Stationery card

Family Collage Christmas Card

Create beautiful photo Christmas cards at Shutterfly.com.

View the entire collection of cards.

Book Review: A Heart Revealed by Julie Lessman {Revell Blog Tour}

 

About the book:   

Ten years ago, Emma Malloy fled Dublin for Boston as a battered woman, escaping the husband who scarred her beautiful face. The physical and emotional wounds have faded with time, and her life is finally full of purpose and free from the pain of her past. But when she falls for her friend Charity's handsome and charming brother, Sean O'Connor, fear and shame threaten to destroy her. Could Sean and Emma ever have a future together? Or is Emma doomed to live out the rest of her life denying the only true love she's ever known?

Filled with intense passion and longing, deception and revelation, A Heart Revealed will hold readers in its grip until the very last page.

My Rating:  5 Stars

My Review:

Wow!  Julie Lessman has hit another home run with this second installment to The Winds of Change series!  We first meet the O'Connor family in Julie's Daughters of Boston series,  which you'll want to read first, before reading The Winds of Change series.  All of Julie's books are meant to be read in order, as each story builds from the others - a gripping family saga that will keep you wanting more and more!  Each book filled with passion, drama, and a heart for God that makes it next to impossible to set down!

It's without a doubt, that Julie's writing is among the best I've ever read.  Throughout the story, I was drawn in by vivid, colorful dialogue, a charming setting that comes to life, and captivating characters that leave a lasting impression.  I find the characters to be realistic, and each one with their own unique voice.  And it's no secret, there are a lot of characters in this family saga, but Julie moves effortlessly between them.  Each character has a unique personality that is vibrant and full of life, so much so that they nearly spring off the page!

And oh, the passion!  As always, Julie's passion for romance and God shines brightly!  It's truly what I love about her books, and Sean and Emma's story was no exception.  From start to finish, Julie held me enchanted, with a gripping story that wouldn't let go.  Needless to say, it is with great anticipation that I await the final installment of the O'Connor family saga!  Two thumbs up, and highly recommended!  

**Thank you to Revell, a division of Baker House Publishing, for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.**

**Available September 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.**

Friday Funny: Chonda Pierce {The Truth}

Chonda Pierce is F.U.N.N.Y!  This is one of my favorites!

Happy Friday to y'all!  Hope you have a fantastic weekend!

Music Video: Headphones by Britt Nicole

I love Britt Nicole!  Great music that's fun and fresh, and really gets you moving!  This is a great one to listen to on a brisk, power walk!

Enjoy!

Music Monday: "I'm With You" by Nichole Nordeman and Amy Grant and Preview of the new CD "Music Inspired by the Story"

If you listen to K*LOVE, you've probably been hearing this song on the radio for a couple months.  It's a beautiful duet by Nichole Nordeman and Amy Grant, titled "I'm With You," and it tells the Bible story of Naomi and Ruth. The song is part of a compilation CD that releases on September 27, 2011.  Music Inspired by The Story is a 2-CD set featuring 18 new songs and  showcasing some of the most talents artists in Christian music today, including Matthew West, Mark Hall, Brandon Heath, Bart Millard, Francesca Battistelli, Mac Powell, Mandisa, Todd Smith, Natalie Grant, and many more!  I can't wait to get this CD -- I have a feeling it's going to be something VERY special!  You can listen to music samples at amazon.com.

Track Listing:

OLD TESTAMENT – CD Disc 1
I Am – Overture
Good  (ADAM & EVE) –      Matthew West/Leigh Nash (Sixpence None The Richer)
Who But You (ABRAHAM & SARAH) – Mark Hall & Megan Garrett      (Casting Crowns)
Bend (JOSEPH) – Brandon Heath
It Must Be You (MOSES) Bart Millard (MercyMe)
Bring Us Home (JOSHUA) – Michael Tait (Newsboys), Blanca Callahan      (Group1Crew), & Lecrae
I’m With You (RUTH & NAOMI) – Nichole Nordeman & Amy Grant
Your Heart (DAVID) – Chris Tomlin
No Compromise (DANIEL) – Peter Furler
Born For This (ESTHER) – Mandisa
Broken Praise (JOB) – Todd Smith (Selah)

NEW TESTAMENT – CD Disc 2
Be Born In Me (MARY) – Francesca Battistelli
When Love Sees You (JESUS) – Mac Powell (Third Day)
How Love Wins (THIEF) – Steven Curtis Chapman
Alive (MARY MAGDALENE) – Natalie Grant
Empty (DISCIPLES) – Dan Haseltine (Jars Of Clay) & Matt Hammitt      (Sanctus Real)
Move In Me (APOSTLE PAUL) – Jeremy Camp
The Great Day (SECOND COMING) – Michael W. Smith & Darlene Zschech

To find out even more, here is a great article about the upcoming CD -- 24 Artists Unite To Unveil (Music Inspired By) THE STORY

"THE STORY is an unparalleled project from the best-known artists in Christian music. The songs on THE STORY take timeless biblical stories and provide a completely new context into how God's story of love and redemption intersects with our story of brokenness and failures resulting in a new story of hope and rescue. The CD contains 18 all-new songs written by multiple Dove Award-Winners Nichole Nordeman & Bernie Herms, produced by Brown Bannister & Bernie Herms, and a stellar line-up of artists across all major labels. (Music Inspired By) THE STORY is based on a collaboration with authors Randy Frazee (The Heart Of The Story) & Max Lucado (God's Story Your Story) as well as Zondervan's bible The Story." (posted from Amazon.com)

Book Review: Grace for the Good Girl by Emily P. Freeman {Revell Blog Tour}

About the book: (from Emily's website, Chatting at the Sky) You’re strong. You’re responsible. You’re good. But as day fades to dusk, you begin to feel the familiar fog of anxiety, the weight and pressure of holding it together and of longing left unmet. Good girls sometimes feel that the Christian life means doing hard work with a sweet disposition. We tend to focus only on the things we can handle, our disciplined lives, and our unshakable good moods. But what would happen if we let grace pour out boundless acceptance into our worn-out hearts and undo us? If we dared to talk about the ways we hide, our longing to be known, and the fear in the knowing?
In Grace for the Good Girl, Emily Freeman invites you to release your tight hold on that familiar, try-hard life and lean your weight heavy into the love of Jesus. With an open hand, a whimsical style, and a heart bent brave toward adventure, Emily encourages you to move from your own impossible expectations toward the God who has graciously, miraculously, and lovingly found you.



My Rating: 5 Stars

My Review: (I know it's long, but I thank you so much for taking time to read it)

I am a good girl.  In Grace for the Good Girl: Letting go of the Try-hard Life, Emily P. Freeman has opened up a whole new world to me.  For the past five years, I’ve been like a sponge soaking up as much as I can about God, His Word, and being a Christian, but much of the truths that Emily reveals in this book are things that I didn't know.  I can't even begin to tell you how much this book has blessed me!  Emily's writing is profound, inspiring, and encouraging!  She brings glory to God through her words, and I see that He has truly blessed her with the gift of teaching His Word.  She shares from a place that is easy to relate to, with a discernment of the Bible that she conveys effortlessly.  It's not a how-to fix yourself book, as Emily says, "Grace for the Good Girl is not a doing book, it's a believing book.  It's an invitation for the tired good girl to give up that try-hard life she's been trying to live, and to realize that the God that she's been looking so hard to find, has actually graciously, and fully, and completely and lovingly found her.  That she does not have to manufacture her own safe places.  But that in Christ, her life is hidden and she's safe there in that place." 

Early on in the book, I was amazed by how much Emily and I are alike.  She says, "Because I care so much what you think, my hiding has everything to do with you.  I desperately want to manage your opinion of me.  Nearly everything I do is to convince you I am good.  If I sense any hint of disbelief on your part that I am good, if it seems your opinion is other than what I wish it to be, it becomes my job to change your mind (page 17).”  When I first read this passage, I felt overwhelmed.  Emily had just perfectly described me!  For as long as I can remember, that is how I’ve lived my life.  The tears came instantly, and I knew that this book was going to open my eyes and change my life in a positive way.  I always care what others think of me, I never want to disappoint others, and I never want anyone to be mad at me.  I want to do it all right and be good.  And when I don't do it right and good, when I fail, that's when the guilt and shame come in.  I hear things in my head like, "What kind of wife are you?  What kind of mom are you?  You call yourself a Christian!"  I'm ready to stop listening to the lies and stop believing them.

Emily breaks everything down for us in three parts.  Part I of the book is about "the hiding," showing us the common masks that good girls hide behind -- what it looks like when we depend on ourselves, instead of depending on Jesus.  When it comes down to it, we have a choice to make -- are we going to listen to and believe the lies, or are we going to believe the truth?  “The masks we hide behind keep us from experiencing the fullness of life the way we were meant to live it.  Do you believe that it is safe to take them off and live like Jesus is a real God-man who really was and really is and really makes a difference (Page 121)?” 

Emily talks about how our lives are hidden in Christ with God (Colossians 3:3).  God loves us, and we already measure up in Christ (2 Corinthians 3:5-6).  Our needs are met in Christ (Philippians 4:19), and our spirit has been united with God's Spirit (Colossians 3:5-11).  We are righteous because of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21).  It is in this place that I can rest, receive peace, and experience God's grace. 

In Part II, Emily discusses "the finding," where we move from mask wearing to resting in Jesus.  We must receive Jesus, not just for our salvation, but for life.  “To receive God's truth in a personal way, you have to let go of the false hiding places and let yourself experience the truth of hiding in his presence (page 139).”  I must remain in him, be still, and let "the Great I AM be."  John 15:1-5 says, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener . . . Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.  I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."  Our job is to remain.  What happens after we’ve received Jesus and remained in Him?  What is it going to look like after that?  Emily says, “This is where the masks become a blurry memory and Jesus shows up in mighty, God-sized ways: in true worship and authentic service (page 151).”  We respond in worship and service, not because we’re trying to earn something or pay Him back because we feel obligated.  We respond this way because “. . . worship and service are the natural responses of a girl fulfilled by love, compelled to look beyond herself (page 160).”  And finally comes the remembering.  We must remember to keep our minds set.  If we don’t keep our minds set, they have a tendency to fall back into their old ways.  We need to remember to keep our minds set on truth.  “It does not come naturally; it comes supernaturally as we depend on Christ to remind us of truth that is already true, to call to our minds the reality of the victory he has won (page 166).”

To sum things up, briefly, in Part III Emily shows us how there is freedom in being found.  We’re safe.  Safe, even when it hurts.  Safe, even in failure.  Safe, even when it all goes wrong.  Safe, even when you don’t feel safe. 

Needless to say, Grace for the Good Girl is beautiful, complex, and profound.  My words don’t even begin to scratch the surface of the truly amazing gift you will receive by reading this book.  It’s filled with golden nuggets of Biblical truth -- a treasure-trove of what we need to move forward; to move past the hiding, into the finding, and ultimately the freedom of being found.  It shows us that there is life-changing grace found in Christ!

I highly recommend this book to all good girls, recovering good girls, and even those who aren’t good girls.  Emily P. Freeman has written a very special book, one that I will be forever grateful for having the opportunity to read . . . again and again.

**Thank you to Revell, a division of Baker House Publishing, for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.**

**Available September 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.**

 

"31 Days of Love" Challenge @ The Time-Warp Wife

 

I am sharing this for all of you married ladies out there.  Darlene Schacht over at Time-Warp Wife {Empowering Wives to Joyfully Serve} is hosting a "31 Days of Love" Challenge.  Here is a copy and past of the email that I received this morning.  

This October, I am putting out a challenge to all women who want to make a difference in their marriage by offering their husbands a 31-day gift of love.

"31 Days of Love" will challenge you daily to live beyond yourself, to put aside your preconceived ideas of what romance should look like, and seek out true love that is sacrificial and intentional.

This journey is merely a stepping stone of many that I pray will continue on in your hearts long past the 31 days.

I'm going to call on some of my fellow bloggers to guest post, and each day we will offer you encouragement and a daily challenge to live out. I'll also offer a linky tool for those of you who want to link up and share encouraging posts on your own blogs.

I'm telling you this ahead of time so that you can prepare your heart for this journey, and decide if this is a challenge that you're ready to do.

I hope you will join me in this challenge as we offer our husbands a gift of love - October 1-31st.

P.S. If you have any friends or readers that might be interested in joining this challenge with us, I humbly ask that you might consider posting the "31 Days of Love" button on your blog for a short time or sharing this post with your friends.

You are loved by an almighty God,

Darlene

This sounds like it's going to be very inspiring and encouraging!  I look forward to the "challenge."

New Fall Bible Study Starts on September 15, 2011

Hi there, ladies! I wanted to share with you a new Bible study that is starting in just a couple days. Courtney at Women Living Well Ministries and her "sister site" Good Morning Girls will be partnering with Angela to lead the 1 John Fall Bible Study.  This will be my first time doing the Good Morning Girls study, and I'm really looking forward to it!

To give you a brief rundown, the study will go for 12 weeks, and it will take you through the entire book of 1 John.  The study runs from September 15, 2011 - December 15, 2011.  You're welcome to do the study solo, or with a group.  The study provides you with motivation and encouragement to stay in the Word, by giving the opportunity to fellowship with others in an online community.  Sometimes we all need accountability -- I know I do!

If you'd like more information, you can check out the websites at Women Living Well Ministries and Good Morning Girls.