This blog has been relocated to www.organicshoes.wordpress.com
Mornings with Jesus 2012: Daily Encouragements for your Soul
-Judy Baer, Gwen Ford Faulkenberry, Tricia Goyer, Sharon Hinck, Keri Wyatt Kent, Erin Keeley Marshall and Camy Tang
Leave a comment at organicshoes.wordpress.com on the post or on the give away page to be entered to win a copy! Be sure to include a valid e-mail address to be contacted by in case you win!
Mornings with Jesus has brought together the collaborative efforts of many of your favorite authors. This book will give you a fresh perspective and help in building a deeper relationship with our Lord and Savior. This book will encourage you to seek His Word each morning to experiences various attributes of God’s character, from Healer to Comforter to the Son of God. These authors have shared their experiences and teachings of Jesus through 366 daily devotionals.
Each day you will begin your morning with a verse from Jesus’ teachings as well as a devotional around the Word followed by a daily challenge to take a step of faith. This book will not only encourage you but help you to dig deeper and to challenge your daily walk with God.
The devotional from January 24th, from Tricia Goyer revolves around Colossians 3:23-24
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
Goyer reminds about how we are all motivated by rewards, as kids star charts and contests, certificates and trinkets for good grades and good behavior. With Jesus we receive an eternal reward, an eternal inheritance, we don’t receive a certificate for serving Christ. Our days are filled with rewards for the things we do, raises and promotions for a job well done, even in social media we are rewarded with comments, likes and retweets for saying things others enjoy, when we don’t get a response we wonder, is anyone reading this? Why hasn’t anyone responded?
It’s hard to keep our focus, to remember that these earthly rewards are not what matters, Jesus will not be stamping your degree, your certificates with stickers or good job stamps, our reward is Jesus. Our work should always be done for Him, not for earthly rewards. Today lets remember that everything we do should be a reflection of Christ, and every step we take should be to honor and glorify God. To let His light shine through us.
This book was provided complimentary from the publisher through the Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
-Elle
Note: This blog has been moved to http://organicshoes.wordpress.com
The Sound of Red Returning By: Sue Duffy
It’s no wonder the Romantic Times gave the Sound of Red Returning 4 Stars. As Book 1 in the Red Returning Series Sue Duffy knows how to capture an audience and take them on a gripping journey full of suspense and mystery.
15 years ago child prodigy and famous pianist Liesel Bower watched as her mentor was gunned down and word got out that he had been a Russian Spy. After being thrust into CIA interrogations for what she may have known Liesel thought that maybe it was all over. But now after fifteen years intelligence suggests that unknowingly Liesel may have unknowingly inherited a secret message from her mentor.
Duffy has done a fantastic job combining mystery and suspense with political tensions as well as love and betrayal. Her characters come off the page as they deal with their own ghosts and search for God, who is always in control. I really enjoyed this book, at first it was difficult to get into but our of no where you get sucked into the story and forget how involved you become with the characters. Definitely a book worth reading.
This book was provided complimentary from LitFuse and Kregel Publishing in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Win a Kindle Fire from Sue Duffy! Enter 1/23 - 2/11. The Red Returning Giveaway!
-Elle
Hey everyone!
That’s right this blog is moving! Im moving to wordpress! I like the set up and a lot of it better and I invite you to check out the page!
www.organicshoes.wordpress.com
I am transferring all the posts over there slowly! Hope to see you over there!
First Date
By: Krista McGee
Addy Davidson did not want to be in the spotlight. She had no desire to be on reality television even if it was with the very attractive son of the President of the United States. All Addy wanted was to finish school with top grades to earn a scholarship to an Ivy League college. However, after being nominated for a reality show she finds herself with 30 girls from across the country vying for the attention of one boy.
Addy thinks of every excuse to get out of the situation, but comes to realize that God wants her to go on this journey, and although not happy about it she heads onto the reality show where she is met with opposition and struggles to make friends. Unsure of why she is there and afraid to share about her faith she isn’t sure what to do. Will Addy be able to speak up about her faith? Will she find away out of the show? Will she figure out how to handle the feelings she may have for the presidents son?
First Date is a great teen lit book, thinking along the lines of Meg Cabot for the Christian girl. This book is great for all girls, where they not only get a great story but will learn about that even if you prefer to be quiet in the background God is going to push you out of your comfort zone and someday you will need to take a stand for your faith.
I was provided First Date complimentary from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
-Elle
Made to Crave Devotional: 60 Days to Craving God, Not Food
Lysa TerKeurst
After the success of Made to Crave, Lysa TerKeurst has returned with new insights, as well as some favorites in a 60 Day devotional to help aid people on their weight loss journey. This devotional is not like any dieting book you have seen, rather than telling you how and what to eat, when you should exercise and how many miles you need to run today TerKeurst is tackling the root of the problem of battling a weight loss journey. The cravings. We all have them, we fill our needs with food, we emotionally eat, crave more when we are bored and the list goes on.
TerKeurst has come along beside us to help us see the reasons behind those things and how we are placing food as an idol and turning it into a god. Instead she wants to help us re-evaluate and crave God more not food. This book is full of great snapshots and some tough challenges. Made to Crave is not only for those searching to lose weight or get a handle on their cravings, this book has information to be gleaned by everyone that can speak into many aspects of your life. Definitley a book to look into as we search to crave God more and more each day.
I received this book complimentary from Zondervan through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
-Elle
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
— Philippians 4:4-8
Karen Kingsbury has captured our hearts again. The Flannigan’s have invited us into their lives once again as Bailey continues to perform on Broadway and begins making decisions about her future and figuring out where God is leading her, and who He is leading her too. Continuing to run a small Bible Study with members of the cast Bailey continues to face challenges in sharing her faith with the cast.
Cody is leading the Lyle football game to a winning season and the nation has begun to hear about the miracles that have happened with his team, he has a lot to face as well as taking a trip to New York City for an interview, where there is a chance of him running into Bailey. Are the two ready to see each other again? What will Brandon think if they do?
Kingsbury has done it again, pulling us into a story of a family we have come to love. We will stay connected with these characters through the whole story. Kingsbury has weaved her faith and talent to create a story remarkably that everyone will love. I really enjoyed the third book in the Bailey Flannigan series; however, Bailey comes across as a little too perfect at times, as well as getting things come to her very easily. Sometimes a little to easily, her struggles seem to only be around her decisions about Brandon and Cody.
This book is definitely one to add to your collection.
I received this book complimentary from Zondervan through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
-Elle
Reflecting on the first week of 1 Peter 1:1-12: Finding Encouragement in Troubling Times By: Sue Edwards
———————————————————————————————————————-
We’ve all experienced times of trouble and pain, we’ve all felt alone and depressed, not sure of which way to turn. In 1 Peter 1:1-12 Peter takes his time to address these trials, to encourage each of us to stay on the path and to continually seek Christ.
Many times it feels like opposition comes out of no where, everything seems to be going smoothly and then BAM! We get hit smack in the face with a new problem, or something that sets off our balance, these come in many forms, sickness, divorce, a failed test, a huge decision, a lot job, a job offer, a fight with a friend or relative, an unexpected bill. Trials will not always be earth-shattering, even though sometimes they feel that way no matter how small the problem.
Peter has taken the time to encourage us, to remind us that being a believer does not mean we are protected from all trials, but in fact may encounter them more! But our faith in Jesus, our belief in Him will bring us ‘inexpressible and glorius joy.’ Doesn’t that sound amazing?! Who wouldn’t want that?
For the last two years I have been seraching for a job, not just any job, but the job that I feel called too. A career, thankfully I am not unemployed and I am making ends meet, but every new rejection letter I receive trust me my heart doesn’t bounce with ‘inexpressible and glorius joy.’ I don’t shout out in praise for another batch of resumes to send out, I don’t get super excited about re-writing my cover letter…again (for the eighty bazillionth time.)
And although finding a new job is not the hardest trial I will ever face, I am reminded by Peter that the best is yet to come. That the problems that I face are earthly problems and in few weeks, months, days, hours they are not going to seem like such a big problem any more. In fact I may look back and laugh at how ridiculous I responded to each trial.
Peter reminds us that our earthly trials are nothing in comparison to the heavenly reward we will receive when we are worshipping at the feet of our One True God.
-Elle
This Bible Study has been provided to me complimentary from Kregel Publishing.
By Denise Hunter, Colleen Coble, Kristen Billerbeck and Diann Hunt
Smitten, Vermont has always been a small town where everybody knew their neighbors, families loved the small town communities and never thought that someday Smitten might not be there. When the mill in Smitten is forced to close, no one is sure what will happen to their town. The majority of the workforce is hired by the mill, which also generates most of the towns income.
While having coffee one night, four single friends, Julia, Natalie, Reese and Shelby come up with an idea to save Smitten. For years the town has been made fun of for it’s name, but now the friends have decided to use the towns name to re-market the town as a honeymooner’s get-away. With plans set, and the women of the town on board transformations start to happen.
As Natalie, Julia, Shelby and Reese get the town on board and help in the transformations of the town they all start on a journey towards something they never expected, to finding love in the least likely of places and with the most unlikely of people, some of which not supportive of the girls changing Smitten into a ‘girly’ town. Will the town be able to pull this off? To come together and support each other? Will the guys in town try to keep it from happening?
Award-Winning Authors Colleen Coble, Denise Hunter, Kristen Billerbeck and Diann Hunt have come together with a story of four single women in a town about to go under. Together they have weaved a tale of the best of friends who you want to become your own friends. By the end of this book you will have fallen in love with Smitten.
This book was provided complimentary from Thomas Nelson Publishing in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
To learn more about Smitten go to http://www.smittenvermont.com/
-Elle
“But you, Israel, are my servant. You’re Jacob, my first choice, descendants of my good friend Abraham. I pulled you in from all over the world, called you in from every dark corner of the earth, Telling you, ‘You’re my servant, serving on my side. I’ve picked you. I haven’t dropped you.’ Don’t panic. I’m with you. There’s no need to fear for I’m your God. I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you. I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.”
-Isaiah 41:8-10 (Message)
I have always loved this verse. Especially in the message translation, the words have always been so powerful. Numerous times throughout the Old and New Testament we are told not to fear.
This past weekend I was planning to talk to someone about stepping down from a volunteer position, I had been considering it for a few weeks now and had talked it over with a friend. I had come to realize that my heart wasn’t in it, and that without me really wanting to be a part of the team I was more detrimental but helpful. For the last few months I have made excuses to my friend of reasons I could not quit (even though I really felt I needed too) They don’t have enough people, I can’t leave that all to them, maybe when someone else steps up, maybe when so-and-so is trained. Yet, he continued to remind me that it was not my responsibility to fill my own position, that I couldn’t keep doing something my heart wasn’t in.
So last week I texted and set up a time to chat over the weekend, and as I started to explain I wimped out. I made excuses for why I sent my text instead of what was really on my mind. And than I had to tell my friend that I wimped out and that’s when it hit me.
I am afraid.
I am afraid of letting people down, of not doing the right thing, or not being able to help. I’ve let fear control my decisions and everything I do. From the smallest of things, although half the time my excuses sound really good, that is all they are excuses.
This week I am focusing on that fear and reminding myself how many times God has called us not to fear. He always has our backs and no matter what He will not reject us.
-Elle