What a fresh perspective! This great book really helps you to go deeper into your relationship with God! I would highly recommend it.

I was really interested in reading this book because I work with teen girls and it didn't let me down. I loved it and it was fun talking about some of the things with my girls. They were really receptive to it and were excited about it. The author did a great job looking at the heart of the matter and addressing those issues in a way that is not overwhelming. I would definitely recommend this book to youth groups to read for girls and to do it as a study together.

*** I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

I'm an adult, and I'm teaching an adult Sunday School class on holiness. Much of what Jenna's book about having an exciting faith fits with the definitions of living a holiness life - but it is written for teenage girls. Insightful, funny, and interesting, Jenna reaches a deep level of theology, but writes for her audience with passion and vernacular that are sure to inspire her readers to live more Christlike lives, all in the interest of enjoying Christianity the way it was meant to be enjoyed.

Jenna intersperses stories of real young people who have experienced the full Christian life to make her point - that living a vibrant, abundant Christian life is possible - no matter how old or young you are. Jenna outlines several simple, yet deep ways that Christians can be blessed and vibrant in their faith, and she does it with a decent understanding of how complicated and pressured the lives of her young audience are. I was able to read the book without feeling as though there was some code I needed to know to get it - even though it is written for young people, it has truth that transcends age.

There is a beautiful parable that Jenna tells about her own testimony. It talks of the wonder of creation, the tragedy of sin, and the majesty of salvation. Throughout the book, she also has space for girls to journal about their experiences, and work on the disciplines that Jenna suggests as ways to enliven faith. Through inductive study of scripture, Jenna shares the beauty of salvation, and proposes that living the way God intended is a glorious way to live. Her passion is infectious, and the only problem I have is knowing which teenage girl I love to give it to. The way Jenna's heart is written into every page makes the story beat with an incredible energy. That energy is a reflection of God's heart, too, and this book can encourage any young woman to live so that her heart beats with His, too. That's the kind of literature I want to share.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

If you are looking for an inspirational book for a teenage girl, I recommend "From Blah to Awe: Shaking Up a Boring Faith" by Jenna Lucado Bishop. And, though it's written for teenagers, I have no problem recommending it for "older" young women, too. Bishop is a capable mentor for young women who long to grow deep faith.

In this book, Bishop answers the questions, "Why do I get bored with God?" and "Does God care if I am bored with Him?" She writes as if she is speaking directly to the reader, sharing the stories of other young women, her own experiences, and solid Bible truth. After introducing each topic, she moves into a section of the chapter called "Going Deeper." She then sums everything up by answering the questions, "Why do we get bored with God?" (where she presents the reason from that particular chapter) and "Knowing this, how do we get unbored with God?" (where she presents the chapter specific answer). In the second part of the book, the summary questions are "Does God care if we are bored with Him?" and "Knowing this, how do we get unbored with God?" Scattered throughout the book are questions for the reader to reflect on and journal space for her answers.

I think Part 1 of the book can be summarized in a quote from Chapter 5:

"To have a zealous faith, we have to want it, choose it, and then have the discipline to maintain it."

In a gentle, fun, and encouraging way, Bishop shows her readers how this is done. Then she moves into Part 2 where she helps readers understand that God loves them and wants an intimate relationship with them. Living a life that glorifies His name is far from boring when we know and walk with our loving Creator God.

Thank you, Thomas Nelson Publishers, for sending a complimentary eCopy of this book for my honest review.

And once again life imitates art...well, sort of.

This past weekend sixteen of us from my church went to Lansing, Michigan for the Music Matters conference.

Because of the excellent sessions - and our brainstorming times afterward - we came back refreshed and renewed and ready to worship God in mind, soul, and spirit.

The services on Sunday were such a blessing. Was it because something had changed externally or was it because I had changed? Both!

I have gone to church quite faithfully throughout my adult life, but I can honestly say I've never woken up on Sunday and been filled with so much joy and expectation. Plus, when I noticed that it was 7:00 p.m., I was disappointed that the evening service was almost over. I've felt that way maybe three times in my life.

It wasn't simply an emotional response, a high so to speak. It was something much deeper, much more real.

And that's what Jenna Lucado Bishop - the daughter of my favourite non-fiction author, Max Lucado - writes about in From Blah to Awe.

The book is written with a teen girl audience in mind, but I enjoyed it immensely and would recommend it to anyone, girls and women especially, who finds their faith has grown dry.

The author covers such topics as feeling blah (as the title suggests); identifying the ugly areas in our hearts; how our flesh (our selfish desires) gets in the way; identifying those things that occupy our thoughts; our need to be accepted by those around us, a need that often overshadows our need to be accepted by God...

I especially appreciate the contemporary retelling of a handful of Bible stories. Like her father, Bishop makes them come alive while remaining true to the biblical text.

I also like the stories of young women who are making a difference in the world and the space included in the book for journaling the reader's thoughts and answers to the questions the author presents. The To Sum It Up section at the end of each chapter is also extremely handy.

As I've said before, I highly value honesty, and Bishop exhibits this clearly. She shares the truth about her own heart and her own relationships, about the times she has felt blah about her faith and her God.

As readers put into practice the suggestions in the book and as we seek to worship God in mind, soul, and body, we will go from blah to awe.

I would highly recommend From Blah to Awe and appreciate booksneeze.com for the free e-copy in exchange for this review.