90 Days of God’s Goodness

January 30, 2012 By 1 Comment

 

90 Days of God’s Goodness by Randy Alcorn is a daily devotional that is subtitled “Daily Reflections That Shine Light on Personal Darkness” and it delivers in a big way.

Pastor Alcorn takes us through many of the various things that darkness tends to bring with it and wisely gives insight to the situation.  The light pierces through the darkness as your heart is reminded of the wisdom of God in the crisis that sometimes creeps up in our lives.

In this 90 day devotional, you will no doubt find something that relates to your personal darkness.  I hope that as you dwell on God’s goodness while listening to the personal application  of each days study, that the light you’ll see will allow the heaviness of the situation you are facing to ease up…even if just a little.

If you feel like you are in a never-ending valley, may I suggest you get this book? If you think that no one on earth understands your pain and darkness, you’ll be encouraged as you read through this devotional and the light is shown on God’s goodness.  Your heart will be refreshed and renewed.

The audio book from Christianaudio.com is narrated by Lloyd James and is so easy and comforting to listen to.

I have many, many personal favorite quotes from the book, but I’ll list just a few of them below.

Whose we are, not where we are determines our misery or our joy

Isn’t it MORE remarkable that God would create a world in which no one would suffer more than HE did?

My weakness drives me to a greater dependence on Jesus

It’s one thing to suffer terribly, it’s another to CHOOSE to suffer (Jesus made that choice for US)

What if we see that every agony was giving birth to eternal Joy?

Believing God exists is not the same as TRUSTING the God who exists

Studying about evil and suffering doesn’t equal facing it, but it can go a long way in preparing us for it.  Provided we see it in relationship to both the goodness and greatness of God.

Trusting God doesn’t ward off all evil and suffering

 

Thank you to christianaudio for a complimentary copy of this book via the Reviewers program.  I am not required to give a positive review of this book. 

Christianaudio has a free audiobook for your downloading pleasure each and every month, as well as gift certificates for the audio book enthusiast in your world.

 

I’m honored that Eternal Perspective Ministries has partnered with Spreading Joy to give away 2 copies of this book.  All you have to do is leave a comment below so that I can have your email address and you’ll be entered into a random drawing.

For more about EPM, other books, or to hear messages from Pastor Alcorn,  please visit their website

You can follow Pastor Alcorn on twitter here

Sharing this IS spreading joy

Filed Under: Book Reviews, Spreading Joy Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Art of Helping

November 20, 2011 By 3 Comments

All of us want to offer comfort and support to someone who is hurting, but we often don’t know what to say or do. The Art of Helping—What to Say and Do When Someone is Hurting addresses 30 of the most common heartaches people face and takes away your fear of involvement by helping you understand what people are feeling and going through. From over 100 interviews and her own life experiences, author Lauren Briggs shares proven advice and offers practical help with a list of what to say— and do.

Why should I read The Art of Helping?

Do you know someone who is facing a crisis and wondered what you could do to help?  Have you ever faced a difficult time and wished your family and friends knew what you were going through and knew how to help you?

I found that during my darkest hours, no one knew how much I was hurting, what I was going through or how they might help.

This is a book you’ll want to read before you need it—so that you will have ideas of what you can do and how you can respond—when you first hear the news. We want to help our family and friends through the hard times, but the right words or actions just don’t come to mind. The Art of Helping will give you the tools and enable you to turn thoughts into action.

How will The Art of Helping change me?

The Art of Helping is your go to book when life gets tough. It is a social Bible filled with concrete, tangible action items to empower you to make a difference at times when we would otherwise feel helpless. When people get this book in their hands, they always say, “How I wish I had this book when my friend needed help.”

What are some basic Do’s and Don’ts I need to know?

DON’T wait before you make contact.
DO Respond as soon as you hear the news.

DON’T SAY “If there’s anything you need, give me a call.”
DO Offer a specific thing you can do.

DON’T put pressure on yourself to do something you don’t like to do.
DO use your gifts and talents to help.

DON’T minimize what they are going through.
DO offer caring statements of acknowledgement.

DON’T ASK “When will you be your old self again? or Aren’t you over it yet?”
DO understand that once their life is touched by tragedy, they will never be their “old self” again. They will eventually reach a “new normal” but life will never be the same.

What are some of your favorite creative suggestions in The Art of Helping?

  • A mother of two young children picked up a hurting family’s laundry on Mondays, took it home and returned it all laundered and folded on Thursdays.
  • A man volunteered to come mow the lawn once a week and do some simple “honey do” chores.
  • My sons brought their game boy to the hospital for a friend going through chemo therapy. Every few days they would bring a different game to swap.

How can I learn more about The Art of Helping?

The Art of Helping is reshaping the way people reach out to others. To view more information, visit my website: www.laurenbriggs.com. You can follow me on Facebook as Lauren Littauer Briggs and on Twitter as @Laurenbrgs. The Art of Helping is available in e-book and paperback formats through Amazon.com. If you would like an autographed copy of The Art of Helping, email me at Laurenbrgs@aol.com.

I really enjoyed this book! This is an awesome book that will help you know what to say and encourage you to help others for years to come!

I was given a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for posting the author’s interview on my blog. This blog tour is managed by Christian Speakers Services (ChristianSpeakersServices.com).

Sharing this IS spreading joy

Filed Under: Book Reviews, Spreading Joy Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Courageous Living

November 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Helping you to stand up courageously!

I hesitated as I saw the book title sitting in my email.

Courageous Living: Dare To Take A Stand; A book that is a call for men to stand up, fight back for their faith and get involved with their families written by Michael Catt, Pastor of Sherwood Baptist in Albany Georgia.

I’m a lady that stands up for her faith and I am and will always be involved with my family in that my greatest desire is that my children serve the Lord faithfully while my husband and I follow the path set before us.

I admit that I half-heartedly downloaded the book from christianaudio.com.  I’m truly glad that I did!

Not only is this book a call for men to “man up” courageously, but ladies, much of it applies to us too.

This book reminds us that we need men to boldly lead the way, following Christ and husbands/dads to hold their family accountable in their actions, owning their mistakes.  We need men to courageously stand up for what is right, even if you are standing alone.

The book is filled with example after example of courageous men and women doing what God has called them to do with modern day applications that will encourage the timid, motivate the discouraged and inspire all who read to courageously do more.

Ladies, we are not off the hook here.  Much of what is in this book applies to us too.  We want men to lead the way, but we resist following them.  We use the fact that our husbands don’t go to church to simply stay home because “what’s the use anyway.”  We let our children do whatever they want to because it’s such a bother to keep up with them and we wonder why they don’t choose to serve the Lord when they move out. Enough of the excuses…..time to “man up” ladies.

Being a Christian isn’t easy, never has been, but when in your life time have you heard of a stoning in the USA? Sure it’s often not a life of convenience, but neither is anything that is worth having.

Courageous Living is a call to action for each and every one of us.

It’s our choice to boldly stand and choose right courageously.  It’s our choice to own up to our responsibilities and make a difference for the Lord.  It’s our choice to get involved and be faithful to our local church.

If you don’t like the study groups that are going on, suggest a new one – LEAD a new one, but don’t just be passive about it.  DO SOMETHING. Go, be faithful and get involved!

Be courageous….and watch how others around you will gather courage as well.

Will you answer the call? Will you dare to stand?

This book was filled with many lines that I could quote for days. 

Get the book and enJOY.

(Ladies, anytime you see the word man or husband – simply replace with woman/wife. WE need this too.)

  • We need a new generation of men that don’t look to the corporate as a measure of their success; rather they look into the lives of wives and children.
  • We desperately need men who find their significance in faith, family and hard work.
  • Greatness is determined by God not by man.
  • Life should not be about stuff, it should be about the Savior.
  • A life of courage will see what others can’t see and believe what others can’t believe.
  • Courage demands a decision.
  • The Church can’t resurrect what the family puts to death.
  • If fear is contagious then courage is also contagious. 
  • Fear focuses on obstacles, courage focuses on opportunity.  Fear sees with eyes of the flesh, Courage sees with eyes of faith.
  • Following Christ should not be multiple choice in your home.
  • The faith that once cost people their lives, doesn’t even motivate us to stay faithful to the local church.
  • You aren’t a man until you take responsibility and live in accountability. 

This audio book is read by Maurice England and is extremely easy to listen to  as he reads with passion.

I’ve not seen it as of yet, but I’m sure the movie will be just as good. Watch a trailer of Courageous the Movie here. 

Thank you to christianaudio for a complimentary copy of this book via the Reviewers program.  I am not required to give a positive review of this book. 

Christianaudio has a free audiobook for your downloading pleasure each and every month, as well as gift certificates for the audio book enthusiast in your world.

 

Sharing this IS spreading joy

Filed Under: Book Reviews, Spreading Joy Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

A Christmas Journey Home

October 3, 2011 By 3 Comments

How did you come up with the idea for A Christmas Journey Home?

I knew I wanted to do a Christmas book—the first of what would become an annual event that my publisher and I were discussing—and I also knew that despite the lighter tone required in a Christmas book (as opposed to the darker themes of the persecuted Church and human trafficking, which I’ve been writing about), I had to stick to my “brand” as closely as possible: hence, an “issues-related” Christmas novel, dealing with the issues related to illegal immigration.

What was your favorite scene to write in A Christmas Journey Home?

I loved writing this entire book, and the characters are delightful (except the villains, of course!), so I loved almost all the scenes. But I think I liked the scenes with Isabella’s old abuelo best, as the grandfather reminded me of my own grandpa and even my dad, both of whom I loved dearly. I love incorporating at least one elderly saint in each of my books, and in this one I decided on a man since most of the other books have had women as the elderly, praying characters. I also brought in a little boy because children can add such a delightful element to any story, and six-year-old Davey certainly does that in A Christmas Journey Home.

What was the most difficult scene, and why?

The toughest scene had to be when Francisco and Isabella thought they were finally on the verge of being able to get away from the migrant camp and find a small home of their own, where their baby could be born in relative comfort and safety. If you’ve read the book, you know that isn’t at all what happens. But this heartbreaking scene had to take place to bring the story to its miraculous conclusion.

What is there about you, apart from writing, that many people don’t know?

First, my “road name” is “Easy Writer” because my husband and I were Harley riders for many years. (We’ve traded the bike in on a 2005 Corvette, so I’m still “Easy Writer” but in comfort now!) Also, I served on staff at a large Southern California church for several years, training small group leaders and doing biblical counseling, among other things.

Who are some of your favorite writers, and are you an avid reader?

Absolutely I’m an avid reader! I have always loved books/reading/words and been fascinated by them. When I ran out of books as I child, I started writing my own. (Voila! Look what came of that!) As for favorite writers, that’s tough, but here are just a few: Brock and Bodie Thoene, Francine Rivers, Patti Lacy, Athol Dickson, Jim Rubart, and Alan Paton, who wrote my favorite all-time fiction book, Cry the Beloved Country. That book changed my life and inspired my novel set in South Africa in 1989, No Greater Love. I also enjoy reading Brennan Manning, Jennifer Kennedy Dean, Oswald Chambers, and Max Lucado for nonfiction.

What’s on the horizon for you now, so far as future book projects?

I am currently finishing up the final book of the three-installment Freedom series (Deliver Me From Evil, Special Delivery, and The Deliverer). Then I will jump into my Christmas 2012 novel (working title is A Home For Christmas) and a novel called Last Chance for Justice, which is part of the multi-author Bloomfield Series with another publisher. After that I hope to get going on a new fiction series, which is still in the discussion/planning stages with my publisher and agent. So life is busy, but most contracts coming my way seem to be fiction right now. I am also keeping busy with very occasional editing projects and some speaking/teaching around the country.

Where can we find out more about you, The Freedom Series, and keep up with your to-be-released books? 

Please feel free to visit my website at www.KathiMacias.com.

Have you ever journeyed home for Christmas? What happened?  

I was given a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for posting the author’s interview on my blog. This blog tour is managed by Christian Speakers Services (ChristianSpeakersServices.com). Follow us on twitter at @christianspkrs 

Sharing this IS spreading joy

Filed Under: Book Reviews, Spreading Joy Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Sticky Jesus

September 7, 2011 By 2 Comments

Does living your faith out loud and online seem like an impossible thing? Think again! Social media has given Christians a wonderful way to expand their ministry into places that I wouldn’t have even thought possible years ago.  Many people wonder if it’s worth the time, if it’s all its hyped up to be and should they bother.

I say YES!

You aren’t sure where to start? Then Sticky Jesus is the book for you. Authors, Tami Heim and Toni Birdsong met online and have burst onto the scene with helps, tricks and continued support for those looking to expand their ministry.  There are helps via uploads and downloads at the end of each chapter and then the true stories of how social media has made a huge impact in the lives of so many will be refreshing to your soul.

Sticky Jesus will: 

  • Explore how Christ honored and built relationships and how you can do the same online.
  • Give you a practical understanding of the marketing-driven culture online.
  • Point to the Holy Spirit as your Power Source.
  • Provide personal stories that show God moving and transforming lives through social networking channels.
  • Summarize each file with a download and a prayer that are 100 percent retweetable.
  • Alert you to the danger zones.
  • Demystify the world of social networking with easy instruction on getting started on Facebook, Twitter, blogging, and content gathering (RSS).
  • Provide ongoing resources to help you grow beyond this book at http://www.stickyjesus.com/
  • Include a glossary in the back of the book to help you along the way

I love living my Faith out loud and am thankful for the heart of these ladies.  I encourage you to get a copy and see how your reach can be increased, how you can be a beacon for the Lord online and get to know some wonderful people along the way.

 

Here is a link to purchasing the book. Let me know if you get it and what your thoughts are.

 

A few of my favorite blog posts from their site: http://www.stickyjesus.com 

50 Promises God Gives you as you step into the digital world

100 Three Word Power Posts

Make sure you follow Tami & Toni and @stickyJesus on twitter for more insite, encouragement and ways to live your faith OUTLOUD.

Tami and Toni inspire me with each new post, they help so many and I’m honored to call them my friends.   Social media has made the world a little smaller and I’m thankful for the friends that I have made from all over the world that I would have never met without social media.

Tell me how you’d like to reach more people and the issues you may be facing.

What are your doubts, fears and concerns about Social Media and the online world.  

Do you find it all a bit overwhelming? 

I was given a free copy of Sticky Jesus by these generous hearts, but will be purchasing a copy to give away! I’m not required to give a positive review

 

Sharing this IS spreading joy

Filed Under: Book Reviews, choices, Spreading Joy Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Hungry for God

August 20, 2011 By 11 Comments

Hungry for God by Margaret Feinberg caught my eye when I saw the caption “hearing God’s voice in the ordinary and the everyday.” I’m always looking for the beauty in the ordinary and this pierced my heart with great force.  Immediately I wondered why I wasn’t looking for “God” in the ordinary.  As a Christian I know HE is there.  I try to always appreciate the little things, see the beauty where many people never even dream of looking, yet, I found myself wondering how I could have “not seen” it this way.  Thanks to Margaret, I will forever look for God in the ordinary, as well as the beauty.

This book is amazingly easy to read. It flows like a devotional, full of wonderful truths that will help your heart to look further into the ordinary for God.  Each chapter is designed to stir your appetite for more of the Lord’s word.  I was able to read this book in 3 sittings.  I have marked so many wonderful quotes throughout this book and know that you will too.  I love the fact that there are reflection and discussion questions at the end of this book, making it easy to use in a Ladies group or other small group/Sunday School settings.

As I read this book, I found myself relating over and over to the many things she pointed out.  At one point I sat in awe thinking that she had just peeked inside my heart and wrote a few lines from there.

Are YOU hungry for God?  If your appetite for the Lord isn’t what it should be, I recommend you start with this book.  Read a chapter, go to the back and do the reflection as a means of getting you back into the Bible.

 

Favorite Quotes (Some of them…as I had many)

  • As I listen for God in the midst of silence and hardship, I must decide whether I’m willing to give up listening for what I want to hear and begin listening to what God is actually saying.
  • No matter the darkness I might be in, God has a way of bringing me to a place where I can encounter him.
  • The image of a whisper speaks to the posture of our relationship with God.  Whispering is ineffective if the person we’re trying to communicate with is on the other side of the room.
  • The Bible is full of faithful leaders who walk into the unknown.  (This is the kind of leader I want to be…faithfully walking…even if it’s into the unknown.)
  • God can use anything, including silence, to draw our hearts back to him as we learn to seek him, listen, wait and obey.
  • Other professions are far more lucrative and stable; but if you’re created to serve, nothing else will do.
  • Much of what God calls us to do feels impossible. We lack the courage, the time, the resources, the relationships.  Yet God still speaks and asks us to obey.

 

Are you Hungry for God?  I love the delicious little snacks for my soul that I receive throughout the day, but ONLY snacking is not going to provide growth. 

 

Don’t just snack on God’s word….FEAST!

 

Normally, I give my copy of free books away, but I have to tell you….I’m keeping this one.  I’ve marked it up and will be using it.  BUT….. if you’d like a chance at a copy of this book, please do leave a comment as I’ll be purchasing one for ONE lucky person!!

What are your thoughts about the quotes I’ve provided?

More about Margaret over at her site - http://www.margaretfeinberg.com and of course, follow her on twitter @mafeinberg

Purchase this book Click Here

If you would prefer an audio copy of this book, she has that as well.  Click Here

I would like to thank Zondervan for the complimentary copy of Hungry for God.  I am not required to write a positive review.

 

Sharing this IS spreading joy

Filed Under: Book Reviews, Spreading Joy Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Moving from Fear to Freedom

August 10, 2011 By 3 Comments

Has fear kept you awake at night?  Has it hindered you from saying yes to a new opportunity? Has it caused you to make impulsive choices you later regretted? If so, you’re not alone! Fear is a big deal for many women. If left unchecked, it can prevent us from fulfilling God’s purpose for our lives. So, what’s the answer? How can we move beyond fear into freedom?

Author Grace Fox has partnered with Stonecroft Ministries to write a small group resource titled Moving from Fear to Freedom: A Woman-to-Woman Conversation. This resource addresses women’s common fears and gives biblical and practical strategies to move beyond them.

Fear seems to be an ever-present theme throughout the Bible. Describe the difference between healthy and unhealthy fear.

Healthy fear steers us toward wise decisions and actions. It promotes self-preservation. For example, we look both ways before crossing the street for fear of getting hit by a car. In contrast, unhealthy fear hinders our ability to fully embrace life because it consumes us with negative thinking and what-ifs. The effects can literally make us sick.

How does destructive fear stunt our emotional or spiritual growth?

Destructive fear—the fear of rejection, for instance—might keep us from admitting to someone that we’ve been physically or sexually abused. Without receiving the help we need to deal with those issues, we never experience freedom. Our struggles might seriously hamper our ability to truly love and receive love in a marital relationship. This is just one example among many of how our emotional growth is affected.

Spiritually, fear can cause us to say no to God-given dreams or assignments because we’re afraid of personal inadequacy or financial insecurity. If we never step out in faith, then we never experience God’s ability to equip and provide in amazing ways. Spiritual growth comes when we say yes to God and “do it afraid.”

You suggest we need to place our focus on God and not on fear. In practical terms, how do we do this?

Several strategies that I’ve found helpful…

 

  • Memorize Scripture promises and meditate on them throughout the day and as we fall asleep at night. We are transformed as our mind is renewed.
  • Fill our homes with praise and worship music.
  • Spend time in God’s word on a regular basis, not just when we’re in a panic. The more we do so, the more familiar we become with His promises and the better prepared we are to face frightening circumstances when they come.
  • Talk to the Lord throughout the day. Invite Him into the mundane. Practice His presence. The more we get to know Him, the more we’re able to trust Him in the face of fear.

 

Most of us feel inadequate at times. You suggest we cannot use our inadequacies as an excuse for not participating with God’s purposes. How do we get past this?

We get past our fear of inadequacy by admitting we have it. Then we need to retrain our thinking to focus on God’s adequacies rather than our inadequacies.

  • Tell God how we feel. “Help! I don’t think I can do such-and-such.”
  • Tell a trusted friend and ask her to pray for us.
  • Move forward. Do it afraid and expect God to equip us.

Describe this resource and how participants can receive the greatest benefit as they use it.

It’s a seven-week study filled with biblical teaching and personal anecdotes that can be used easily by either a small group of friends in a private home setting or a large women’s ministry. Each session begins by viewing a 25-30 minute teaching video. When the video ends, participants follow suggested Table Talk questions for about 15 minutes. Then they do the Bible study questions together. Each participant uses her own guide book so she can take notes and write answers. Facilitator’s notes are included. The study covers these topics:

  • an overview of fear
  • fear for our loved ones’ well-being
  • fear of personal inadequacy
  • fear of rejection
  • fear of facing the ghosts of our past
  • fear of the storms of life
  • fear of the unknown future

Where can I buy this study?

It’s available through your local Christian book store, on Amazon, www.barnesandnoble.com, www.christianbooks.com, www.stl-distribution.com, www.winepressbooks.com, and of course, on Grace’s website, where group discounts apply. www.gracefox.com.  Visit Grace’s website for more information about her other books and speaking ministry. www.gracefox.com.

For more opportunities for a FREE copy of this DVD & Study Guide set of MOVING FROM FEAR TO FREEDOM, please follow this CSS Virtual Book Tour on Twitter (@Christianspkrs) or Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/CSSVBT.GraceFox.MovingFromFeartoFreedom)

For an opportunity to WIN a free copy of this DVD & Study Guide -- simply leave a comment below to be entered into a random drawing!

Follow Grace on Twitter

 

 

 

 

I was given a complimentary copy of this DVD & Study Guide set from the author in exchange for posting the author’s interview on my blog. This blog tour is managed by Christian Speaker Services (www.ChristianSpeakerServices.com). follow on twitter at @christianspkrs

Sharing this IS spreading joy

Filed Under: Book Reviews, Spreading Joy Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
« Older Posts