 I love reading! It's one of my favorite things to do. I'll spend hours at it when I can. I like many different genres of books, and try as I might, I CANNOT narrow down what my top five, or even ten, books are. Maybe I should try coming up with a top twenty? During these fall months, I've had the opportunity to read four new Bible studies/devotionals. If you're wanting encouragement and to learn from God's Word, then read on. Maybe one of these books is for you. Colliding with Destiny by Sarah Jakes Published September 2, 2014 by Bethany House Publishers Colliding with Destiny is a 30 day study on the book of Ruth. Sarah walks through the book of Ruth, passage by passage to show that our past does not have to define us and that the most painful times in life can move us to our destiny in Christ. In reading this study, I would have liked to see more looking to Scripture for learning. Several chapters had the few verses from Ruth as the only Scripture passages, a prayer at the end of the chapter, and the rest seemed more like a pep talk than a drawing out of God's truth. There were some chapters that barely mentioned God besides the verses from Ruth and the written prayer. However, the study was encouraging, and there was nothing false or unscriptural in it. The chapters were easy to read, with thought provoking questions at the end. If you're dealing with overcoming past mistakes or hurts, and are feeling defined by them, Colliding with Destiny could be a good starting point for looking to God's Word for healing. Lean On Me by Anne Marie Miller Published October 7, 2014 by Thomas Nelson Publishing We hear the word "community" a lot. And it's something we all long for. But how real and genuine are our relationships? In this book Anne shares her own story of finding "intentional, vulnerable and consistent community", and encourages us to do the same. While I greatly liked and appreciated that Anne shared her personal experiences, I was hoping for a bit more of exploring God's Word to discover how authentic community could be a reality in my life. This book does not claim to be a Bible study, but on her blog, Anne hopes the book will "help people think about and relate in community in very Jesus-like ways". I did find Anne's story encouraging, but my story is very different from hers, all our stories are different in some way, so we need the consistency of Jesus' truth and His example. I Want God by Lisa Whittle Published October 1, 2014 by Harvest House Publishers This book is all about wanting God. Really wanting God. Desiring Him above all else and truly being willing to do whatever He calls us to do and be whoever He calls us to be. The subtitle of I Want God is “Forever Changed by the Revival of Your Soul.” Throughout the book, Lisa encourages, challenges and helps us to identify the things that keep us from wanting God most, and seek the revival that will change us. Lisa's writing style is a unique blend of bluntness and poetic imagery. At times, I liked this, and at other times, it caused the chapters to feel a bit long and redundant. But if you're wanting to want God, this book will challenge and encourage you in your seeking Him. A Young Woman's Guide to Discovering Her Bible by Elizabeth George Published October 1, 2014 by Harvest House Publishers This is an excellent how-to-study-your-Bible book. Elizabeth shares her own story of discovering the truth of God's Word, and gives teaching on how you can discover this truth for yourself. Each chapter walks through a different passage of Scripture and applies easy-to-remember study steps so you can learn what God's Word has to say for your life. Elizabeth's writing in this book is geared more for teen girls, but those in their early twenties who are new to studying the Bible would also benefit from this book. Have you read any good Bible studies (or books in general) lately? I'm always on the lookout for a good read, so please share!  The reviewed titles were received free from the publishers via Netgalley for me to read and write an honest review. All opinions stated are my own.
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