I couldn't put this book down. If you are hungry for real life experiences and stories of how amazing Jesus is, this book is a MUST read. I was please with the amount of scripture used in the book. It helped me realize how blessed I am and that I can lean on the Lord so much more.

This book left me in awe and opened my eyes in more than one way. About a young Muslim girl who finds herself in the middle of her countries Civil War life is not easy. Sunni and Shia Muslims are at war with each other and many suffer. Prominent families lose their status and wealth. They have to burn their furniture to keep warm, and many die from the cold. Food is scarce and many kill wild dogs or worse just to eat. There are bread lines but they are often fruitless and citizens are told there is no more bread to give despite standing outside for hours.

During one of these times in the bread line a commotion begins and an angry mob begins fighting. Gunshots are fired, people are trampled and Samaa finds herself praying to God. By some miracle she is spared when she could have been dead. More so they were lucky enough to get bread. Realizing that none of her prayers were ever answered by Allah Samaa starts realizing there is more to this God than she knows, and she yearns to know more.

Craving Jesus she begins finding out more and more on Christianity. She finds herself at some of their services, she begins Tae Kwon Do classes taught by Christians, and she begins to absorb all the knowledge she can. With that knowledge comes an unshakable faith that Samaa did not quite expect, and the hold she has always carried within her closes up.

Loving her new relationship with God she yearns to share His love with others, especially her family. Tentatively she starts spreading the news to others. Despite persecution, despite others throwing rocks at her, and her own family beating her Samaa does not give up. Slowly her loved ones begin transforming and Samaa realizes this is only the beginning of her journey.

An explosion at her church where she was a victim goes further to prove her theory that there is much more for her to do for Jesus in the world.

This book is not for the faint of heart. This is a real story of one young woman's harrowing experience in a land where freedom of religion is not accepted, and where all Christians are considered traitors. It is heart-breaking, heart-warming, and will send you on a roller coaster. It will leave you breathless and you cannot help but to sit at the edge of your seat. The difference between this book and many others is this is one young girl's TRUE accounting of what happened to her, her family, and her land.

I was left awed by this book. I was encouraged by Samaa's unflinching faith and I believe every encounter she detailed in this book. It is sometimes hard for us to accept such strong emotions and miracles. Sometimes it is easy for our minds to shed doubt on such things because certain circumstances are incomprehensible to us. But for me I loved this story and am grateful it was shared. I just know this book will go on to change lives, and I am thankful to have had the chance to read it. I have been recommending this book left and right, and will continue to do so. It woke me up even further to a lot of the issues pressing on Christians in other countries. Samaa's story is one of courage, faith, love, hope, determination, and the strength of Jesus. It just goes to show when we have Jesus on our side anything is possible.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Chosen Books in exchange for my unbiased review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Samaa's story reads like a chapter of the Book of Acts in the New Testament.

What she has to say, what her testimony cries out, is a wake-up call for Christians. God is alive- He is very active in our lives. He is loving, powerful and wants a super-natural lifestyle for His children.

I was enthralled and challenged by this book. Wake-up call indeed.

Growing up a devout muslim in a 3rd world Islamic country, Samaa wanted desperately to have a relationship with Allah. He wouldn't answer. In the midst of a civil war, near starvation, where just waiting for bread in the breadline could mean a chilling death, and going from wealth to poverty began to disillusion her. Muslim against muslim, doing unspeakable violence to each other, and as she battled to survive each day amidst the danger and fear, God intervened. He used a missionary living among the muslims of her country, teaching Tae Kwon Do classes for free to the public. An amazingly courageous man, he spoke openly about Jesus and shared the gospel at every class. He had a worship and prayer time, for which any muslim in that country could have killed him with the approval of the community. He gave Samaa a children's Bible, and then Jesus came to her in a dream. He loves the muslim people! And she reminds us of this.

Her life, completely, simply, profoundly given over to Christ, is an adventure. She survived persecution, even from her own family, who by the way did come to Christ. She never stopped sharing the gospel no matter the cost, which was frequently high.

She survived death.

Terrorists bombed her church. She was standing right next to a bomb that detonated and killed and injured many. She had a death experience, saw Jesus face to face, and came back to continue to share the gospel and encourage the church. Her recovery was long and painful, and she experienced persecution even from the muslim doctors and nurses while she lay near death. Still, she lovingly shared the gospel with them. Prayed for them. Such a contrast between her actions and what mine might be. Getting to know Samaa through the pages of her extremely well-written story has changed me.

The fact that my favorite author, Bodie Theone was the American writer who helped tell the tale is the cherry on top. I love this woman's writing and have had my faith increased over and over in her own books.

I don't want to give the story away here, there's too much to tell anyway, it's a book you read on the edge of your seat, turning page after page, long after you should be doing something else or sleeping.

Face To Face With Jesus is an education in the muslim culture, and in a simple, profound faith that walks in obedience. Seeing what it looks like close-up. Being refined by persecution and poverty is a blessing in disguise sometimes. This powerful testimony caused me to reevaluate everything. To a person who likes her comfort a tad too much, that could be hard. Except it wasn't. I am so excited to read about the reality of God's work in the present day that I find myself longing and praying for more Jesus. More of the Holy Spirit and so, so much less of me. I have read chapters of this book over and over.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher for free in exchange for an unbiased written review.

An excellent book written by a woman raised Muslim and how she came to know the Lord. Also led some of her family to Christ. She describes the harrowing persecution Christians face in the Muslim world and the courage it takes to become a Christian.

I LOVE THIS BOOK THAT I AM READING. IT WAS VERY POWERFUL PRESENCE OF GOD. IT SHOW THAT HE NEVER FAIL TO KEEP HIS PROMISES. AT RIGHT TIME EVERY TIME. THANK YOU FOR THIS GREAT BOOK.