Having just celebrated another Mother’s Day, these books are timely. Plus, I have a fun giveaway to tell you about as well.

Here are two non-fiction books that address concerns most moms can relate to ~ or at least grapple with from time to time.

First up is a book by Melody Carlson entitled Dear Mom: Everything Your Teenage Daughter wants you to know but Will Never Tell You.

Every mom knows how communicating with a teenage girl can be difficult, even impossible at times. One-word answers. Defensive conversations. Daily arguments. How typical for teens to put up such barriers. All the while, moms truly long to know what their daughters really think.

Best-selling author Melody Carlson, whose books for women, teens, and children have sold more than three million copies, bridges this chasm with trusted insight. She speaks frankly in the voice of the teen daughters she’s written for and she tells it like it is: struggles with identity, guys, friendship, and even parents—it’s all here. The straight-talk to moms covers such things as

• “I need you, but you can’t make me admit it,”
• “I’m not as confident as I appear,” and
• “I have friends. I need a mother.”

Instead of focusing on outward behaviors, Dear Mom looks at a young woman’s heart and reveals to moms:

• how to talk to teens so they hear,
• how to connect despite the differences of perspective or years and experiences,
• and how strengthen the bond every mom and daughter ultimately wants.

The lively chapters in Dear Mom can be dipped into topically or used as a read-through tool by moms and daughters alike to understand what motivates or deflates, troubles or inspires—and just in time for Mother’s Day and all the Mother’s Days ahead.

Author Bio:
Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of more than one hundred books for adults, children, and teens, with sales totaling more than three million copies. Beloved for her Diary of a Teenage Girl and Notes from a Spinning Planet series, she’s also the author of the women’s novels Finding Alice (in production now for a Lifetime-TV movie), Crystal Lies, On This Day, These Boots Weren’t Made for Walking, and A Mile in My Flip-Flops. A mother of two grown sons, Melody lives in central Oregon with her husband and chocolate lab retriever. She’s a full-time writer and an avid gardener, biker, skier, and hiker.

Learn More:
To learn more about Dear Mom, including how to purchase it online visit Random House’s page featuring Dear Mom

Mama’s Got a Fake I.D.

Secondarily, here’s a book that most EVERY mom can relate to on some level or another. This books focuses on the struggle to maintain our identity after becoming a mom. God gave you unique passions, gifts, and talents that the world ~ and you ~ may fail to see and utilize once the title of Mom rules supreme in your life.

In Mama’s Got a Fake I.D., Caryn Rivadeneira helps you to get back in touch with the woman God created you to be. This is not a book to throw off the bands of motherhood or to condemn those who consider motherhood the pinnacle of their achievements. Rather, this book sheds light on how to “discover who He made you to be – in your family and beyond.”

I love the way the back cover summarizes it:

No one begins life as a mom. Before you have children, you are an amazing combination of friend, daughter, confidant, visionary, encourager, and thinker. You start out in life using your gifts and abilities in a surprising variety of settings.
Then you have children and the role of mom–as wonderful as it is–seems to consume you. It’s easy to lose your identity when others see you as a mom and little else. What happened to the artist, the team-builder, the organizer, the entrepreneur, the leader–the person you’ve lost touch with?

About the author:
Caryn Dahlstrand Rivadeneira is the former managing editor of Marriage Partnership and Christian Parenting Today. She’s been writing for and speaking to women for over a decade. Today she is the managing editor of GiftedForLeadership.com, and online community for Christian women in leadership.

Ready to Get Back in Touch with Your Identity?
To help you “reveal the real you hidden behind all that mom” the good folks at Waterbrook Press have provided me with a copy of Mama’s Got a Fake I.D. to give away to one of my readers.

Here’s how to enter to win:

1. Simply subscribe to or follow my blog and then leave a comment letting me know. = 1 entry
2. Tweet or blog about the giveaway and link back to this post. Please leave a separate comment with a link back to your tweet or post. = 1 entry

Winner will be chosen and announced on May 20th. So, check back here April 20th to see who won. (I’ll email the winner so be sure I can get in touch with you.)

Click here to leave a comment!

With Earth Day being this week, it’s a perfect time to focus on the new book, Gardening Eden, by Michael Abbaté. It’s seems the latest trend is for everyone to be on board with taking care of the Earth, recycling, and being as “green” as possible. For many years this was taboo in the Christian circle and many were frowned upon as aligned themselves with “tree-hugging liberals” but that stigmata is changing.

Very clearly God’s original design was for man to be stewards of His creation. There is a LOT of mention in the Bible about stewardship – from finances to natural resources. So, in keeping with that vein of stewardship, shouldn’t we care for our environment just as much, if not more than, our forefathers?

Abbaté advocates “spiritual environmentalism” and throughout the book gives practical advice on how to achieve that. For instance, there is a whole section entitled, “Becoming a Gardener” with tips on how to do just that (don’t worry there are some easy ones to start with).

I’m a big fan of buying local and supporting local farmers so this section really resonated with me. As I’ve been learning more about food and taking care of myself, it seems only logical to eat local, organic foods. But that’s just one dimension of this book.

Take a Closer Look:

Gardening Eden:
Before the snake, the apple, and the Ten Commandments, God created a garden, placed humans in it, and told them to take care of it.

“Spiritual environmentalism” did not start out as an oxymoron—it was an invitation. Yet today, many believe God’s original job description for humankind has been replaced by other worthier pursuits. So when did this simple instruction become so controversial? How does one sort through all the mixed messages? Is making the world a healthier place for the next generation really a responsibility—or even possible?

Gardening Eden is a new understanding of how the spiritual dimensions of life can find expression and renewal through caring for our incredible planet. Empowering, simple, and never polemical, Michael Abbaté outlines the Bible’s clear spiritual benefits of caring for creation, exploring new motivations and inspired ideas, and revealing the power of our basic connection to all people and living things through the growing interest in spiritual environmentalism.

Green living is no longer a fad—simple lifestyle solutions are now available to everyone. Gardening Eden shows readers how this shift transforms not only our world, but their very souls as they’re drawn into deeper harmony with the Creator. This book invites them to discover the powerful spiritual satisfaction of heeding the call to save our world.

Author Bio:

A nationally recognized expert in “green” development strategies, Mike Abbaté is a founder of GreenWorks, an award-winning landscape architecture design firm. He frequently speaks to students and leaders about practical ways to minimize the impact of building and landscape design on natural resources. Abbaté’s work has been featured in national magazines such as Metropolis and Landscape Architecture and in many local newspapers and trade publications. He and his wife, Vicki, have two adult daughters and live near Portland, Oregon.

Purchase the Book:

You can get a copy of the book through Amazon and most large book retailers.

Focusing on “Unlocking the Secret of Joyful Giving,” this petite tome packs quite a punch. To some, this book will be radical and contain some inflammatory ideas, but as always when money is the center of the text – especially ‘YOUR’ money – things can get quite opinionated and heated.

Randy Alcorn advocates that ‘your’ money is instead ‘His (God’s)’ money. To that end, his content focuses on Matthew 6:19-21:

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

In the text, Alcorn establishes what he calls, “Treasure Principle Keys.” There are six in all and they include such statements as:

• God prospers me not to raise my standard of living, but to raise my standard of giving.
• My heart always goes where I put God’s money.

In theory, I agree with most of what Alcorn says, but some of his assertions are easier left in theory than put into practice. That is where most readers will stumble over his words – putting them into practice. It is one thing to postulate about giving 90% of your income to charity and quite another to “walk it out.”

I’m not saying I disagree, just that this type of radical faith living is at the extreme for most modern-day Christians living in America. It certainly flies in the face of the “Prosperity Gospel” that has been popular in recent years. Alcorn is not saying that God won’t bless and prosper His people; it’s just that this prosperity should not be lavished solely upon ourselves. Wealth is given for a purpose.

In times of economic downturn, this teaching is even more difficult to adopt for most church-goers. Yet in my own life and in the lives of my friends I have seen God bless when we gave beyond what others would call “comfortable.” God blesses giving and the Bible upholds that blessings will be poured out to those who give.

This is a great book and excellent for an afternoon of reading. I’d recommend this book for those who want to take your giving to the next level. As with all teaching books, read with discernment and allow God to speak to you about the content. Randy Alcorn is not saying to give all your 401k and the inheritance money away. Instead, learn to wisely use what you have been given to you.

Want to Win a Copy for Yourself?

I’m giving away a copy of this book here on the blog. Simply follow the instructions below to be entered to win.

Contest closes: Tuesday, April 21
Winner will be announced Wednesday, April 22

To enter:

Leave a comment about a time you gave to others when you didn’t really have the extra cash or tell me about what you would give to (or underwrite completely) if money was no longer a hindrance.

*Be sure to leave me a way to contact you in case you are the winner. That means either include your email addy or make sure there is a way to contact you on your profile or website. Thanks!

Buy a copy:

Even is you don’t win, you can purchase a copy of the book for your personal library by clicking on the Amazon link below.

Sometimes the best thing we can do for our spouse (or significant other) is to work on the relationship and remember to give it your best. This is especially true if you’ve been together for years.

Recently, I had the privilege of reviewing three books that help you do just that. Better still, thanks to the good folks at Multnomah Books* and Waterbrook Press*, I have a set of these same books to giveaway to one faithful blog reader.

Each of these three books focuses on a unique portion of the relationship, but all trace back to endeavoring to truly love one another.

In his new book Love as a Way of Life Devotional, best-selling author Dr. Gary Chapman will rouse a desire to let “love guide the way you respond to others in every situation.”

“These ninety short devotionals—perfect for reading on your own, with your spouse, or with a friend over coffee—deliver the inspiration and encouragement you need to make love a lasting habit.” As you delve into the book, applying its principles to your life, you will cultivate a new lifestyle of loving others built around the seven characteristics of authentic love.

Each devotional entry showcases biblical truths that guide a life of love, offering fresh insight and practical guidance in how to consistently love others. Over the course of three months, readers will learn to follow God’s lead as they practice the characteristics of a loving person: kindness, patience, forgiveness, courtesy, humility, generosity, and honesty.

Ideal as a gift or to read for personal enrichment, this little book will significantly impact all of your relationships – not just the one with your spouse or significant other.

I Do Again by Cheryl and Jeff Scruggs details the fascinating real-life story of a couple whose relationship seemed shattered beyond all hope until a spiritual awakening led them to reconsider their definitions of “happily ever after.”

With their professional success and adorable twin daughters, Jeff and Cheryl Scruggs looked like the perfect couple. But their polished facade “concealed a widening chasm between two people unable to connect on an intimate, soul level.”

“After years of frustration, Cheryl’s longing for emotional fulfillment led to an affair and, finally, divorce. Yet, incredibly, seven years later, Jeff and Cheryl once again stood at the altar, promising to ‘love, honor, and cherish’ one another. A new and vibrant love had risen out of the ashes of this family’s pain.”

“A riveting account of the power of prayer and redemption, this remarkable book offers renewed hope for even the most troubled marriages—and reveals why the rewards of restoration are well worth the wait.”

“Cheryl and Jeff are the founders of Hope Matters Marriage Ministries, and for the past several years they have shared their incredible story of a marriage restored with audiences across the nation.” Whether happily married or trapped in a troubled marriage, this book has the power to touch all who read it.

For Couples Only by Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn combines two wonderful resources, For Women Only and For Men Only providing the perfect resource to help you understand what the woman or man in your life needs most.

“Since their debut, these revolutionary guides have sold well over a million copies, been translated into fifteen languages, and sparked many fascinating water-cooler conversations around the country. Now together in the For Couples Only boxed set, these books provide the perfect resource to help you understand what you never knew about the woman or man in your life.

Each volume is based on input from more than a thousand members of the opposite sex—including an unprecedented nationwide survey and hundreds of personal interviews. This innovative approach yields candid and surprising answers about everything you don’t “get” about your significant other—even what that person deeply wishes you knew. It also produces simple but groundbreaking awareness of how you can best love and support the one who is most important to you.

So whether you are newly dating or have been married fifty years, get ready to know each other in a whole new way. The adventure is just beginning!”

Purchase the books:

Win a copy of each of the books listed above:

As mentioned above, thanks to the folks at Multnomah Books* and Waterbrook Press*, we have one copy of each of the books to giveaway to a faithful blog reader. To win all three books in the prize set follow the guidelines below.

1. To enter simply leave a comment on this blog ~ any comment will do. That qualifies as one entry.
2. Tweet or blog about this contest and link to this post. Then comment here with the permalink for your blog entry or tweet. That qualifies for another entry.
3. Want two extra entries? Subscribe to or Follow this blog and you’ve got ‘em. Just let me know how you subscribed.

Giveaway Details:
The winner will be contacted by email. So, be sure to have it on your blogger profile or leave it in the comment.

You can enter until 5 pm Eastern on February 19, 2009. At that time the comments will be closed. The winner will be selected at random and announced on February 20, 2009.

Ready! Set! Leave a Comment!

*Both Multnomah Books and Waterbrook Press are divisions of Random House Inc.

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Get your daily dose of blog giveaways, contests and free online sweepstakes from Sweeties Sweeps.

“For the first time ever, all of the statements Jesus made in the New Testament have been brought together and organized under more than 200 topics. When you want to know his will in a specific area of life, or you’re seeking the answer to a perplexing question, or you are desperate for his encouragement, comfort, or wisdom–you can easily find the help you need.
The moment you turn to the appropriate topic heading, you will have access to the breadth of Jesus’ teaching on that subject. You can also use this book as a guide for studying Jesus’ wisdom on any topic of interest, such as prayer, forgiveness, eternity, anger, temptation, relationships, grace, or knowing God.”

Although not a book you read from cover to cover, it is one you will reach for continually. A wealth of knowledge is contained within its pages, and during the time I’ve owned the book, it has come in handy on several occasions, proving useful in locating just the right passage of Scripture time and again. This book is an exceptional resource and one that any student of the Bible would desire to have in their personal reference library.

Perhaps more amazing than the topics covered in this book are the ones that aren’t. Out of curiosity, I would look to see what Jesus had to say on certain topics only to find there weren’t any entries pertaining to that subject. It certainly sheds new light on the issues of life that were closest to his heart, and allows you to see the depth of teaching on any subject of interest.

To Purchase the Book:
This book is available online at Amazon by clicking the link below or you can purchase it at most fine bookstores.