Book Review: Power Thoughts Devotional by Joyce Meyer

Power Thoughts Devotional: 365 Daily Inspirations for Winning the Battle of the Mind
By Joyce Meyer
Publisher: Faith Words
Date:  October 22, 2013

About The Author
Joyce Meyer is one of the world's leading practical Bible teachers. A #1 New York Times bestselling author, her books have helped millions of people find hope and restoration.




Happy New Year!
I have taken a little break from blogging over the past two months. I appreciate all my readers and thank you for your encouragement and support. I am looking forward to a wonderful year of blogging in 2014.

An Inspirational Resource For The New Year
"Power Thoughts Devotional" is based on Joyce Meyer's New York Times bestseller, "Power Thoughts". This book provides 365 daily devotions to help eliminate negative thoughts and encourage power thoughts.

The devotions provide a Bible verse, a message and a brief power thought. These devotions are based on Joyce Meyer's teachings and are designed to change your thoughts and your life.

My Thoughts
I am very impressed with this devotional book. The devotions are very brief and can be read in a minute or two. It is amazing how the author presents such powerful content in just a few sentences.  You definitely get quality instead of quantity in this book.

The devotions always give you something to think about and to apply to your life. The "Power Thoughts" are only a few words and can be easily committed to memory. An example of a Power Thought is, "I will not live in fear".

Today is the first day of a new year. This book can make a difference in your life. I plan on starting today and using this book as my devotional book for the entire year of 2014. Take a few moments each day to renew your mind and receive guidance from the Word of God. Highly recommended!

My Rating: 5 Stars Out Of 5

FYI ~ I received a complimentary digital copy of this book to read and review from NetGalley.

Rave Reviews For Lift Up Your Eyes

I recently wrote a review for Lift Up Your Eyes (Devotions For Everyday Of The Year) by Rev. Clyde E. Nichols.  This book is inspirational, motivational and will lead you to a closer relationship with Jesus Christ.
Today, I would like to share the views and reviews of other people who have read this book. These reviews reflect the true value that is evident in this book.

"This book belongs on your coffee table or your night stand. Read it first as a cover-to-cover excursion and then read it during your daily devotions. It will bless and enrich your life." Temple Daily Telegram


Many times Christians living in 2011 feel frustrated and downhearted because we fall far short of living our lives as Christ intended. "Lift Up Your Eyes" by Rev. Clyde E. Nichols fills the reader with hope and encouragement. Each devotional gives us a scripture and then suggests simple ways to apply its meaning to our relationships at home, in the workplace and while we go about our daily responsibilities. The readings are enlightening, uplifting and in some cases very humbling! What a great way to start our morning or to give us a "lift" during the day when we need one. But be warned, reading the devotionals in "Lift Up Your Eyes" is like eating potato chips...it's hard to stop at reading just one!  Brenda Petillo

Rev. Nichols recently received the following email from Jim Gentil;

I received your book and am truly grateful for you including me as someone to write a review. You will be the featured person in the next Positive Spiritual Living newsletter. In addition to sharing one of your articles, I will be including info about your background, telling people they are lucky to be able to purchase such a wonderful book. I'm going to read as much as possible so people will know that my recommendation come from my heart.
I feel truly blessed to have this book in my home.
God bless both you and Marianne- Jim

"Clyde Nichols is an insightful student of the human heart. He loves God, and God's love shines through Clyde's writings. But more than that, he does something I think more difficult: he loves people. Using wonderful stories, humor Scripture and anecdotes, he speaks to the real life situations we all confront and helps us do a better job of meeting them. You will enjoy this book! And, as you read the devotions over the year, you will find yourself becoming more fully the person you most want to be."  Dr. Steve Wende, Senior Minister - First Methodist Church, Houston

The columns of Rev. Clyde Nichol's published weekly by the Temple Daily Telegram are eagerly awaited by his readers. Now many others have the opportunity to experience his engaging thoughts and stories in "Lift Up Your Eyes". His devotions combine things he sees, things he reads, and things that come from prayerful thoughts. He remembers these experiences and stands them up close by the good news of Jesus and the love of God in wondrous ways. Read his book in your daily devotions. Or when you are frustrated, just take up the book, open it anywhere, and let it touch and help you.   Joseph R. Jeter, Jr.  -  Emeritus Professor, Brite Divinity School

Have you ordered a copy of Lift Up Your Eyes? I promise this book will bless you!

Once In A Lifetime

Today I have the privilege to write about a book that is near and dear to my heart. Rev. Clyde E. Nichols has been an important part of my life and I am so glad that he has written this book. "Lift Up Your Eyes" is a book of Christian devotions that Rev. Nichols has written over the past four decades. He has written a weekly newspaper column, "Lift Up Your Eyes",  for the Temple Daily Telegram (Temple, Texas) for the past 46 years. The first column ran on May 8, 1965, and it has been a regular feature in the Saturday edition since then.

Rev. Nichols has chosen the very best of his columns to include in this book of 366 devotions (one for each day of the year plus Leap Year). There are extra devotions at the end of the book for holidays (Martin Luther King Day, Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Easter, Mother's Day, Memorial Day, Father's Day and Thanksgiving).

The name of the book comes Psalms 121: 1-2, "I lift up my eyes to the hills. From whence does my help come? My help comes from the Lord..." Each devotion is based on a true story from history, literature, a movie or the personal experiences of Rev. Nichols. There is a Scripture verse included with each devotion.

Rev. Clyde E. Nichols served as senior minister of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Temple, Texas, from 1963 to 1986. He served as an associate pastor at LaPorte Community Church (Laporte, Texas) in the early 1990s. My husband and I grew to know and love Rev. Nichols during these years. In November 1991, he performed our marriage ceremony. In 1992, he was by my side after I was seriously injured in a head-on car wreck with a drunk driver. Rev. Nichols baptized both my husband and I in the Chapel at LaPorte Community Church in 1993. He was everything you could ask for in a pastor.

I have read many Christian devotional books, but this book is truly a once-in-a-lifetime reading experience. The book is inspirational, motivational and will lead you to a closer relationship with Jesus Christ. This book is now available on the AuthorHouse site in hardcover, paperback and e-book format.

Rev. Nichols provided me with a free copy of this book in digital format to read and review. I hope to travel to Temple on April 30th to celebrate the publishing of this book and Rev. Nichol's 90th birthday. I will purchase a signed hardback copy of this book and keep it on my nightstand. I will read a devotion from this book each night to end my day.

Lift Up Your Eyes

I recently learned that a long-time family friend, Pastor Clyde Nichols, is working on a new book of daily Christian devotions.  The name of the book is "Lift Up Your Eyes".  Pastor Nichols is Minister Emeritus of First Christian Church, Temple, Texas, where he served as senior minister for 23 years from 1963 to 1986.  He is a graduate of Texas Christian University and Brite Divinity School.  He severed as an associate pastor at LaPorte (TX) Community Church during the 1990s.  My husband and I came to know Pastor Nichols very well during those years.  On November 21, 1991, Pastor Nichols performed the marriage ceremony for Dean and I.  On October 16, 1992, Pastor Nichols was by my side when I was rushed into emergency surgery after I was seriously injured by a drunk driver.  In 1993, Dean and I were baptized by Pastor Nichols at LaPorte Community Church. He was everything you could ask for in a pastor...he was with us during joy and sorrow.
Pastor Nichols' Christian devotions have been published in local newspapers for many years.  I am delighted to learn that his wisdom and inspiration will now be published in a book.  Here is a sample of the material that will be in the book.

Thomas A. Dorsey, often called the Father of Gospel Music, was born in Villa Rica, Georgia in 1899. His father was a Baptist minister, and his mother played the organ and piano wherever her husband preached.
Thomas quit school early and was soon hanging around theaters and dance halls. Musicians there encouraged him to practice at home on his mother’s piano. He did, and by the age of 12 was earning money playing at parties and private get-togethers.
He moved to Chicago, and in 1920 was married to Nettie Harper, but the demanding schedule of playing at night, working at other jobs during the day and studying in between, led to a nervous breakdown. He was unable to work for two years. In order to survive, Nettie took a job in a laundry to support them.
His uncle encouraged him to attend the National Baptist Convention. There he was impressed by the singing of W. M. Nix. He soon began composing sacred songs and was hired music director at Chicago’s Pilgrim Baptist Church, a position he held for nearly 40 years.
In 1932 they were living on Chicago’s South Side, and he and Nettie were expecting their first child. Thomas was scheduled to be the featured soloist for a revival in St. Louis. The second night, as he finished his solo, a Western Union messenger brought the news that Nettie had died along with their new born son.
He managed to get through the funeral service, but when it was over, he withdrew from his family, his friends, and even his beloved music. In despair, he sat one evening at the piano idly running over the keys when suddenly he felt at peace and found himself playing a melody he had not heard or played before. The words for it came into his head—just seemed to fall in place. What has been called “the greatest gospel song of all time” was born. People around the world know it, sing it, and love it because of its profound message of hope and faith.

Precious Lord, take my hand,

Lead me on, help me stand,

I am tired, I am weak, I am worn.

Through the storm, through the night,

Lead me on to the light,

Take my hand, precious Lord,

Lead me home.

Aging And Faith

I was recently introduced to the work of Missy Buchanan.  Mrs. Buchanan is an author, columnist and speaker on the subject of aging and faith.  Her ministry is meant to assist older adults and those who love and care for them.  She is the author of Living with Purpose in a Worn-Out Body: Spiritual Encouragement for Older Adults.  I purchased this book in Kindle format and it is also available in paperback format.  This book features 41 short Christian devotions aimed specifically at elderly adults.  Many of these devotions refer to the challenges of living in a nursing home or assisted living facility. The devotions are approximately one page long and include a Scripture verse from both the Old Testament and the New Testament.  I was especially touched by the topics of these devotions.  These topics are very real worries to many elderly adults.  "Slow Motion" deals with the fact that everything takes more time...brushing teeth, getting dressed, cutting food, etc.  Yet the unhurried life can be a blessing because there is more time to notice the first bloom on the flowers blooming outside the window. 

It is truly inspiring the way the author finds praise and gratitude in each situation that an elderly adult might be faced with. The Scriptures that are used are some of the most loved verses in the Bible. These are verses that I will refer to in difficult times and in times when I feel a need to hear God's voice.  Each one of these devotions should be read slowly and then meditated on.  The author displays insight and compassion for the thoughts and feelings of elderly adults. This is also a wonderful resource for the children of elderly parents.  It opens the doors of empathy and understanding. 

Here is an interview with Missy that answers more questions about her writing and her ministry.

Questions And Answers With Missy Buchanan

Even when age creeps up on the body and mind, and life changes from what it once was, is it still possible to have a purpose in life? When it is no longer possible to venture out and do the things you once loved, can you still find a reason to look forward to each day? Missy Buchanan, a leading expert and advocate for senior adults, believes that you can. Buchanan wants to encourage older adults to find their purpose, share their stories, and make an impact on those around them.



Q: What made you decide to start ministering to and writing books for older adults?

Well, as a middle-aged adult, I never had any intention of becoming an author of books for older adults. But because of the journey that my own aging parents were on, I realized how they had become disconnected from their church as their lives changed. They started off as active older adults and then that circle got smaller as they had more needs and physical limitations. As I would visit them at their retirement community, I would also see so many others that were just like them. They needed spiritual encouragement. And so that’s why I got started. The first book began as a project just for my own parents. I wrote devotions and kept them in a loose-leaf notebook. But others started asking for them and things just spiraled from there.



Q: What do you think children need to know about their aging parents?

What I realized personally was that I had been so caught up in my parents’ physical needs that I had neglected their spiritual needs. They were no longer connected to their church, at least in regular worship attendance, and that had been such a huge part of their lives. I almost made that mistake of just totally missing that, and that was the point where I began to write. I looked and there were other books written about older adults but not very many that were written to them and for them. So the first thing I would tell their children is to pay attention not only to their physical needs but also to their spiritual needs.



Q: What is your opinion about role reversal with children and their aging parents?I hear the whole idea of role reversal where the older parent becomes a child and the grown children become the parent, and I understand what they are talking about because my own parents became more dependent on me. But I think that when we refer to it as a role reversal, and we begin to think of our aging parents as children, we strip away their dignity. We rob them of respect and we overlook the fact that they are not children. They have had a lifetime of experiences that a child has not had. And I think that is an important difference that grown children need to think about and pay attention to. It’s more of a role shift in responsibilities and not a role reversal. I know how much it hurts an aging parent to feel like they are being treated like a baby or like a child.



Q: Other than aging adults, who else has benefited from your writing?

A friend of mine in an assisted living facility asked me to bring some books for one of her tablemates. Her tablemate explained that these books were for her adult children. “They don’t understand what it feels like to grow old, and I can’t seem to make them understand, but your books say it better than I ever could.” My books are all written in the first person as if an older adult is speaking directly to God. There are a lot of adult children that are buying them for themselves and older adults buying them for their grown children. And I’ve heard of different youth groups that have been reading my books in order to better understand what it’s like to grow old. Instead of just mocking their older peers, they are learning that they share a lot of the same feelings—feelings of insecurity, feelings of fear. As a result of reading the books, one youth group in Tennessee has even adopted the residents of the senior living center across from their church.



Q: How can faith change our idea of growing older?

So many see aging as a punishment, and they dread it so much. But even though it is difficult to be limited by an aging body, they need to look at it as a gift that God has given them. They still have so much to give. They have great wisdom to share and stories to share. I always tell my older friends that their story is not yet over.

More books by Missy Buchanan;
Talking with God in Old Age: Meditations and Psalms, Enlarged Print

Don't Write My Obituary Just Yet: Inspiring Faith Stories for Older Adults