Tag Archives: Christian living

#BookReview: 31 Proverbs to Light Your Path by Liz Curtis Higgs

19 Sep

31 Proverbs to Light Your Path is a lovely devotional! Ideal for personal and group study, the thirty-one verses from the book of Proverbs are presented in ways that are applicable and actionable. Higgs offers insights, stories, and inspiration, while compelling readers to perform a quick challenge at the end of each chapter. Uplifting and encouraging, I enjoyed spending time in this wonderful book and look forward to using it again and again!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

About the book:

With her signature ability to blend ancient truth with real-life takeaway, best-selling author and Bible teacher Liz Curtis Higgs examines thirty-one verses from the book of Proverbs, and then offers a unique “One Minute, One Step” challenge at the end of each chapter, suggesting a do-it-now task that requires one minute or less. Readers will quickly discover how practical and applicable the book of Proverbs is, and how the Lord can use even the smallest steps to lead us in the right direction.

Learn more about the book and the author.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

#BookReview: The Heart-Shaped Life Daily Devotional by Karen Moore

30 Apr

The Heart-Shaped Life is a lovely devotional! Karen Moore welcomes readers by saying, “It’s time to energize your spirit and realign your heart so you think more positively and lovingly about every circumstance you encounter.” Brimming with encouragement for every day of the year, I have enjoyed adding this devotional to my daily routine. Its uplifting reminders to make love a priority will hearten readers and inspire greater love and heart-shaped living.

“Actions created in love feel good. They lift our spirits and encourage our hearts. If what you did yesterday doesn’t brings you peace of mind today, then try again. Create meaningful interactions with the people around you, and let love guide all you do.”

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

About the book:

Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:2: “If I had the gift of prophecy and knew all about what is going to happen in the future, knew everything about everything, but didn’t love others, what good would it do?” . . .the Heart-Shaped Life series will encourage you to live life “heart first.”

The Heart-Shaped Life Daily Devotional provides refreshing thoughts, prayers, and scripture selections to help you discover the best path to the good life. . .which is all about LOVE!

Learn more about The Heart-Shaped Life Daily Devotional.

Tags: , , , , , , ,

#BookReview: Unsinkable Faith | Prize Pack #Giveaway

10 Apr

If circumstances in your life are weighing you down, Tracie Miles offers a helping hand to help lift you up. In Unsinkable Faith, Miles reminds readers that while everyone struggles with negativity, a life of positivity is possible. “We can learn to change our perspectives about our circumstances, even if our circumstances don’t change.”

Each chapter addresses a unique topic and includes scripture references and strategies for reflection and transformation. Personal stories are also shared, as well as tips and tools for changing the way you think and feel. Unsinkable Faith is a great source of encouragement for those who are seeking more peace and positivity.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

Join Tracie and other readers on April 25th for a fun Facebook Live event and the Anchored in Faith Prize Pack Giveaway (details below)!

One grand prize winner will receive:

 

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 25. The winner will be announced at the Unsinkable Faith Facebook Live event. RSVP for a chance to connect with Tracie and others searching for unsinkable faith, as well as for a chance to win other prizes!

RSVP today and spread the word-tell your friends about the giveaway via social media and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 25th!

 

For many people, remaining optimistic and feeling positive about themselves and their lives is a constant battle – especially when circumstances are difficult and life is hard.  For others, negativity is something that only sneaks up from time to time, yet still wreaks havoc in their hearts. Regardless of the root causes, once pessimistic thoughts permeate our minds, our feelings and emotions begin to control us instead of us controlling them. Eventually it doesn’t seem possible to stay positive, happy, and full of joy, and negative thought patterns shake our faith, causing us to sink emotionally, mentally, and spiritually over time. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Despite what storms roll in, hearts anchored in God don’t sink. When we change the way we think, we can change the way we feel and live, even if our circumstances remain the same. Intentionally embracing the opportunity to experience a transformed heart and a renewed mind opens the door for a changed life, because a positive mind will always lead to a more positive life.

In Unsinkable Faith, author and Proverbs 31 Ministries speaker Tracie Miles offers hope for women who struggle with negativity. Each chapter explores Tracie’s and other women’s personal stories, showing how they rose above their circumstances by transforming and renewing their minds.

Unsinkable Faith is a breath of fresh air for anyone longing for a heart full of joy, an unbreakable smile, and a new, more optimistic perspective on life. This book will equip you to:

-Replace pessimism with positive thinking by becoming the captain of your thoughts;
-Learn how true joy and happiness are based on choice, not circumstances;
-Overcome unhealthy habits of negative thinking by intentionally implementing three easy mind-renewing steps;
-Stop feeling hopeless and pitiful, and start feeling hope-filled and powerful instead; and
-Discover that when you change the way you think, you change the way feel, and in turn you can change your life completely.

Purchase links | Author info | Blog tour 

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

#BookReview: Pray A to Z | Prayer Prize Pack #Giveaway

8 Dec

pray-a-to-z

Pray A to Z by Amelia Rhodes

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/2guYoyl

Change the world one prayer at a time.

How would our community change if instead of absently saying, “I’ll pray for you,” we actually did pray—deeply, intensely, and purposefully?

Pray A to Z: A Practical Guide to Praying for Your Community will help you topically organize your prayer requests and lay the burdens of your community at the feet of our Heavenly Father.

With compassion and encouragement, Amelia Rhodes offers Bible verses and prayer prompts, organized topically for every letter of the alphabet. There are five topics per letter—three prayers of petition asking God to work in a certain area of need, and two more prayers of praise to reflect gratitude for God’s presence in the daily issues and relationships of life. Through petition and praise, your specific, focused communion with God will lighten your heart as you place the heaviness of those prayer requests where they belong—on His strong shoulders.

Whether you are praying for a friend’s adoption journey, a neighbor’s bankruptcy, or a family member’s cancer, this book will give you Bible verses, prayer prompts, and prayer starts to guide you through praying for even the most difficult issues that affect the people you know and love. Perfect for either individual or group prayer, Pray A to Z will help you experience the peace that comes from communicating with God.

 

My thoughts:

Pray A to Z is a wonderful prayer guide! Organized alphabetically by topic, this little book is sure to make a big impact on its readers. Rhodes brings attention to a myriad of issues and struggles that many in our community are facing and calls us to be more mindful and intentional in our petitions and praise. I really appreciated the thoroughness and thoughtfulness of the suggested prayers, as well the pertinent scriptures that begin each section. Simple, yet effective, Pray A to Z is a great tool to use in your individual prayer life, as well as in a group setting.

.

Learn more about Pray A to Z and how to pray for your community, and enter to win Amelia’s Guide to Prayer Prize Pack to get you started.

pray-a-to-z-400

One grand prize winner will receive:

Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on December 20. The winner will be announced December 21 on Amelia’s blog.

pray-a-to-z-enterbanner

 

amelia-rhodes
Amelia Rhodes is a speaker and author of Isn’t It Time for a Coffee Break: Doing Life Together in an All-About-Me Kind of World. Amelia’s writing has also been featured in four Chicken Soup for the Soul titles, devotionals for the OneHope blog Undeterred and the international devotional Upper Room. Amelia has a growing speaking ministry and speaks regularly to women’s groups on topics of spiritual growth, friendship, and community, offering practical tools for living our faith in the everyday. She lives in Lowell, Michigan.

 

 

pray-a-to-z
I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.  Click here to read what other bloggers are saying about Pray A to Z.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

#BookReview: Choosing Real by Bekah Jane Pogue

29 Nov

choosing-real

Choosing Real by Bekah Jane Pogue

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/2gCxCR8

Are you ready to release your control of needing to be everything for everyone? . . . The invitation is yours. In Choosing REAL, author Bekah Pogue walks with you into life’s unplanned circumstances–specifically frantic schedules, pain and transition, feelings of unworthiness, loneliness, and tension. . . And she’ll remind you that it is in these very moments that God invites you to notice, respond, and even celebrate how He shows up in every little detail.

 

My thoughts:

Reading Choosing Real is like experiencing a heartfelt conversation with a friend. Author Bekah Pogue openly and honestly shares her own feelings and struggles, letting readers know they are not alone in their circumstances. “You matter, and how you respond to what goes on in your day-to-day life matters. And celebrating your trust in God, regardless of how large or small your plans are, matters.” Uplifting and encouraging, Choosing Real is a great reminder to embrace and celebrate life’s moments, both planned and unplanned.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

Tags: , , , , , ,

#BookReview: From Depths We Rise by Sarah Rodriguez

11 Oct

from-depths-we-rise

From Depths We Rise by Sarah Rodriguez

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/2d8Kc8H

Sarah Rodriguez experienced more loss and heartache in a short period of time than most people will endure in a lifetime. Infertility. Miscarriage. Her husband Joel’s cancer diagnosis (not once, but twice). Her husband’s death. Her two-week-old baby girl in a fight for her life. . . And still, Sarah clung to her faith. From Depths We Rise is a miraculous story of hope and overcoming. Sarah’s is a journey of beauty from ashes, of marching toward purpose out of the pain. Her awe-inspiring story will encourage you to grasp tightly to your faith and to rise above even the most daunting of circumstances.

 

My thoughts:

From Depths We Rise is an extraordinary story! Sarah Rodriguez has experienced unfathomable suffering and loss, and her journey through this heartache and pain is one of “beauty from ashes”. “What I have to share will hopefully make you laugh-it might even make you cry-but I pray it leaves you filled with hope, because even as the story ends it is really just beginning.” Sarah’s faith is inspiring and her candid story is sure to touch all who read it. Heartrending and hope-filled, From Depths We Rise is a book not soon to be forgotten!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing.  All thoughts expressed are my own.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Heart Wide Open, plus a GIVEAWAY

26 Mar

Heart Wide Open

Heart Wide Open by Shellie Rushing Tomlinson

Synopsis:

You believe in God. You’re trying to serve Him.
But do you know how to truly love Him—and let Him love you?
 
As a Bible-believing churchgoer, author Shellie Tomlinson harbored a secret in her good-girl heart. She longed for something more than routine faith; she wanted to love God with a genuine, all-consuming passion. So she got honest with Him: “I admit it. I don’t love you like I should, but I want to love you. Help me!”
 
In Heart Wide Open, Shellie invites you to answer the call of your restless heart and refuse to settle for anything less than the intimate friendship of God. Through her heartfelt and honest words, you’ll find practical inspiration to help you…
·   exchange your “just enough Jesus” mindset for an all-out pursuit of Him
·   put sizzle in your Bible study by asking God to show you the wonder of His Word
·   trade formulaic devotions for a devoted life
 
Are you ready to stop struggling to make time for God and instead live every moment with God? Discover how to live with your heart wide open.

Thoughts:

Shellie Rushing Tomlinson uses her gift of words, along with her signature humor, to share her own story of seeking a deeper, more intimate relationship with God. As the cover suggests, Shellie has traded in mundane faith for an exuberant life with Jesus.

I love Shellie’s refreshing candor and her contagious exuberance! She has written a book filled with real-life experiences and overflowing with scriptural references. Heart Wide Open is a wonderful source of encouragement and is ideal for individual and group study. I also love the Bible study and discussion guide that has been included in the back of the book. It is a great aid for deeper study and examination.

Full of charm, wit, and wisdom, Heart Wide Open is a book that will inspire you!

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.

Biography:

Shellie and her husband, Phil, live in Lake Providence, Louisiana. They have two children and five grandchildren. Shellie is the author of “Lessons Learned on Bull Run Road”, “‘Twas the Night before the Very First Christmas”,”Southern Comfort with Shellie Rushing Tomlinson” and the Penguin Group USA release, “Suck Your Stomach In and Put Some Color On”, voted Nonfiction Finalist of 2009 by SIBA, the SIBA Independent Booksellers Alliance. “Sue Ellen’s Girl  Ain’t Fat, She Just Weighs Heavy!” was released May, 2011 and subsequently nominated for the same Nonfiction Book of the Year by SIBA for 2012.

Shellie is owner and publisher of All Things Southern and the host of a radio show and weekly video segment by the same name. You can listen to Shellie’s All Things Southern LIVE Talk Show each Monday evening at 5-6 PM CST on TALK 540KMLB. The  show streams LIVE and podcasts are available so everyone can join Shellie’s southern celebration!

When Shellie isn’t writing, speaking, taping her show, answering email or writing content for the next deadline, you can find her playing tennis with Dixie Belle, (the chocolate lab who thinks she is in charge of running Shellie’s life).

To learn more about Shellie, visit her website at http://www.allthingssouthern.com/.

Giveaway:

hwo_giftbasket

To celebrate the release of Heart Wide Open, Shellie is offering a special giveaway!  This wonderful gift basket includes the following:

 A beautiful wallboard inscribed with these words from the Song of Solomon, “Come and awaken love and when I find him I won’t let him go.”
A beautiful coffee mug bearing this sentiment, “Heart you to the moon and back.”
A Bird of Paradise heart-shaped candle
A Heart Shaped Keepsake Box
A Red and White Chevron Design Scarf
A Heart Wide Open T-Shirt (winner to designate size)
A $50 Amazon Gift Certificate
And, of course, a copy of Heart Wide Open
 

To enter, leave a comment below and fill out the simple online form that will allow the names to be collected from participating blogs.  The winner will be drawn on April 1. This contest is open to U.S. residents only.  Good luck!!

http://form.jotformpro.com/form/40657125364959

Tags: , ,