Faith, Reviews

Book Review & a Giveaway: The NIV Faithgirlz Backpack Bible

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Do you remember when you first began reading the Word of God? Do you remember the feel of the soft pages and the excitement of your newfound faith? Imagine giving that gift to a girl in your life!
Zonderkidz has come out with a compact Bible, perfect for carrying to school or church or a hike in the outdoors. The Leathersoft cover features an embroidered heart with an embossed reminder to “Follow your heart.”
The Faithgirlz Backpack Bible includes:
• Fun pink color in Leathersoft ™ design
• Twelve full-color pages of Faithgirlz fun that helps girls learn the “Beauty of Believing!”
• Words of Christ in red
• Ribbon marker
• Complete text of the bestselling New International Version


“Zonderkidz™, the children’s division of Zondervan, inspires young lives through imagination and innovation. As a leader in Christian children’s communications, it creates products that awaken the hearts and touch the souls of kids under 12.”
I promise the gift of a Bible can make a lasting impact in a preteen. Hidden within its pages are the treasures for a full life and the key to understanding God’s purpose for daily living.

Scripture prepares us for every good work! 2 Timothy 3:16-17

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Enter the drawing! I am giving away a gift pack of the NIV Faithgirlz Backpack Bible and Brave Beauty: Finding the Fearless You, courtesy of Zonderkidz Publishers, to one reader in the continental United States. Leave a comment on my blog (at the top of this post, under the title) and answer this question, “What is your earliest memory of learning from the Bible?” You will be entered into the drawing to be held six days from today, September 27. For an extra chance to win the drawing, leave a comment on my review of the Brave Beauty: Finding the Fearless You!
Sally
Disclosure of Material: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through The BlogAbout Network book review program in exchange for a fair and honest review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR Title 16, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Family, Reviews

Book Review & a Giveaway: Brave Beauty

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At an age when girls are beginning to make some of their own decisions, they need a friend to come alongside and give encouragement. Lynn Cowell has written Brave Beauty: Finding the Fearless You with 8 – 12 year olds in mind, and provides a calm voice for the tumultuous growing up years. Brave Beauty is a devotional, a short story compilation and a journal, wrapped up into one great resource.
Lynn Cowell is a mom of three who is passionate about helping others find confidence in God’s unfailing love. She brings fresh insights to stories from the Bible, telling them in ways preteens and adults alike can relate. Lynn puts her thoughts into words that draw the reader into character-building values.


Brave Beauty incorporates quizzes and questions to prompt brainstorming and introspection in the process of self-discovery. A Topical Index makes it easy to come back to favorite issues, and projects to tackle include writing a note, sitting with a new friend at lunch, ways to be brave, planting seeds, making bath salts, starting a gratitude journal, taking action steps and thinking about dreams to pursue.
In our world of easy access to news via social media, what child is immune to fear, the comparison trap or bullying? Lynn’s voice provides a safe haven to talk about the issues at hand, and reassurance of a God who sees and hears. She describes what a Brave Beauty Girl does to treat people with dignity and kindness. Lynn tackles self-esteem issues, reinforcing self-worth, defeating insecurity, and embracing courage and bravery.

When we read God’s Word, courageous becomes contagious! ~ Lynn Cowell

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I am a fan of this book! It speaks to me as an adult who also faces life-tests, and reminds me to cling to the One who helps me be brave. Isn’t that the best kind of gift we can give to the preteens in our lives?
Enter the drawing! I am giving away a gift pack of Brave Beauty and the NIV Faithgirlz Backpack Bible, courtesy of Zonderkidz Publishers, to one reader in the continental United States. Leave a comment on my blog (at the top of this post, under the title) and answer this question, “How have you taught 1 Timothy 4:12 to the preteens in your life?” You will be entered into the drawing to be held six days from today, September 27. For an extra chance to win the drawing, leave a comment on my review of the NIV Faithgirlz Backpack Bible!
Sally
Disclosure of Material: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through The BlogAbout Network book review program in exchange for a fair and honest review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR Title 16, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Reviews

Book Review: Whisper by Mark Batterson

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Has noise consumed your world? Whisper: How to Hear the Voice of God will help you rethink your addiction to distractions. The author says, “When our lives get loud… we lose our sense of being.”
With descriptions of the vastness of the solar system, to the infiniteness of the inner ear, Mark Batterson goes to great lengths to reveal how much God wants to have a relationship with you.
Mark Batterson is an author and a pastor who believes, “If you aren’t willing to listen to everything God has to say, you eventually won’t hear anything He has to say.”
Whisper is filled with insights that unlock Bible passages and bring clarity to what God is saying through His Word. Batterson suggests starting a Bible reading plan and developing a holy curiosity, because we’ll only have something to say that is worth hearing when we listen to God.
Batterson says, “Creation is God’s symphony,” and shows how the natural phenomena of our world gets our attention, so that we will listen when God whispers to us. Helen Keller says, “The only thing worse than blindness is having sight but no vision.” And Batterson provides the “wow factor,” where so many illustrations of God’s bigness lead us to our knees in submission to the One who loves us immeasurably.
Get a copy of Whisper. In it, you’ll find Keys to Hearing, 3 Traits that should Define us as Christ Followers, and 5 Tests for Discerning the Will of God. But most of all, you’ll find a nudge to lean in closer to the voice of God.

A sigh is a wordless prayer. ~ Mark Batterson

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Similar to Batterson’s book, In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day, you’ll be encouraged to pursue dreams that are too big for you to tackle in your own power. He says, “Nothing keeps us on our knees like God-sized dreams. They force us to live in raw dependence upon God. Without Him, the dream cannot be realized.”
Are you ready to fully rely on God? He’s ready to seize the opportunity and turn it into a defining moment!
Sally
P.S. Each person who leaves a comment on my blog will also receive a free pdf, “Your Declaration of Faith,” from Whisper, by Mark Batterson!
FTC disclaimer: “I received an Advance Copy of Whisper: How to Hear the Voice of God from Blogging for Books for this review.”

Reviews

Book Review: The Gene Rift

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From the beginning hook to the ending cliff hanger, The Gene Rift provides a swift moving tale of switched identities. Escape from The Institute, and its control over her life, brings Kate Dennard into a world that turns her own upside down. In the process of protecting her son, as well as the love of her life, Kate makes difficult choices and fights against the system that would steal her ability to do so.

The author, J. Andersen is the mastermind behind the sequel to The Breeding Tree. Also author of Lemons, and award winning finalist for At What Cost, J. Andersen demonstrates a willingness to tackle tough subjects for the YA genre. Themes of abortion, euthanasia, murder and manipulation are woven through stories that cannot be put down. They are entertaining and spellbinding!

Will the Hidden City bury Kate’s yearning for a normal life?

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Kate’s choices took her away from the normalcy of a life she thought she wanted, into a life of uncertainty. She said, “Life was simpler, and I didn’t feel the need to stand up for what I believe in and thus change the course of my entire life.” Kate’s line of thinking sounds a lot like ours, when faced with difficulty. Will we settle for the easy road or challenge the status quo?

Like the author, take a courageous risk by asking questions of the people around you. Find out what they value and use the open door to dare digging deeper into what you believe.

You’ll be entranced by The Breeding Tree and The Gene Rift saga. The tension between characters creates realistic relationships and keeps you on the edge of your seat!

Sally

Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader’s Copy from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

In the News, Reviews

Book Review: Congo Dawn by Jeanette Windle

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Where is God in suffering? Why does He permit darkness in the paradise He created? Congo Dawn tells the story of woman asking those questions. Her post-Marine assignment as translator for an international corporation takes her deep into the jungle and face to face with injustice and greed. In her quest to do what’s right, Robin Duncan finds out the good guys and the bad guys aren’t always readily distinguishable.

Will Robin save her own neck or get involved in Africa’s dangerous slave trade?

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Award-winning author and speaker Jeanette Windle knows the intricacies of living in a third world country; she grew up in Colombia. Her travels abroad add flavor to her writing and her knack for developing characters creates an intriguing story. Congo Dawn won the Golden Scroll 2013 Novel of the Year. All Saints, Jeanette’s newly released book with Michael Spurlock, is being released today as a movie! 

Congo Dawn raises interesting questions about our responsibility to address the injustices in front of us. In fact, Robin’s friend, Dr. Stewart says “refusing to address injustices that pushed people into rebellion was as much calling evil good and good evil as the rebels themselves.”

At a time when our country is battling racial divides and inequities, the topics tackled in Congo Dawn are as relevant as ever, to finding peaceful solutions. We cannot say we worship the same Creator, while spewing hostilities at each other. “But to make a stand against evil is always the right decision, whatever the consequences.”

Do you feel you can’t make a difference against evil? Dr. Stewart’s sister says your candle can pierce the darkness, and with others, can “make up a mighty bonfire against the night.”

Get a copy of Congo Dawn. It will entertain and enlighten you, but it will also stretch you to look at your sphere of influence in a new way!

Sally

Encouragement, Reviews

Book Review & a Giveaway:  Hope Prevails

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Have you dealt with depression? I have. And that’s why I was excited about getting my hands on this book. But Hope Prevails is so much more than a how-to about tackling the darkness of soul. It also takes a look at the lies we believe, the way we compare ourselves to others, and how worry says “I can‘t trust God to take care of me.”

The author, Dr. Michelle Bengtson is a board certified clinical neuropsychologist with more than 20 years of experience in the diagnosis and treatment of medical and mental disorders. However, Dr. Michelle says her greatest shock came when she tried the same treatment suggestions for her own depression that she typically offered her patients – and they didn’t work. She learned there was another element that needed to be addressed, and that was the spiritual side of depression.

Dr. Michelle asks, “How would you like to be free not only from depression but also from the fear of depression, the shadow of depression?”

To the normal person, this might not seem like an important question. But to someone who struggles with depression, the shadow is a part of daily life. To break free of that shadow would mean you, too, can have a good day when the sun is shining. You won’t look at others and wonder why you’re different. 

Depression is like drowning, except you can see everyone around you breathing. ~ Dr Michelle Bengtson #HopePrevails

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Did you know depression is a silent epidemic? Dr. Michelle says 1 in 4 adults suffer, 1 in 8 teens suffer, and 1 in 33 children suffer from this malady. She offers free resources on her website for those seeking to help a loved one and her book is a handbook to the many layers of depression and finding the steps out of it.

We live in a culture that glorifies busyness. Yet, Dr. Michelle says stress, whether good or bad, can contribute to depression. She includes a prescription, prayer, and praise songs at the end of each chapter to guide a time of reflection. Through personal examples, the author doesn’t diminish despair, but shows how she wrestled with it and pushed through it. Dr. Michelle equates depression with Scripture’s reference to a spirit of heaviness. She reminds us that David, too, experienced the pit of depression. Yet he called out to God and found hope in the One who heals our broken and wounded places.

I wish I could get a copy of Hope Prevails into the hands of everyone I know, because the principles go beyond dealing with depression, to learning how to live a victorious life. The next best thing I can do is offer a giveaway!

I am giving away an autographed copy from the author, courtesy of Revell Publishers, to one reader in the continental United States. Leave a comment on my blog (at the top of this post, under the title) and respond to this question, “Have you had any tough times that you are now thankful for?” You will be entered into the drawing to be held five days from today, August 15. I can’t wait to hear your stories!

Sally

P.S. Each person who leaves a comment will also receive a free pdf, “What God Says About You,” from Dr. Michelle Bengtson, in Hope Prevails!

Disclosure of Material: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through The Blog About Network book review program in exchange for a fair and honest review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR Title 16, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

BlogAbout Blogger Network

Leadership, Retreats

Retreat Debrief

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The letdown took longer this time. You know that feeling of “I wish it wasn’t over yet, but I’m relieved.”? Usually that emotional plunge happens right after the retreat, when I’m so tired I could drop. But this particular year, it waited for a full week to hit.

What do you do to ease back into your daily routine after a big event?

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What do you do, to ease back into your daily routine after an emotionally-charged, high-energy event? Anticlimax is really not so unusual. Elijah had a big showdown with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, but when confronted by one woman, he ran. (See 1 Kings 18:16-19:4) What happened to that powerful man of God? Didn’t he just beat out 850 false prophets? Didn’t he pray until God ended a drought?

Take a look at how Elijah made it back to the land of the living.

5 Steps for Self-care

1)      Sleep. Elijah was tired! He laid down under the shade of a tree and fell asleep. When you lead others, you will also need opportunity for rest. Set aside time to regroup.

2)      Eat. Elijah was hungry! He needed nourishment. Have you ever noticed food isn’t as appealing when you’re up against a deadline? Your mind is on the details instead of the tastes. Take time to nourish your body with lots of pure water and fresh fruits. Good nutrition will rejuvenate your mental capacity and your physical stability.

3)      Acknowledge need. The angel of the Lord knew the journey was too much for Elijah. When we plow through life, we have to pay attention to lulls in energy. They are reminders to take care of ourselves or we won’t be able to minister to anyone. Ask for prayer. Let friends know you’re having a dark day and need their intercession. They’ll surround you with love and care.

4)      Seek the Lord. Elijah went to Horeb, the mountain of God. He felt alone in his zealous activities for God. Yet the Lord revealed Himself and His servants to Elijah in a generous response to Elijah’s despondency. Do you feel alone in your work for the Lord? Is it time for one-on-one with Him in order to gain a new perspective?

5)      Enlist help. Elijah got an assistant. Let others be a part of the planning and execution of your retreat. It gives them ownership and provides you with someone to share the joys and burdens.

Are you heading for burn-out? Take a cue from Elijah and tend to your needs. You’ll gain strength required for the next project!

Sally

You can find more articles like this one here.

Reviews

Book Review: Real Artists Don’t Starve #dontstarvebook

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Real Artists Don’t Starve is a new release from author of national bestseller, The Art of Work. Jeff Goins says, “Becoming a Thriving Artist is not just about making a living; it’s about setting your work up for success.”

Jeff establishes that model for success by laying out 12 Rules of the New Renaissance. He proposes the shift from Starving Artists to Thriving Artists has to be set in the context of three major themes: mind-set, market, and money.

Jeff Goins is no stranger to the art arena. He has traveled as a musician and built an online business using the power of words. He is the author of four books and a former Communications Director for a nonprofit.

Real Artists Don’t Starve will challenge the way you look at your art. And Jeff illustrates the Rules of the New Renaissance with the stories of people from all walks of life… George Lucas, J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and the rest of the Inklings, Michelangelo, Steve Jobs, Adrian Cardenas, John Grisham, Jim Henson, Michael Caine, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jeff Bezos, Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Cirque du Soleil, Alan Bean, Walt Disney, and so many more.

Real Artists Don’t Starve tackles interesting questions about industry standards for the art world. Who determines the value of an artist’s work? What is the difference between an original and a copycat? Is a network necessary? Should a creative only focus on a single craft?

Jeff says we’re on the verge of a New Renaissance, and provides tools to position you in the path. He advocates that we have to leave the familiar, and through a series of gradual changes, become a truer version of who we are meant to be.

I highly recommend this book. It is for CEO’s, entrepreneurs, and everyone who has a gift to offer the world. It challenges the status quo of settling for someone else’s standard, and, instead proposes, “What’s out there, however scary it may be, is almost certainly better than staying where we are now.”

Steve Hanselman, Jeff’s agent, says this book is not about being creative but about being a creative person. How could your creativity effect your work environment?

Your greatest work will not come from just you. ~ Jeff Goins

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Are you stuck in the mindset of the Starving Artist? Isn’t it time to bring fresh insight to the value you offer the world? Be encouraged. Because of new opportunities and skills developed, curiosity and multiple disciplines, your best work lays ahead of you!

Sally

 Disclosure of Material: I received this book free from the publisher for the Real Artists Don’t Starve Launch Team. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR Title 16, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

 Right now, Jeff Goins is offering THREE amazing bonuses worth over $200 when you pre-order his new book, Real Artists Don’t Starve. I am participating as an affiliate in his Launch Team because I resonate with his work. This offer is only available until June 6th, so act quickly.

Get it here ===> https://fz238.isrefer.com/go/dontstarve/sferguson

When you click the link above and pre-order his book, Jeff is giving you THREE amazing bonuses worth over $200.

Here are the bonuses:

Bonus #1: The Real Artists Don’t Starve Online Course ($100)

In this 12-part video course, Jeff teaches how to make a living off your art, elaborating on the principles in the book and sharing his own knowledge and experience.

Bonus #2: All the Expert Interview Transcripts

Learn from the hundreds of experts and Thriving Artists Jeff interviewed during the research of this book.

Bonus #3: Exclusive Community Access

Get special access to a private Facebook group where Jeff will answer your questions regularly and you can connect with others reading the book.

You want those bonuses, don’t you? Sign up now and take your gift to the next level!

Family

How I’m Planning to Adjust My Budget As I Enter the Workforce

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Do you have a student who is graduating? Maybe this insight will be of benefit! ~ Sally

Guest Post by Lauren Davidson, a 20-something Millennial building a career

As a soon-to-be college graduate, the idea of earning my first paycheck is both exciting and daunting. It means freedom — and responsibility. While I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to do more things, to have more cash flow, and to not rely on my parents for money, it is a major transition in my life, moving forward in search of my calling. I am moving into my adult life — and I need a budget to match.

The idea of budgeting may seem outdated, especially to those of us who grew up in the age of the internet and apps for everything. Luckily, it doesn’t have to be hard or old-fashioned. Apps like Mint and LearnVest make it easy to figure out how much money you have coming into your accounts — and how much you’re spending. I’m setting up Mint on my phone before graduation, to start the process of learning how to budget — setting myself up for success before I even begin work.

Once I know how much money I’ll have coming in each month, the real fun can begin. It will be time to figure out how much I could spend. First, the necessities: housing, utilities, student loans and other unavoidable expenses. I put together a list of everything that I absolutely have to pay, starting with my student loans. I already figured out if I had private or federal student loans, and whether I have a grace period for these loans (the 6-month period of time between graduation and when you start paying the loans). Although I do have a grace period on some of my loans, I will go ahead and make interest payments on those loans during that time — doing this can substantially cut down on the total amount owed overall. This is a good move, since student loans are my largest form of debt right now. Did you know that the average graduate borrower leaves college with upwards of $28,000 in student debt?

Knowing how much of my budget will be devoted to necessities, I’ll have a better understanding of how much money is left each month. I’ll allocate money for other necessities like groceries and entertainment, and then devote a chunk of money towards savings and retirement. The key for me is to automate both my savings and retirement, which is a painless way to make sure that I am putting away enough to meet my savings and retirement goals. I have learned that the key to a successful retirement is to start saving early — and to put away as much as I can afford each month. By figuring out my budget early on and setting up my account to automatically deposit money each month, I’m making the choice early on to prioritize my retirement savings.

I also took the time to figure out my big picture goals. It can be difficult to know where you want to be in a few years, financially speaking, when you’re just trying to get started in your career. By sitting down and coming up with a list of what I want to achieve, I’ll be able to set up a game plan for success. For me, the most important thing is to pay off my student loans, so I’ll craft my budget around finding extra money each month to put towards my monthly payments.

Learning how to budget fresh out of college can be challenging — but it is very doable with a little planning and preparation.

Guest Post by Lauren Davidson, a Senior at the University of Pennsylvania, double majoring in Communications and English.

http://laurdavidson.com

Missions

Vision for Africa!

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What would life be like if you had blurry vision all of the time? It would be normal for you, because you never knew it could be any different. Suppose someone gave you a pair of glasses, and you could see for the first time? Would you be excited? You bet your eyesight, you would!

In 10 short months, our Uganda Mission Team will leave for Africa with a medical professional to lead Eye Clinics. There, we will measure for visual acuity and fit patients with prescriptions for sight. In a five step process, our team will evaluate different levels of eye health.

It reminds me of the story in Mark 8:22-25 where Jesus healed a blind man in stages. My NIV footnotes say this two-step process is indicative of our blindness: “Many persons with normal eyesight are spiritually blind.”

What has blinded me to Truth? Ego, pride, an independent spirit? I’m praying for new eyes to see the hand of God at work.

Did you know young adults in Third World Countries struggle with cataracts because of the intensity of the sun?

Would you do two things for us?

~ Pray for the Team traveling to Uganda March 3-16, 2018.

~ Collect glasses, readers & sunglasses & mail them to Busti Church of God 996 Forest Ave Ext. Jamestown NY 14701 before November 1 so that we have time to label the glasses with prescription strength.

Do you have extra eyeglasses laying around the house?

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Thank you for partnering with us!

To Uganda or Bust!!

Sally

Update:

This trip was postponed. The new date is March 16-29, 2019.
The process of getting the glasses ready is pretty extensive. So, we are done collecting glasses, but have room in the suitcase for more sunglasses. Sunglasses protect eyes against the harmful rays of the sun that cause cataracts!

Help for the Helper: Purpose for the Planner, Respite & Renewal for the Caregiver

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