Tag Archives: Devotional

Reviews

Book Review & A Giveaway: Purposeful Work, Blessed Rest

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Purposeful Work, Blessed Rest says, “The world will often tell you that to find rest, you need to focus on yourself. Or that to find purposeful work, you need to look within. Don’t believe it! You will find true rest and purposeful work when you turn to God and focus on the beauty of His splendour.”

Purposeful Work, Blessed Rest was written by Anna Hawkes Cabral, a wife, mother of three, author, blogger, and podcaster. Anna writes about The Gospel, Identity, Motherhood, Rest, Purposeful Work, Slow Living, and Social Media, as well as articles about homemaking and motherhood, Christian poetry, and short stories for children. Anna lives with her family in Portugal.

Anna tackles the difficulty of finding rest while being busy, and asks, “Are there certain situations that you are trying to control…instead of asking God for His will?” She asserts, “Rest in God is not an absence of activity. It’s an absence of anxiety.”

Yes, anxiety can present itself as busyness instead of productivity, but as a steward of our time, Anna proposes we lay aside our self-sufficiency and anchor our hope to God. She reminds us it takes self-control to be silent—the real work of surrender.

Purposeful Work, Blessed Rest is an insightful collection of thought starters in the quest for rest and productivity. It’s packed full of brief reflections to lengthen time with God and equip us to stop striving. As we rest in God, we know He will fight our battles and those of our children. Anna says surrender is the work that pleases the Father!

I am giving away a copy of Purposeful Work, Blessed Rest to one reader in the continental United States. Leave a comment on my blog (at the top of this post, under the title). You will be entered into the drawing to be held on Friday morning, March 22. Tell me a tip about how you’ve found balance in your quest for purposeful work and blessed rest. Get an extra chance to win, when you share this post on social media (let me know where).

Sally

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Retreats

Meet Eric Speir!

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Guest Post. Meet Author Eric Speir! I’m happy to have him join us today.

Eric Speir is a writer, pastor, and Bible college professor. He’s been a freelance writer for various publications, including Relevant Magazine, Charisma, FivestarMan, Family Share, and ChurchLeaders.com. His books include Grit and Grace and The Struggling Parent. Eric holds a Doctor of Ministry degree in leadership development and creative communication. He and his wife, Roshelle, have four children and live near Atlanta, GA. You can sign up for a free daily devotional and learn more about Eric at www.EricSpeir.com.

The Struggling Parent

About the Book:

Parenting is not for the faint of heart. It can be the most rewarding experience, and at the same time, it can be the most discouraging. Recently, the author found himself going through a season of difficulty with his teenagers. At times he felt helpless and hopeless as he witnessed their struggles and as he felt the tension in their relationship. During this challenging season, the author began to search God’s word for encouragement.

In a season of desperation, the author began searching God’s Word for promises related to families and children. He began to compile a list of scriptures and began to pray over the lives of his children. During this time, the author talked to several other parents who were going through similar struggles. Surprisingly many of these families looked perfect on the outside, but on the inside, they were also struggling. It was in a morning of prayer when the Lord whispered to the author to write the devotional book to encourage other parents facing similar struggles.

The author has four children, two of them teenagers, and he has spent the last fifteen years pastoring and teaching young adults at the university level. Over the years, he has personally experienced the heartache of parenting and encouraged many parents who have struggled with their children.

The Struggling Parent is a 30-day devotional for parents facing struggles with their children. Whether you have tweens, teens, or adult children, this book will help you to develop your parenting grit. You will be encouraged to move past your feelings to praying the promises through God’s Word. You will understand that even when you do not know what to say, you can say what God has already said.

The Struggling Parent is ideal for those:

  • Parents who are struggling with how to pray for their teenager or adult child.
  • Parents who are facing relationship struggles with their children.
  • Parents who are dealing with a wayward child.

The Struggling Parent is not a formula for how to have a new kid by the weekend. It’s a devotional book written for parents who need a breath of fresh air for their souls. While it may not promise an immediate turnaround in your family, it can provide peace for the journey.

Book Drawing!

Eric is giving away a copy of The Struggling Parent to one reader in the continental United States. Leave a comment here (at the top of this post, under the title). You will be entered into the drawing to be held Monday evening, October 31. Tell me something that encourages you as a parent. Get an extra chance to win, when you share this post on social media (let me know where).

Thank you for dropping by, Eric!

Sally

Faith, Reviews

Book Review: 31 Verses to Write on Your Heart

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Liz Curtis Higgs brings a bouquet of verses to the table and delicately places them on a banquet of lace. Her words soothe and cajole. Her illustrations reaffirm. As she serves up 31 Verses to Write on Your Heart, she also offers up sage wisdom: “When you spend time in God’s Word, life starts making sense. The broken places inside you begin to heal. Darkness and discouragement give way to hope.”

Beloved author and speaker Liz Curtis Higgs has learned the beauty of that advice. A seasoned student of the Bible, Liz has authored more than 30 books with 4.6 million copies in print.

Reading the Bible is an ongoing journey of discovery! ~ Liz Curtis Higgs

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When used as a daily devotional in collaboration with the Study Guide tucked into the back, this little treasure will unlock God’s Word in a new way and stimulate your thirst to dig further. Incorporating over 30 translations of the Bible, Liz dissects each verse in order to glean the rich fullness packed therein. She also references the Hebrew and Greek words, in order to mine out the original intent.

One example that shone for me, was the chapter based on Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Liz talks about the meticulous process a blacksmith follows to sharpen an iron blade. A metal file is drawn across the blade to create a sharp edge. The blade is rubbed against an oiled whetstone to smooth away the rough edge. Then heavy sandpaper blends the edge with the rest of the surface. What does that have to do with people? When we care about each other, we use words to open gently, polish and smooth over old wounds. We sharpen each other’s faith “with a timely word.”

31 Verses to Write on Your Heart is a delightful tool to put to work month after month. From 31 passages to 31 tips for absorbing them into your life, 31 Verses will equip you to carry God’s Word with you wherever you go!

Sally

FTC disclaimer: “I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.”