Customer Reviews

Forty Loaves: Breaking Bread with Our Father Each Day

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I really enjoyed this devotional. I found it interesting, compelling and moving. Baker really asks a lot of tough questions. Each chapter or slice will give you insight, encouragement and perhaps a renewed sense of worth in your relationship with God. He asks a lot of tough questions with his "Food for Thought" questions, such as why don't I have more faith? or why am I so bored with Jesus? And one that really touched me was why don't I feel connected at church? or Why don't I know what I want in life? I tell ya he covers questions that you didn't even THINK you had an issue with!

It really made me question my motives, and gave me an opportunity to have a real heart to heart with God. It pushed my buttons to think beyond myself and make me move forward with my relationship with Christ and that is so important!

"40 Loaves is something of a collection of the kinds of questions I felt finally free to ask of myself and of my relationship with Christ," says Baker. "It's my belief that these questions are shared by many others who long for the freedom to simply ask them out loud. I hope this book becomes a platform that frees others to search their hearts more deeply and be fed with the Bread of life."

Quite simply to say I loved it.

Thanks to WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for providing me with this book for my honest review!

40 Loaves is an interesting devotional book based on 40 questions most of us ask sometime or another. Questions like "Why am I so uncomfortable with doubts?", "Why do I care so much about my reputation?" and "Why is my life such a mess?".

I read this book out of order as the question/s interested me. That is freeing for me. No rules for this book. Baker used a short devotional style with a conversational voice. I enjoyed the real life examples of what people struggling with the question looked like. I found myself in the pages of this book, which was revealing. Since I am a question-type person, always thinking more than I speak, this book is perfect for me. At the end of each chapter, there were added questions as Food for Thought and A Prayer.

I often give away my books I receive as a blog book reviewer. Not this one. I know I will be asking questions again soon. This is a great reference book, short and sweet in style, with God's Word as the answer.

"In accordance with the FTC regulations, I inform you that I received a copy of this book, Forty Loaves directly from the publisher, WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for review purposes and have stated my honest opinion of this book."

There are so many devotionals available that most of the time I feel I'd rather not try to wade through them to find the one that would fit me. In fact, I can't remember the last time I read through a devotional at all. I know it's been years. Till now.

C. D. Baker's 40 Loaves is different. Very different. How about topics like, "Why are Christians so hard for me to like?" and "Why am I afraid to read my Bible?" When Water Brook sent me this as a review copy I had only one word with which to respond: awesome!

I loved reading through one man's struggles and finding the answers that worked for him. I found that not all of his answers worked for me, but that's fine, because the process of working my way through tough questions about faith, love, the Bible, God, anger, frustration and so on are what grows me. A devotional that moves me along the path God has for me was just what I needed, and 40 Loaves hit the spot.

I recommend this book for anyone who is struggling with so-called deep questions about faith and doubt, any one who also asks questions like, "Why do I only pray in emergencies." An honest book that turns into bite sized devotions the struggles and faith of the author. This isn't some preachy, everything will turn out right devotional. This is real.

This book was provided to me by the publisher as a review copy.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I really enjoyed the premise of it, because honestly, what Christian has not had questions about certain aspects of their faith that they may have been too embarrassed or ashamed to ask? However, there are a few answers that C.D. Baker gives that disagree with some of my very foundational beliefs. Of course, I realize that there are doctrinal differences among Christians, so what set with me wrong, very well may not bother someone else. Overall, I do think this book can be a helpful tool to add to a Christian's arsenal, but I would recommend(as we should always do) to back up everything against Scripture if you feel something isn't quite aligned with your own beliefs.

When I read the summary for the forty day devotional "40 loaves: Breaking Bread with Our Father Each Day", by C.D. Baker, I was skeptical. It starts, "There are many questions we're not supposed to ask..." Oh boy, I thought, what in the world is this book about? Honestly, I don't know of a devotional book I would more quickly recommend to every Christian, no matter how long they've known Christ. Each chapter starts with what could be considered an "uncomfortable" question in any Christian circle. I'm pretty sure though, that God can handle my questions. Maybe even those questions, that may make others uncomfortable, will draw not only me, but anyone that learns the answer, closer to God! This book has given me insight to things that I really never was comfortable enough to figure it out on my own. It is heavily scripture filled, very biblically based. Why should we not ask a question because "we're not supposed to," or because "it's not culturally acceptable?" When questions are not asked, answers are not discovered, and things never change. Why should someone else say what I can or cannot ask God? He welcomes our question! I strongly encourage you to read this book!

"Wisdom is found when troubled hearts ask honest questions" is the opening statement to this lovely devotional book by C. D. Baker, author of 101 Cups of Water.

In `Forty Loaves: Breaking Bread with Our Father Each Day`, the author presents forty thought provoking devotional messages that stir your the reader to examine their personal beliefs and perhaps engage some new ideas.

This is an honest book filled with straight forward comments, conversations, and illustrations. I must say, there were many sections I would consider favorites, but my select favorites were:

Why Am I Afraid to Read My Bible?

(Chapter Six)

Loved this one because it gets to the heart of one of the most basic of Christian struggles. As Christians, we want to read our Bible but there are times when the Truth contain in the Scriptures we read are hard to hear, hard to receive, and hard to incorporate into our lives.

Why Does Grace Sometimes Make Me Uncomfortable?

(Chapter Twenty)

Another great chapter as it deals with the basic human need to forever try to buy or earn or keep our salvation. Even after years of walking with God, Christians will sometimes resort to this behavior. It is almost like it is our default response. This chapter open with an especially good illustration. A conversation with a woman about just accepting the free gift of Grace.

Why Am I So Dependent on Order in My Life?

(Chapter Twenty-Nine)

This message gave me new insight as the term `Order Addiction' was explained. I discovered here that planning (even in the mindset of attempting `good stewardship') can be idol worship, something I had not considered before.

If you are looking for a conversational devotional or know a friend struggling with a few of the basics of Christianity and perhaps has a few honest questions, this would be a great choice.

Read it for the personal challenge or examination, then bring it with you to discuss over coffee with a friend. I recommend it highly.

Disclaimer:

The review copy of this book was provided free of charge by Waterbrook Multnomah and was donated to the library of Westwood Baptist Church

I love this book! I read a chapter a day and it is very provocative. Each day is a different subject, a different question, wonderful insight.

40 LOAVES offers a solid survey of faith's challenges, from religious rules and questioning to how to begin asking questions of God. Forty soul-searching questions from the author's own conversations with God make for a set of religious inspirational reflections highly recommended for any Christian library.

Hailed and marketed as a devotional book, I tend to disagree. Sure, these are short chapters and can be used as a daily meditation or devotional, but the discussions are so deep and intensive, it's not likely to be read and moved beyond easily. With topics that ask why it's so hard to have faith or forgive, you will greedily move from one chapter to another wanting to know what Baker has to say next. He is concise yet deep, thorough and profound. The most disappointing factor for me was that he didn't choose more loafs to ponder. I want a smorgasbord next time!

I was hooked on this devotional when I read the statement in the first chapter, "Do I really want to take him by the hand or just take from his hand?"

The Food For Thought at the end of each entry helped me focus on questions I really needed to ask myself. This book is an excellent resource to help you think deeper about your relationship with Jesus. It helps you realize that you might be focusing on the wrong kind of relationship.

This is a wonderful devotion that takes you through breaking bread with the Father for 40 days.