Friday, March 20, 2015

From Good to Grace and Giveaway (ends 3/29)

Most of my posts contain affiliate links where I get a small percentage of the sale at no additional cost to you when you purchase something through a link.  Thank you for starting your shopping here at Books, Bargains, Blessings.  I received a free copy of this book from Family Christian in order to do a fair and honest review.  I also received an appreciation certificate for hosting the giveaway.


From Good to Grace: Letting Go of the Goodness Gospel appealed to me.  I was the classic good girl in high school and college.  In fact, I once made a checklist of all the "Good Christian Things" I could think of and would see how good of a Christian I was each week.  Going to Sunday School?  That got a point.  Memorizing a Book of the Bible?  Another point.  Choir Practice?  It was on there, too, even though I can't sing at all.  I lost points if I didn't write a missionary, pray through my entire prayer list, and another 27 other things that would tell me at the end of the week if I passed or failed at being a Christian.   Needless to say I never was able to live up to my expectations, and I failed.

I was hoping to love this book.  I wanted to rave about how wonderful it was.  Yet, I can only say it was good.  There were two chapters that stood out as  excellent (Receiving His Freedom and Love Shows).  This book is good, but I think I have been a bit too well read on grace over the years for this to be something outstanding to me.  Still, I would highly recommend it for a women's Sunday School class, Bible study or book club.  My boyfriend tells me I am intense about my faith, and because of that and being the voracious reader I am, I have read countless books on this topic.  Yet, it was still a good reminder that being good doesn't equal grace.

It is rare that I agree with everything in a book, and the one problem I had with this one was where she told someone, "I know exactly how you feel."   Because each person is different, they will view each situation uniquely.  I've always felt that a more loving way to say basically the same thing is say, "I have felt. . ." and then say how you interpret the person is feeling.

I did like that this is nearly a Bible study book but the author uses many personal examples of how she has given or received grace.  She's married to a pastor, a church planter, no less, and has an autistic son.  I would say she has a lot of experience giving and receiving grace.  She also dispels the myth that if we are good enough, we will be blessed by God.  That was a very popular teaching among my friends for a long time. I no longer buy into it.  Life happens.  Accidents happen.  If being good meant a perfect and prosperous life, then the Pharisees  (either ancient or modern day) wouldn't have a care in the world.  This book helps remind us of the truth of what good doesn't accomplish and what grace does.

From now until March 31  Family Christian is having a special sale, 25% off your entire online purchase of regularly priced items.  Just use coupon code MARCH25.  This is the perfect time to purchase this book or another item that Family Christian sells.


17 comments:

  1. Id buy Jeremy Camp I Will Follow CD. I love his voice and music! Its so inspiring. Thank you for the chance :)

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  2. Id buy Jeremy Camp I Will Follow CD. I love his voice and music! Its so inspiring. Thank you for the chance :)

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  3. I would buy a book, but I'm not sure which one yet.

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  4. I might get my niece the Veggie Tales One Nation Under God Youth Short Sleeve Tee :)

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  5. I might get some Christian music for my kids, or there's some Biblical archeolgy books I'm interested in there.

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  6. I would buy the 'Dear Dad: A Keepsake of Blessings and Memories of Growing Up with You' from Family Christian with the appreciation certificate if you won.

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  7. Probably a Mandisa cd..love her.

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  8. A bible might be nice and or some jewelry they have.

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  9. I'd love to get this book: http://www.familychristian.com/catalog/product/view/id/325746/

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  10. Or I might get The Kregel Pictorial Guide to Old Testament Archaeology: An Exploration of the History of Civilizations of Bible Times

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  11. I would get a new bible for my son, as his is wearing out.

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  12. I would like to get a new Bible.

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  13. I love the Maude Asbury Geofabulous Collection - Pocket-Size Notebook. So pretty! kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you.

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  14. I want to get the His Presence-Inspirational Heartlifter

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