"Ordinary Graces"

Lucinda Secrest McDowell

Everyone loves to receive a gift.

And God has given us many, such as his grace—the gift we don’t deserve and can never earn. Promises from the One who declares we are already loved, already accepted, already created in his image. The question becomes, will we truly receive that gift? Will the reality of it actually change the way we think and notice and reach out?

God’s Word will stand forever, in any season of life. These truths prompt us to respond with compassion and courage.

Through inspiring devotions, Lucinda Secrest McDowell reveals biblical blessings that remind us that: God’s promises give us strength, God’s grace can be most evident at our weakest points, a proper response to our abundance of blessings is simply gratitude, and the “more” we are all looking for is the same abundant life that Jesus came to give us.

Would you like to receive these gifts of ordinary grace? Join Lucinda in focusing on one word a day through devotional readings and short benedictions for any and every season to explore the many facets of Grace, Strength, Gratitude, and Life.

Read more about the book here. 

REVIEW:

This devotional is filled with nuggets of wisdom and encouragement. There are a variety of topics so the reader can pick and choose which to read, according to what pertains to them the most at the time. 

Each devotional is short but has a lot to offer. Perfect for those who are always on the go. It's the perfect size so you can carry it in your purse and take it with you. 

"Ordinary Graces" is a must read and would be a perfect gift too!

I RECEIVED THIS COMPLIMENTARY BOOK FROM LITFUSE PUBLICITY FOR REVIEW PURPOSES. 

Life is filled with choices. We have a bazillion choices that we have to make every single day. What to wear. What to eat. What to drink. What to say. When to say it. What to think. What to do. The list goes on and on. Some decisions involve other people, most do not. But there is one choice we have that will not only affect us today but tomorrow and for the rest of our lives. This decision will not only affect us but those around us. We will actually face this decision multiple times a day. These God-given opportunities come when life is hard. They also come when life is easy. How we handle life's peaks and valley's is completely up to us.

In April of this year, the doctors discovered that my dad had colon cancer. Yep. The dreaded "C" word. Were we scared? You bet! Were we afraid? Absolutely! But we had two choices. We could either worry, or we could pray. We could worry ourselves sick over what was to become of our dad and his illness, or we could cast it on the One Who had the ability to remove his sickness. We could live in fear of tomorrow, or we could trust the One Who holds tomorrow. We could blame God, or we could cling to Him.

So what do you do when life is too much for you to handle? When you're overwhelmed with situations that are beyond your control. What do you do when the bank account glares back at you in an angry shade of red? How do you handle a broken heart, disappointment, shattered dreams? How do you take that next step?

You can either worry about it or you can pray about it.

You can pray to God Almighty, Who has your best interests at heart, or you can worry about it, which is like sitting in a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn't get you anywhere. Worry doesn't prevent disaster, it prevents prayer! It does nothing but steals your joy!

So why not let's take it to God in prayer? Take it to the One Who is trustworthy. Take it to the One Whom you need not doubt. Tell it to the One Who already has the answer and knows the outcome.

Share it with the One Who loves you unconditionally - for always and forever, no matter what! Jeremiah 31:3 "...Yea, have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with thy lovingkindness have I drawn thee."

Cast it upon the One Who cares for you! I Peter 5:7 "Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you." 

Cry out to the One Who is always ready and waiting to listen. Someone Who hears even the faintest of prayers, the ones you can't even put into words because your heart is so heavy. Isaiah 59:1 "Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:"

If we prayed about the things that concern us as much as we worried about them, we'd have a lot less to worry about. So let's turn our worry lists into prayer lists.

Don't stress about it. Pray about it.

GOD'S GOT THIS!

Tension, anger, fear, anxiety—it all begins with a heart that craves control.

Little fights with your husband and kids. Unhappiness when things don’t match your version of perfect. When your perspective of how life should go replaces God’s, you doom your quest for security, peace, and joy before it even starts.

Thankfully, there is a better way.

Join Shannon as she shares what she has discovered about her own control struggles and
about God from studying seven Control Girls in the Bible. Whether it was Eve’s desire to know instead of trust, Sarah’s inability to wait for God to move, or Rebekah’s controlling hand on her family’s future, each of these women’s stories contain warnings and lessons for us today.

Learn how you too can lay down this burden of trying to control everything and find rest in surrendering to the One who truly is in control.

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We all have issues with control in some area of our life or another.  This book helps you realize that, and also helps show how we can let go of our obsession to control things.  We must learn to surrender our need to control things to God and let Him have his way.

Read more about the book here.

I RECEIVED THIS COMPLIMENTARY BOOK FROM LITFUSE FOR REVIEW PURPOSES.

"Waiting for Wonder"

Marlo Schalesky

What if, in this waiting, God is calling us to more?

It’s easy to believe God when a promise is new. It’s hard when the years pass and nothing changes. It’s even harder when desperation strikes, your plans backfire, and still God does not fill the emptiness. But what if, in this waiting, God is calling us to more?

Join author Marlo Schalesky on a unique, contemplative journey to reveal the wonder that is often missed when we find ourselves struggling to wait well. Walking through the life of the biblical character Sarah, one who knows what it means to wait, you will discover a glimpse of God’s character that will give you strength to keep hoping and praying for the desires of your heart.

Waiting for Wonder is a journey into the heart of God where you will wrestle with personal questions, think deeply about God’s true character, and learn to appreciate His divine work as you discover your own path to the promised land. Recapture your hope, restore your soul, and renew your vision of a wondrous Savior when you learn to live on God’s time.

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I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.  Marlo's Schalesky take on Sarah's story is so original.  I loved reading how she imagined the way Sarah felt and what she was going through.  There were many things I learned from reading this book.  "Waiting for Wonder" was exactly what I needed, as I am in a period of waiting myself!  I was encouraged and strengthened by reading this book and allowing God to use it to teach me.  

Read more about the book here. 

 I RECEIVED THIS COMPLIMENTARY BOOK FROM LITFUSE FOR REVIEW PURPOSES. 

 

"Becoming God's True Woman"

Susan Hunt

Mary A. Kassian

Have you ever wondered why God made both Male and Female? Have you thought about His purpose for you as a female? Have you considered the fact that God has intentionally planned everything about your life? Yes, yes, and yes?!
Then, join Bible teachers Susan Hunt and Mary A. Kassian in this 35-day devotional digging deep into God's Word, hearing what He says about your womanhood, and learning how to  live as a "true woman" day by day. Each day begins with a short devotion and then A Time For You section -- a time for you to read...to think..to pray...to live for God's glory Interspersed throughout are personal stories and thoughts from girls like you.
What you spend your time with and allow your mind to dwell on will be displayed in your life. Girls need to realize that they should only spend their time enjoying the words, sounds and images they want to become. (Allison, age 17)
The media encourages girls to be loud and bossy. In shows, the quiet girl is always picked on and ridiculed. (Connie Jean, age 13)
Modesty to me is beauty. It outwardly symbolizes what Christ has done to our hearts-made them new, clean and worthy of coming into God's presence . . . that's what modesty is about. (RuthAnne, age 17)

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This book is a devotional book written for teens, but I enjoyed reading it and I'm well into my twenties.  

I liked how the book started at the beginning (Genesis) and wrote about the importance of the 2 genders God created.  We are both equal and both different, which is exactly how God wants it!  It's a wonderful thing to be a woman.  God knew what He was doing when He created everything and this book reminds us of that.  

Each lesson was very helpful.  There are many different topics in this book like:  accepting our role as women; purity; modesty; attitude etc.  

A couple things I didn't like was they used tons of different "bibles" when the King James Bible would have been better.  Also, the catechisms weren't necessary.  

I did like the testimonies that were shared throughout the book.  I think it's wonderful that these teenage girls have decided to follow Jesus in their dress and purity and being who He created them to be.

Read more about this book here.  

I RECEIVED THIS COMPLIMENTARY BOOK FROM MPS NEWSROOM FOR FREE FOR REVIEW PURPOSES.  

 

"Heart Sisters"

Natalie Chambers Snapp

Heart Sisters is for women who want to both be and have better friends and want a helpful guide to take them through the process.
Author Natalie Chambers Snapp uses her own and others’ stories of successes and failures to illustrate what she has learned about girlfriend relationships. Healthy boundaries, honesty, tact, sharing, and agape love all play a part in being and maintaining a circle of close confidants. She also deals with the inevitable challenges that face many relationships including how to handle conflict; life changes like a new baby, move or divorce; and when it is right to “break-up” with your friend.
Discussion questions, space to journal, photos, and quick interviews of healthy female friendships are included within each chapter.

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This book seemed liked it was going to be helpful and useful.  You don't see many books written about this topic but that doesn't mean that it isn't needed.  

However, within the first few chapters I was thoroughly confused.  The sentences weren't constructed properly and the topics didn't seem to fit.  Also, the author seemed to repeat herself.    

I believe the author had good intentions with this book and while it may help some, it was a bit lacking for me.  It also would have been more understandable if she would have just used the KJB.

Read more about the book here.

I RECEIVED THIS COMPLIMENTARY BOOK FOR FREE FROM LITFUSE FOR REVIEW PURPOSES.   

 

"God, Me, and Sweet Iced Tea"

Rose Chandler Johnson

In the South, nothing is more refreshing than a glass of sweet iced tea. Nothing, that is, except experiencing God in those small, everyday moments.
God, Me, and Sweet Iced Tea is a deeply personal collection of spiritual treasures designed to help readers experience new mercies each morning. Seasoned with insight and grace, this tender devotional points to the divine presence of God in everyday moments. God, Me, and Sweet Iced Tea will help readers develop a daily habit of turning to God in those quiet moments of reflection.

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The title of this book caught my attention right away.  I LOVE it.  You can't go wrong with God or sweet iced tea, especially if you're from the South.  I was intrigued.  

 When I received this book, I had a personal not from the author and she had also signed the book.  The personal touch that she gave was special and sweet.  

That is how she has written this devotional, with personal touches that are sweet.  This devotional was so easy to read and understand.   There were a couple that I enjoyed even more, because they helped me during a difficult time.  Sure, I had read the verses before (KJV), but her devotions reminded me of them and that was an encouragement.

While I like her simple and understandable way of writing, I would have enjoyed this devotional a whole lot more if she would have just used the KJB.  

These short devotionals are very easy to understand and to the point.   At the end of each devotional she asks a couple of questions to make you think about what you just read.  

Read more about the book here. 

I RECEIVED THIS COMPLIMENTARY BOOK FOR FREE FROM LITFUSE FOR REVIEW PURPOSES.

 

"Enough Already"

Barbara L. Roose

Recognize your own outer and inner beauty as defined by God, not the media or others.

Most women know that God loves them, but might he love them more if they finally lost that last ten pounds, or got their hair to lay right, or finally found a pair of jeans that looked good and let them breathe? Well, maybe God doesn’t care about jeans, but women do, and all the talk about inner beauty hasn’t kept all of us from staring into a mirror and taking an inventory that never quite measures up. Enough Already will:

—Elevate the soul-freeing, spiritual truth that God is the Creator of beauty and that women are called to appreciate and care for themselves as his own.
—Enable women to accept God-given beauty so that when they look in the mirror they see his handiwork, not their flaws.
—Equip women to win the ugly struggle with beauty once and for all.  

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This book focuses on inner beauty as well as outer beauty.  As women, we like to look and feel beautiful, "Enough Already"is filled with encouraging words on how to do this. 

I liked the author's style of writing.  She wrote as if we were actually having a conversation.  There are many quotes in this book that I really liked and want to remember.  

One thing that would have made me enjoy this book more is if she would have used the King James Bible.

Every woman should be comfortable in her own skin and feel beautiful.  Barbara Roose has a way of making you realize and understand that you are beautiful.  We are all part of God's creation, therefore we are all beautiful.  "I will praise thee for I am fearfully and wonderfully made..." Psalm 139:14

Read more about the book here.  

I RECEIVED THIS COMPLIMENTARY BOOK FOR FREE FROM LITFUSE FOR REVIEW PURPOSES. 

Hey y'all,

For the past month, I've been teaching about Joseph in Sunday School.   He is my personal favorite male, Old-Testament, Bible character.  He had such a rough life, yet not once did he complain.  Wow!  Ya, that's NOT me!  But I can strive to be like him.  (as he was like Jesus)

One thing in particular that has always "wowed" me about Joseph, was his forgiving heart.  He willingly forgave his brothers for all that they had done to him.  They hated him.  Wanted to kill him.  Sold him as a slave.  Made fun of him, yet.....he forgave them. 

Years later, when Joseph was second in command to Pharaoh, his brothers come to him for food.  They didn't know that Joseph, their brother-the dreamer, was standing before them.  He had the power to do anything he wanted to get even with them.  BUT HE DIDN'T!  Joseph didn't hold their past against them.  His love for them was bigger than his hurt feelings.

How about you?  Do you need to forgive someone?  Yes.  I know.  Forgiveness is a hard thing.  But what's even harder, is not forgiving.  If we don't learn to forgive others -or even ourselves (That's me. I have a hard time forgiving myself)- then that forgiveness will turn into bitterness and that bitterness will become like a disease and eat us up inside.  We'll get to the point  to where we're we'll be so consumed with our hurt feelings that we'll ruin what God can do through us.  Our bitterness will become our own stumblingblock.  
If Joseph hadn't learned to forgive his brothers in the little things, he would have never been able to forgive them for wanting to kill him and selling him as a slave.  Also, he wouldn't have been able to be used by God in the great way that he was.  Learn to forgive others and yourself for the little things and forgiving the big things will be that much easier.

If you don't want to forgive for the sake of others, than do it for YOURSELF!  Don't hold yourself back and prevent God from using you to your fullest potential!  Joseph let go.  Now it's your turn!