Let's face it, life is hard at times. We face of host of problems and circumstances common to people. It might be illness, depression, relational, or financial in nature. If you are a person of faith, you probably use those times as a catalyst for prayer. Wouldn't it be nice if you could receive a direct answer back from the Lord? Well, in a way, we can, through the Bible, His Word. It comforts us, exhorts us, directs us. Ron Hardin is a Christian who struggled in his teen years. He made some poor decisions that lead him into drugs, gang activity, and more. By the grace of God, he found his way back to the Lord, and decided to use his experiences as a way to show others the hope that can be found in God. He did this by starting God's Mail , and writing a book called God's Mail Volume 3 , which he graciously provided for us to read and review.
This is a paperback book, approximately standard notebook sized, with a glossy, cardstock type cover. I like the image on the front cover, which is a dove holding a letter in its beak. Very peaceful looking. 96 poems make up these 221 pages, with each page containing a series of Scripture verses on the left page, and a short poem on the right page. Each page also has a black and white, kind of shadowy illustration as the background for the text.
The first ten pages are endorsements from various folks close to the author, and include a short introductory blurb about each. I found this a little unusual, as this information is usually in the back of the book, and we don't typically see that kind of thing. Perhaps he wanted to make sure that there support didn't get lost at the end. I do have to mention though, that there appears to be a typo at the front. A page is called "Forward", but I believe it's supposed to say "Foreword".
The poems themselves cover a range of topics including personal sin, singleness, having babies out of wedlock, sadness, and more. Most of the poems are short and no longer than a paragraph, although a few take up the page. They can be read in about 10 minutes or so. If you take the time to read the Scriptures as well, you can use it as a devotion. The subject matter in certain texts can be raw, so this is not necessarily a read for the whole family. Those who are and/or have struggled with life events featured can find hope and encouragement within this book.
So, what do I think? Well, it's not really a family book per say. I like the Scripture on every page. I can see this as a book to have available in churches and counseling centers. Troubled teens come to my mind as I read this. It could be helpful to that age group, particularly ones that have found themselves straying. As for general family use and devotion, perhaps not so much. At any rate, click on the links, and have a look.
So, what do I think? Well, it's not really a family book per say. I like the Scripture on every page. I can see this as a book to have available in churches and counseling centers. Troubled teens come to my mind as I read this. It could be helpful to that age group, particularly ones that have found themselves straying. As for general family use and devotion, perhaps not so much. At any rate, click on the links, and have a look.
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