19 centers on Tamar, whose story Hardy labels as “unstoppable.” Tamar’s resilience in the face of injustice is striking. She refuses to be dismissed or marginalized, fighting for her rightful place in her family line. Hardy brings Tamar’s bravery to life, depicting her as a woman who defies societal norms to secure justice and recognition. In exploring Tamar’s story, Hardy encourages readers to reflect on moments when they, too, might need to push past obstacles or stand firm against mistreatment. It’s an empowering chapter that highlights how faith can fuel determination.
It’s heartfelt and relatable and offers unique insights into well-known biblical stories, making it a great companion for the Advent season. The only minor drawback is that some readers might wish for more depth in biblical context, but overall, this book would be an inspiring read for anyone seeking a new way to experience Advent or needing reminders that they’re not alone in their “UN” moments.
Un-Christmas: An Advent for Navigating Life’s UNs is ideal for anyone who feels overwhelmed by life’s uncertainties and could use a relatable faith-based guide. Hardy’s candid reflections and interactive exercises make it a companion through the tougher seasons of faith.
Pages: 166 | ASIN : B0DJV99X96
Stories from the Psalms, Volume 1: Coffee Shops & Spaceships
Stories from the Psalms, Volume 1: Coffee Shops and Spaceships by Daniel G. Keohane, weaves a tapestry of narrative fiction, drawing inspiration from the Psalms of the Bible. The book encapsulates a series of character-driven stories, each exploring themes of faith and redemption. Characters like Lucas, who grapples with guilt over alcohol consumption and its impact on his family, and Mateo, a young boy whose early interest in the church leads him to the priesthood, are central to the narrative. These diverse stories collectively maintain reader engagement throughout the book.
Keohane’s approach to writing this book is noteworthy. Having read the Psalms repeatedly, he states that the motivation to write came as a divine inspiration. The lack of a predetermined plan lends his writing a spontaneous and authentic tone. This book primarily targets Christian audiences, offering inspiration and encouragement in faith. Keohane skillfully intertwines his personal experiences and reflections, effectively guiding readers through his creative journey. He reinforces the narratives with relevant Biblical verses, enhancing the thematic depth of the stories. While some tales stand out for their clarity and direction, others may seem a bit convoluted, potentially leading to moments of reader disorientation. In particular, the story of Mateo resonates deeply, prompting introspection about life and interpersonal relationships.
The book predominantly explores themes of compassion, honesty, selflessness, faith, and community. These elements are foundational to its appeal as a Christian literary work. Stories from the Psalms, Volume 1: Coffee Shops & Spaceships it serves as a meaningful devotional tool for Christians seeking to deepen their spiritual connection.
Pages: 291 | ASIN : B007CPL8YS
Broken and Redeemed
Broken and Redeemed by John Jarman tells his story of redemption. Jarman wasn’t always a spiritual person and initially wasn’t even convinced that he would want to write a book about his story. But, after seven years of trying and delaying, he finally shared his story about how he was once broken and then found redemption when he was ready for it. The title Broken and Redeemed came to Jarman one day in his prayers. It means to highlight how we all are broken, and then once we are ready to come home, we are redeemed.
I really liked this honest book because of the level of self-awareness and humbleness depicted. The author constantly reminds the reader that he, too, is just another flawed and broken human being and not a pastor. This makes the author more relatable and removes the feeling of alienation that people feel in their darkest times. At the end of each chapter, readers will find a set of “Reflection or Discussion” questions that encourage them to actively engage with the book. The author does not want to just share his story; instead, he wants to help readers take steps to find their own redemption.
The overall format of the book is well written with multiple styles. It is interspersed with various quotes, poems, images and formatted with headings and bullet points. This helps keep the reader’s interest and makes the book easier to grasp while still maintaining the conversational and personal tone of the book.
Broken and Redeemed would be an excellent book for those looking for a simple spiritual read. The Christian perspective will be inspiring to those who identify as part of the Christian faith. It is also a short memoir for those that enjoy reading about others’ personal transformations.
Pages: 187 | ASIN : B09TS8MM3T
