Devotionals for the Heart: God Made You and Loves You Unconditionally

As I Am
A devotional by Sara L. Foust

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” — Ephesians 2:10 (KJV)

This verse has been on my heart a lot lately. First, when I returned from my mission trip in May. Then it spurred the idea for my recent blog post on my website. And today, again, as I write this newest thought I can’t get this verse out of my mind.

As my friend, Becky, and I drove to a weekend event at the Grainger County Tomato Festival recently, we visited and the topic of our health came up, as it does often. I have struggled with depression since I was a young girl, and many times in my life have wondered why in the world I had to suffer with such a complicated, unseen, stigmatized disease. Years ago my cousin, also Becky, pointed out to me that I shouldn’t feel embarrassed or badly for my disease. It isn’t necessarily something I can completely control.

After all, someone with diabetes or heart disease or arthritis is rarely chastised for having a disease. It isn’t something they can help, after all, right? I am thankful for this reminder and especially thankful for the journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance it created. Since that conversation, God has shown me just how carefully He crafted me. I am precious, like the items at the fair, hand-crafted, unique, and made with care. God didn’t randomly grab a bunch of ingredients and throw them into my DNA pot. No, He hand-picked them with intention, including whatever element it is in my brain that makes me susceptible to depression. I may not understand why I have it. My cousin may not understand why she has RA. My friend may not understand why she has dysautonomia. But I firmly believe, without a shadow of a doubt, there is a reason.

Let’s say that again, there is a reason. Knowing that the Bible tells us “all things work together for good to them that love God,” it must be a good reason, for our good. But more importantly than that, for others’ good. Since I accepted that part of me and began telling my story, God has given me opportunities to encourage others who have similar problems. 

Unless I possess firsthand knowledge of a disease or situation, while I may feel empathetic, it is hard to fully and completely understand the how a person feels. Not the way the person experiencing it does, anyway. Because I know what it’s like in the darkness of depression and the joy of finding light, I can help others who are struggling to find the peace and wonder of God’s love.

It may sound strange to some, but I am thankful for my disease. It makes me a more humble, understanding, and compassionate person. It draws me closer to God, for in the “down” times I must draw close to Him to keep my head above water. And it allows me to understand a niche of people whom I could potentially be blessed to help.

It’s often hard to embrace a diagnosis as a good thing, but I am trying to keep it in a positive perspective and keep my focus on the good that can come from a disease in the form of helping another. And to be thankful for a loving God who created me just as I am.

~*~
Author Bio:

Sara writes Inspirational Romantic Suspense from a mini-farm in East Tennessee, where she lives with her husband and their five homeschooled children. 

She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from the University of Tennessee and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Tennessee Mountain Writers.

Her debut novel Callum's Compass won second place in Deep River Books' 2017 Writer's Contest. She also has a story, “Leap of Faith,” in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Step Outside Your Comfort Zone. Sara finds inspiration in her faith, her family, and the beauty of nature.

When she isn’t writing, you can find her reading, camping, and spending time outdoors with her family. To learn more about her and her work or to become a part of her email friend’s group, please visit www.saralfoust.com.

Devotionals for the Heart: Home

A Place Called Home
A devotional by Patrick E. Craig

Wallowa Lake, in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, is one of my favorite places on earth. You head up from La Grande, Oregon through Elgin, over the Minam Grade, down the Wallowa River canyon, and suddenly you drive out into the most incredible valley, with green fields, flowing streams, and snow-capped mountains rising straight up all around you. 

It’s called the Switzerland of America, but it beats Switzerland all hollow. Wallowa Lake is set like a jewel, right at the head of the valley just past the wonderful little town of Joseph. I spent much of my childhood roaming the mountains around the lake, trout fishing, hiking, camping… I have always dreamed of living there.

But what I have learned after many long years in this broken world, is that even the most beautiful place on earth will pale in comparison to the glory that awaits us when we come into our inheritance in Christ and are seated in Him, in heavenly places, ruling and reigning over the new heavens and the new earth.

We are so focused on the earth, and our life here, that we forget that this creation is corrupted – forever spoiled and useless to God, because of the rebellion of a proud creature named Lucifer. One day, our God, who is a God of love, but also a God of righteousness who must judge sin, will complete His judgment of this corrupted sphere and it will melt in the fervent heat, to be replaced by a garden of unbearable beauty.

If the places I love on this earth are beautiful beyond description, then it is impossible for me to comprehend the wonder of His coming new creation… and how big the trout will be…

"For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now, and not only they but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body." ~Romans 8:22-23 (KJV).

~*~
Author Bio:

Patrick E. Craig is a lifelong writer and musician who left a successful songwriting and performance career in the music industry to follow Christ in 1984. 

In 2011 he signed a three-book deal with Harvest House Publishers to publish his Apple Creek Dreams series. His current series is The Paradise Chronicles. The first book in the series, The Amish Heiress, a romantic suspense novel, was published by Patrick's company, P&J Publishing, in August of 2015 and remained on the Amazon Top 100 best sellers list in three categories for seven months.

The second book in the series, The Amish Princess, a historical romance novel, was released in December of 2016 and was on Amazon's Hot New Releases for over a month. Harlequin recently purchased the print rights for both books for their Walmart Amish series. Patrick also just released Cracking The Indie Egg—A Recipe For Publishing Your Own Book and it is available in most major digital bookstores.

Patrick and his wife Judy, make their home in Idaho. They have two married children and five grandchildren. Patrick is represented by the Steve Laube Agency.

~*~
Connect with Patrick:
Website - www.patrickecraig.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PatrickECraig
Twitter - https://twitter.com/PatrickECraig
Amazon Author page - http://tinyurl.com/n6sfagg

Litfuse Publicity Group blog tour featuring "Sacred Rest" (book) by Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith

Welcome to my blog's stop on the book tour for Sacred Rest!

It's a riveting read penned by a true expert with a heart for helping humankind. 

Read my review of this wonderful nonfiction book after you read the following information about the book and its awesome author!

~*~

About the book:

Staying busy is easy. Staying well rested— there’s a challenge.

How can you keep your energy, happiness, creativity, and relationships fresh and thriving in the midst of never-ending family demands, career pressures, and the stress of everyday life? In Sacred Rest, Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, a board-certified internal medicine doctor, reveals why rest can no longer remain optional.

Dr. Dalton-Smith shares seven types of rest she has found lacking in the lives of those she encounters in her clinical practice and research-physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, sensory, social, creative—and why a deficiency in any one of these types of rest can have unfavorable effects on your health, happiness, relationships, creativity, and productivity. Sacred Rest combines the science of rest, the spirituality of rest, the gifts of rest, and the resulting fruit of rest. It shows rest as something sacred, valuable, and worthy of our respect.

By combining scientific research with personal stories, spiritual insight, and practical next steps, Sacred Rest gives the weary permission to embrace rest, set boundaries, and seek sanctuary without any guilt, shame, or fear.

Learn more and purchase a copy.

~*~

About the Author: Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith is an author, speaker, and board-certified physician. She has an active medical practice in Alabama (near the Birmingham area). She received her B.S. in Biochemistry at the University of Georgia and graduated with honors from Meharry Medical College in Nashville. She has been an adjunct faculty member at Baker College and Davenport University in Michigan teaching courses on health, nutrition, and disease progression. 

Dr. Dalton-Smith is a national and international media resource on the mind, body, spirit connection and has been featured in Women’s Day, Redbook, and First For Women magazine. She is the author of “Set Free to Live” and “Come Empty” (winner 2016 Golden Scroll Nonfiction Book of the Year and 2016 Illumination Award Gold medalist). She is a member of the Christian Medical and Dental Association and a repeat keynote speaker at their annual gathering. She has shared her tips on merging faith and medicine with over 16,000 health care professionals to encourage the current and next generation of doctors to treat the whole person.

Find out more about Saundra at http://ichoosemybestlife.com.

~*~

My Review of Sacred Rest:

This book was everything that I expected yet exactly what I did not expect!

With a title like "Sacred Rest" and an author with impressive credentials as a doctor and media favorite, I expected this book to be a well-informed, enlightening read with a spiritual thread. But I did not expect it to grab me by the hand at the first page and fully captivate my attention like a good fiction story as the author used the power of words, real-life stories, medical resources and Bible-based truth to help me discover the reason why we all (humankind) need to learn how to truly rest.

I loved everything about this book and did not find anything that I did not like! The author has an authoritative voice but it's not overbearing and it won't cause you to become bored. She uses her authority as a health professional to effectively guide you through the ins and outs of "rest" as a concept and gives you a well-thought-out guide how even the busiest of persons can make true "rest" a reality in their life.

I appreciated the author's transparency in sharing scenes from her real-life story to enhance the storytelling. Early on in this book, the author made me laugh when she mentioned how she'd written a "birthing plan" and made copies for her husband and the medical professionals in the delivery room. She noted their response to her handing the papers of the birthing plan to them (they were not impressed and pushed the papers to the side to prepare to help her birth her baby). Later on during her labor when the pain became unbearable and unexpected situations occurred, one of the nurses asked the author, "Now what does the plan say we do about this?" Hilarious! But clearly at the time the author who was the expectant first-time mommy-to-be in the situation was not amused.

My heart softened and sympathized with one of the people the author mentioned who she was treating, a young lady who cut her wrists. The author noted that she could not heal the girl's pain, she could only suture the skin back together. The author touched on how medical professionals are trained to detach themselves from the patient in a professional manner as to not get emotional or draw into the intensity of what they're facing. She also talked about a conference in which she was the keynote speaker to a room filled with medical professionals and the first thing she realized is that she had to break the ice and teach them how to open up emotionally so that they could get the most of the healing experience she was there to facilitate.

There are many more wonderful examples in this book that spoke to my heart and enlightened my mind. But in the interest of time and keeping your attention along with not giving away the whole message in this book, I'll only mention a few more highlights...

Favorite line: "I'm convinced heaven must smell like hazelnut coffee" (page 7).

Most interesting interactive tool: The self-diagnosis that used several questions and a checklist to help the reader determine if you're experiencing a "mental rest deficit" or several other types of deficits such as "emotional rest deficit".

Most helpful feature: The section starting on page 129 that outlined and explored "Sacred Rest Boundaries" all the while emphasizing the importance of drawing and maintaining healthy boundaries.

Best Bible-based advice: "Cease fighting to have your way" (page 143). It's advice that's based on Romans 9:20 which is a Bible verse and it spoke most profoundly to me because that's a real-life struggle for me. The author said: "When we don't understand what God is doing, we journey into the battlefield of the mind and wage a war against our circumstances in the hopes that if we try hard enough and fight long enough, we will overcome the difficulty. But this is not the gift of freedom. Freedom is this: Instead of trying harder, trust more. Cease fighting, and with hands raised, bow your will to His. Assume a position of peace even in the midst of unfavorable circumstances or unknown outcomes. One way you know you've surrendered and ceased fighting is when you don't immediately react to adversity or challenging circumstances with fear and anxiety. You let go of your need to struggle and allow God to fight on your behalf. Some battles were never yours to fight standing, but the Lord's to fight while you rest."

...And the author could "drop the mic" right there and end the book on that note! But no, there are almost 100 more pages after that section to enjoy and explore!

If I could give this book a rating higher than five stars on Amazon.com, I totally would. It's worth its weight in gold and star power! If you have not read this book, you should.

*Litfuse Publicity Group provided me (Alexis A. Goring) with a complimentary copy of "Sacred Rest". My opinions in this book review are my own.

Interview with Sarah Monzon, author of "The Esther Paradigm"

Join me in welcoming Sarah Monzon to the blog and wish her a "Happy BOOK birthday"!

Sarah's new book, The Esther Paradigm, releases today! Therefore she's celebrating what authors call a "book birthday". Feel free to wish her a "happy BOOK birthday" in the comment section below.

But before you share your birthday wishes with Sarah, please take time to read what she has to say today in my interview about her new novel. 

She's also giving away one digital copy of her book, so remember to enter the book giveaway contest on the Rafflecopter widget toward the end of this blog post.

Enjoy!

~*~
Interview with Sarah Monzon, author of The Esther Paradigm:

Alexis: Why do you call this book, "The Esther Paradigm"? Explain the significance.

Sarah: Partway through the book the main character, Hannah Pratt, discovers that her perspective, her paradigm, changes to resemble Esther from the Bible.

Alexis: What inspired you to write this book?

Sarah: The idea of it just entered my head one day, took hold, and wouldn’t let go until I got it written.

Alexis: Describe the research that went into writing this book.

Sarah: I researched everything. Location/geography/setting, culture, food, language, religion, lodging, customs, clothing. I had no less than a dozen tabs open at all times to refer to and look more things up. I also watch a documentary series on Netflix and checked out a few books at my local library.

Alexis: Tell us about your story’s heroine Hannah Pratt. Describe her looks, personality, and outlook on life. What makes Hannah well…Hannah?

Sarah: She’s fair skinned, blond, blue eyes—basically the exact opposite of how everyone else in the region (Middle East) would look. She is very respectful of diversity, caring, and vibrant. A little insecure, she often falls into the pit of comparison and finds herself coming up short in her own mind.

Alexis: Why does Hannah want to start a school for the Bedouin clan that she grew up with when she was a missionary kid?

Sarah: She has a passion in her heart for the people, who she considers her family, and their children.

Alexis: Describe the battle that Hannah is in the middle of and share how her faith in God helps her in this situation. What is the mission that she believes God has called her to fulfill?

Sarah: Hannah and her parents are blamed when a mysterious illness sweeps through the clan’s flocks. The situation becomes heated, but Hannah knows she is where God wants her.

Alexis: Karim Al-Amir is a sheikh who is the hero of this story. Describe his looks, personality, and life goals.

Sarah: Black, slightly-curly hair, dark-brown eyes, and a trimmed beard. He is quiet, observant, and responsible. He wants to preserve the ways of his people and the traditional way in which they’ve lived for hundreds of years.

Alexis: What were Karim’s first thoughts when he met Hannah? How does that affect their relationship?

Sarah: Karim and Hannah met as children. He was instantly mesmerized by her blue eyes and golden hair. He’d never seen another person who looked like her before.

Alexis: Why does Karim want to marry Hannah? Does she want to marry him? Explain.

Sarah: He marries her to keep her and her parents safe. The protection of his name and position.

Alexis: Where is the setting for this story? Why did you choose it and how did you make it true to real life?

Sarah: Somewhere in the Middle East. Because the main character is a missionary serving in a country where Christianity is illegal, it would be unwise for her to ever say exactly where she is. However, she serves in the 10/40 Window, the geographical location ten to forty degrees north of the equator where the majority of the world’s “unreached” live.

Alexis: What was the most challenging aspect of writing this story? Explain.

Sarah: Finding a balance. I know there are things in the book that might make some people uncomfortable. The hero is Muslim and to be genuine and authentic to his character, there are Islamic layers to the story. I had to find the balance of keeping that authenticity to the culture while not alienating my audience.

Alexis: What lesson do you want to teach your readers with this book? Why?

Sarah: I never go into writing a book looking to teach readers a lesson. I hope the story is entertaining, relatable, gives hope, etc., but never with an agenda. However, if the Holy Spirit uses the words I wrote to gently move a reader, I praise God for that.

Alexis: Thanks for the interview, Sarah! Do you have any closing comments?

Sarah: Thank you so much for having me. It was truly a pleasure.

~*~
Author Bio: 

Sarah Monzon is a Navy chaplain's wife and a stay at home mom to the two cutest littles in the world. Playing pretend all day with them isn't enough, she spends the evenings after their heads hit the pillow to create her own imaginary characters.

When she isn't in the world of make-believe, she can be found in the pine forests of western Washington taking care of her family, fostering friendships, and enjoying all the adventures each day brings.

Her debut novel, The Isaac Project, skyrocketed to Amazon bestseller status while her Sophomore book, Finders Keepers, won the 2017 SELAH award for contemporary romance.

~*~
Blurb for The Esther Paradigm: Hannah Pratt dreams of starting a school for the Bedouin clan she grew up with as a missionary kid, and finally her hopes are coming true. But shortly after she returns to the desert from her college years in the U.S., she discovers her parents have received threats from their Muslim neighbors. As the danger escalates, Hannah finds she’s in the middle of a battle no one seems to understand. 

She must decide to what lengths she'll go to stay faithful to the mission to which God has called her. Even if it costs her everything. 

As sheikh, Karim Al-Amir feels the weight of responsibility as the leader of his people. When a mysterious illness ravishes the clan’s flocks and threatens to destroy their centuries-old way of life, locals believe the American doctors and their daughter, his childhood friend, Hannah, are to blame. Karim must do something to keep them safe—even if the only solution can be found within marriage vows. 

In a society where the line is drawn between us and them, Christianity is outlawed, and foreigners are mistrusted, will their union heal wounds or inflict the final fatal blow?

~*~
Connect with Sarah: 

Website - http://www.sarahmonzonwrites.com
Facebook - facebook.com/sarahmonzonwrites
Twitter - twitter.com/monzonwrites 

~*~

Enter this book giveaway contest for your chance to WIN a copy of this book by filling out the entry form on the Rafflecopter widget below:

SaveSave a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review of a FREE 31-Day Online Bible Study on the Book of Ephesians

My Review of “Worthy of the Calling: A Free 31-Day Online Bible Study with Sarah Koontz”

I love digging deep into God’s Word and “Worthy of the Calling: A Free 31-Day Online Bible Study with Sarah Koontz” was the perfect way to study the Bible book of Ephesians!

Originally, I learned about this Bible study when a friend reached out to me about the author needing readers to join her launch team.

I looked up Sarah’s invite, saw the title for her Bible study and was intrigued. I decided to join her team then and there because I believed that the message was worth my time.

When I sat down to read this Bible study on the book of Ephesians, I felt calm and relaxed. As I kept turning the pages, I felt like I was growing closer to God’s Message.

The author dives deep into God’s Word. She teaches the reader to embrace their God-given destiny, to talk to Him about anything and everything, to share your heart about what God’s done for you and most importantly to believe that you are worthy of the calling He’s placed on your life. Sarah reminds us throughout her study that we are adopted sons and daughters of God. We are His Heir through His Son Jesus Christ. We are His family. It’s wonderful to be reminded in a world that’s obsessed with royalty that we—no matter what our station in life—are adopted into God’s Heavenly Family, which is better than earthly royalty. As God’s children, our royal titles don’t end when we die; they carry on forever because faithful Christ-followers are promised to a life after death, one where they live in God’s Presence for eternity.

Sarah’s study is divided into 31 Days. Each day brings a new message from her heart inspired by God. She uses Day 1 to teach you your identity and privilege as a “faithful saint” and on Day 2, she reminds you that you’re “Chosen by God”. As the days progress, her message goes deeper into God’s Word and exhorts you to not only realize that you are “Worthy of the Calling” but you have a responsibility to share God’s Message with the world.

Beautiful, colorful, and insightful memes decorate every page of this study. The pictures are captivating and the words on it are a call-to-action. The author doesn’t shy away from challenging the reader to see life through a faith-filtered lens.

The reader can tell that the author did her homework before writing this study. Her message is theologically sound and supported by Bible verses. She doesn’t write in paragraphs; she breaks her message down in blocks of two to three sentences on every page throughout this study. It’s a great marketing strategy that’s easy on the eyes.

One of the most memorable sentences in her study is this: “Prayer gives us access to spiritual nourishment—enabling us to battle and behave like believers. But we must shape our prayers in a way that pushes beyond the physical and into the spiritual” (page 16).

I like how the author reminds us that our enemy is NOT humankind; it’s the devil. Because we cannot see the spiritual realm when things happen that upset us and it looks like a person is to blame, more than often it is the evil spiritual force behind that person that is to blame because as the Bible says, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12).

Overall, this is a thought-provoking, soul-stirring, mind-uplifting study that will impact your life for the better. I’d give it a five-star rating if it were a book being sold on Amazon.com. But I don’t have to do that because out of this goodness of her heart, the author is giving this Bible study to readers for free!

Sign up for Sarah's free Bible study here, https://www.sarahkoontz.com/worthy/.

*Reviewed by Alexis A. Goring, founder of "God is Love" (blog)

Thankful Thursday: Choose Life

It's Thursday and I'm thankful because I choose life.

The Word of God says: "This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live." ~ Deuteronomy 30:19, New International Version (NIV)

We live in a broken world filled with heartache, sorrow, and pain. But in the midst of it all, we have a Risen Savior Jesus Christ and He wants us to "choose life".

Lately, it's been on my mind. More than ever I realize whenever I allow myself to reflect on negative experiences, situations or words said to me, I am in essence NOT choosing life. When I allow those discouraging thoughts to dominate my mind, I am essentially choosing death. The Bible says that life and death are in the power of the tongue which is a good reason to only speak kind, life-affirming words to everyone you interact with but that's another devotional for another day.

More than ever, I am encouraged to capture those negative experiences and words said and submit it to God then ask Him to help me renew my mind (Romans 12:2) so that I may actively choose life over every situation life puts me in. When my mind is taking a negative dip, I have to focus on the Word of God, meditate on His Truth and not allow myself to sink deep into despair. I must choose life so that I may live, just like God tells us to in Deuteronomy 30:19.

God knows that our thoughts steer our actions which is why I believe He tells us to "choose life" so that we "may live." If you're deep in despair, don't be afraid to ask for help. God works through people to help you. Here are a few helpful resources that are accessible in the United States of America:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Call 1-800-273-8255

K-LOVE Pastors are available to speak with you, listen to you, and pray for you. Call this number 1-800-525-5683 and visit their radio station's website, http://www.klove.com/ministry/prayer/

In closing, I'd like to share this song with you called "Choose Life":

Devotional by Laura Thomas on the blessings of inconvenience

The Beauty of Thorns
A devotional by Laura Thomas

“The enemy would have us so blinded by the pain of the thorn that we can’t see the beauty of the rose garden.” ~Ruth Chou Simons

Have you ever picked a rose and been unexpectedly pricked by a whacking great thorn on the stem? I have. Multiple times. You’d think I would know better, but still, I go back to my rosebush enraptured by the beauty of the flower, only to be jolted by that painful little thorn again.

In the big scheme of things, having one’s finger punctured by a thorn is not exactly disastrous, but “thorns in our flesh” can take many forms. The Apostle Paul spoke of his particular thorn and there are many opinions as to whether it was anything from malaria to poor eyesight to epilepsy—regardless, it was a huge issue to Paul as he called it a “messenger of Satan”. Why did God allow him to endure this wretched inconvenience? Why does God allow us to have our own thorns marring the beautiful rose garden of our lives?

“My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness.” 

~2 Corinthians 12:9a (The Message)

These thorns, these pesky pressures, pain, and problems that simply won’t go away, won’t budge they are so deeply embedded, these thorns are there for a reason. That’s a tough pill to swallow, especially if it causes debilitating results or a stressful existence. For some, it’s a slight annoyance but for others it’s major, and I don’t want to belittle that. It’s HARD. And yet…

When life is peachy and everything is going perfectly without a hint of anxiety or grief, pain or distress, do we still come to God on our knees desperate for His touch? When every day is gloriously easy-breezy and finances and health are in tip-top condition, do we rely wholly on God for our daily bread and every breath? Surely, we are in danger of becoming totally self-sufficient and even a little self-absorbed.

Oh, how the tide turns when we are in thorny peril! Suddenly we find ourselves praying more, feverishly searching the Scriptures for a word of hope, reaching out to our Heavenly Father because we admit that we NEED Him.

Yes, I’m needy. Are you? It’s okay. Actually, that’s a good thing.

Because of our weaknesses, our thorns, we are able to acknowledge our need for Jesus. This need runs deep and it’s necessary for our growth in Him. It’s our weakness that grows our faith immeasurably because only His grace is enough.

That’s it. His grace at work in our lives. When everything is hunky-dory and plain-sailing, we go on our merry way perhaps with an occasional nod and wave in God’s direction. But that’s not growth or faith or hope or trust. When I lay everything, even my thorns at the feet of Jesus and cry out for help:

“I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.”

~2 Corinthians 10:12b (The Message)

That’s why we have our thorny issues, it’s actually for our good and so that somehow in some way God can be glorified. I cringe when I say that because it may not feel particularly “good” at the time, but I’ve seen lives utterly transformed by thorns. And sometimes we forget that Jesus is an expert on pain. There is no thorn that he does not comprehend— He has complete empathy.

On the cross, wearing that mocking crown fashioned with the sharpest of thorns, he endured every pain and ever sorrow for us.

He knows pain, friend. And he offers grace to us, that we might find our strength in Him alone. We NEED Him. And by His grace, we are not blinded or distracted by the pain of the thorns— but rather, we look ahead and see the beauty of the rose garden of eternity that is to come.

~*~
Author Bio:

Laura is a published Christian author with a heart for inspiring and encouraging readers of all ages. 

She is truly multi-genre—with a published Christian teen fiction trilogy, marriage book, children’s stories, devotionals for Union Gospel Press, musings on her blog, and she now has a literary agent representing her Christian romantic suspense novel. 

Laura is English and Canadian, married to her high school sweetheart, mom of three, passionate about faith and family…and chocolate!

~*~
Connect with Laura:
Website - www.laurathomasauthor.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Laura-Thomas-183771121724664/?ref=hl
Twitter - https://twitter.com/laura_thomas_
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lauracthomas/
Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/lauracthomas/

Music Review and Giveaway of Matt Redman's "Glory Song" CD

Today, I’m reviewing Matt Redman’s new CD “Glory Song” for FlyBy Promotions. You’re in for a treat because they’re offering one copy of Matt’s CD to one lucky winner!

Here’s a note about the album, courtesy of FlyBy Promotions: Matt Redman teamed up with several of his worship-artist friends for this album, first releasing the track “Gracefully Broken (feat. Tasha Cobbs Leonard)”. Tasha Cobbs Leonard also released her own version of this song on the same day! The album also features Kierra Sheard, Guvna B, Madison Cunningham, and Kim Walker-Smith.

Ready for my review? Read on!

Every song is rated between 1 and 5 stars. Here’s the meaning of each starred rating:

5 stars = Wonderful! I love it!

4 stars = Great song and lyrics, I really like it!

3 stars = Nice tune but not too spectacular

2 stars = I really do not like this song

1 star = Not worth listening to

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Song #1: All Glory
Rating: 4 stars
Review: The best way to describe this song is in one word “sunshine” because it shines hope and positivity into your life through its lovely melody and life changing lyrics. It’s life-changing because it reminds you of what really matters in this life as it emphasizes God’s glory in your story that has transformative power. This song encouraged me.

Song #2: Gospel Song
Rating: 3 stars
Review: This song is about the rugged cross and the gospel message that was born through it. If you’re a Christ-follower and Bible-reader then you know the story. But if you’ve never picked up a Bible and have never heard of Jesus Christ then this song can serve as your first introduction. I didn’t like the tune that much and the rapping segment of the song was not impressive but the message is great.

Song #3: Greatest Hallelujah
Rating: 4 stars
Review: This song was short, sweet and to the point. The singer’s message is clear: God deserves our greatest hallelujah because He is worthy of all our praise.

Song #4: Gracefully Broken
Rating: 3 stars
Review: This song was okay. It sounded like they were shouting more than singing though they are talented singers. But the message of this song is a good one and I can appreciate that fact.

Song #5: One Day (When We All Get to Heaven)
Rating: 4 stars
Review: I like the promise in this song that says that one day, Jesus Christ will make everything right when we all get to Heaven. I love how the singer took a classic church him “When We All Get to Heaven” and added a modern touch suitable for the Contemporary Christian music genre. It is truly beautiful and inspiring! This song has a feather-light touch in its tune. Like it softly brushes up against your soul and lets you know that everything will be okay.

Song #6: Redemption Ground
Rating: 3 stars
Review: This song has a solid message but I didn’t really like anything else about it.

Song #7: It Is Finished
Rating: 4 stars
Review: “Amply your anthem of grace within my soul” is the opening line to this song and I love it! Draws me in from the start and keeps my ears tuned in until the end. I love how this song gives hope to Christ-followers because the lyrics focus on the facts: Jesus Christ defeated the devil and conquered death. His mission to save our souls is finished! All we have to do now is to believe in God and trust in Him. It renews my hope because it reminds me that the end of human history is simply “God wins”! He will put an end to sin and all of its devastating side effects. God has the final word and HE is victorious over the enemy of humankind. It reinforces my decision to choose God each and every day and reminds me that when I do that, I’m choosing LIFE with the hope of the best happily ever after the end to my life story—an eternity spent in the presence of God.

Song #8: Questions (You Are Faithful)
Rating: 5 stars
Review: This song really resonated with my soul because it showed me as the listener that yes, I may have questions for God and doubt His goodness when life gets tough BUT God is faithful and He’s never going to give up on me. This song is a steady reminder that God is Good and He can be trusted. It’s also a reminder that God is not scared of honest prayers and can handle raw emotions. He is sovereign and His unconditional love for humankind is eternal. This is perhaps my favorite song on the CD because I’ve been there. I’ve asked God what humans consider “hard questions”. I’ve said I believed then asked God to help my unbelief. I’ve been devastated and distant from Him but He’s always been there. Why? Because He is faithful through ALL of the ages and He’s promised to be there with us until the end of time.

Song #9: Still I Will Sing
Rating: 4 stars
Review: The lyrics to this song are very creative and cutting edge. I loved it! The music was upbeat and my only complaint is that the tempo was a bit too fast. It made me dizzy! Nonetheless, this would make a great morning jog routine music playlist. Just pop in your earphones, press play on your music device and take off like the wind!

Song #10: Place of Praise
Rating: 4 stars
Review: This song holds a very important message that’s told in a deep, multi-layered way and that message simply encourages listeners to hold on to God. Don’t let go of His Hand. Trust Him through the good and the bad. He will carry you through the toughest times of your life. Praise Him through the storms of life and remember that He is always available to be there for you. The melody was soft and sweet. It’s a really nice song.

Song #11: Hope Is Marching On
Rating: 4 stars
Review: This song is a soft sound and a beautiful reminder of how God wants us to place our burdens on Him and allow Him to lighten our load. It’s a sweet, slow song and throughout the beginning of it, the singer whispers these precious truths into the listener’s ear. But that whisper moves forward on a steady crescendo as the singer drives important truths home. However, the intensity of his singing ebbs and flows according to the impact of the lyrics. He emphasizes the important points then quietly reinforces the faith of the listeners with gentle reminders that God is in control and we can place our hope in Him.

Song #12: Simple Pursuit/Glory Song
Rating: 3 stars
Review: I’m not sure how I feel about this song. It’s not bad but it’s not very good. However, the message is succinct and powerful. It’s better than two stars but far from a four-star rating. I think that this is my least favorite song on the entire CD. But this may just be a matter of my personal taste because as I said it has a great message. I just did not connect with the tune. 

Song #13: Your Ways
Rating: 4 stars
Review: This song encouraged me to keep my faith in God and reminded me of His Goodness. It also touched on the Bible verse about how God’s thoughts are higher than our thoughts and His Ways are perfect and good. Its tune is mellow and its message is heartwarming. What a wonderful way to end this CD!

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Social Corner:
Gracefully Broken Top Of The Tower Live Video
Gracefully Broken (Lyric Video)
Gracefully Broken (Song Story)

Buy link for Matt Redman's "Glory Song" CD: http://capcmg.me/GlorySong?IQid=flyby

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Enter this music giveaway contest for your chance to WIN a copy of this CD by filling out the entry form on the Rafflecopter widget below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller /FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days on the same blog, you are not eligible to win. Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

Thankful Thursday: Earth is NOT Our Home

It's Thursday and I'm thankful that Earth is NOT our home.

"Why?" You may ask. Allow me to explain.

I don't think you have to look far these days to see signs of trouble. It's clear that with the state of the world and human affairs today, life is getting more complicated and more unpredictable. Mother Nature is having mood swings (hot weather in months that are supposed to be cold, cold weather in months that are supposed to be hot) and people are getting more comfortable with disrespecting each other. It's sad.

Lately, I've realized that I've been so busy trying to establish myself as a career professional and secure a place for me in this world that I've forgotten one Bible based truth: Earth is NOT our home.

So where is our home? If you're a believer in God and a follower of Jesus Christ then you know that Heaven is our true home. As Christians, we are just passing through which is why God advises us in His Word (The Holy Bible) to not get too comfortable here on this planet Earth.

According to The Message Bible, God advises us, "Friends, this world is not your home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it. Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they’ll be won over to God’s side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives" (1 Peter 2:11-12, MSG).

I love the Bible book of Hebrews, especially Chapter 11 of Hebrews. I call it “The Faith Chapter” because it shows us how our spiritual forefathers like Abraham followed God without question. They had full faith in where He was leading. Abraham literally packed his bags and took his family on a journey to a destination unknown just because God said, “Go.”

I want to have the faith of father Abraham to the point where my life is summed up simply as, “God sent, she went!” I want to follow Him to the ends of the Earth. I want to serve Him with all of my heart and be a willing and true vessel for His purpose. I want to be one of His servants who He uses as an instrument of His peace. I want to, as St. Francis of Assisi said, be used as an instrument of God’s peace. Honestly, in our modern times on this Earth, I think it is a prayer that every Christ-follower should pray to God.

Let’s read St. Francis’ prayer. He said: “Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.”

A lot of times when life on Earth makes me overwhelmed, discouraged or too depressed to pray, I ask God-fearing friends to pray for me. One of those friends is an older lady who wakes up early in the morning every day to pray for everyone on her prayer list. Recently, I reached out to her in my distress and her answer to me was simple. She told me, “Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus Christ.” And honestly, it upset me because it felt like she was bypassing my pain with Bible-based advice and for the rest of the day, I silently stewed, thinking that she doesn’t know what I’m dealing with or she wouldn’t say that to me. I’m hurt! I’m in pain! I’m overwhelmed! I’m oppressed and depressed and THIS is what she tells me? BUT God started working on my heart and I realized that though her advice seemed simple, it was the perfect answer because only God can give me perfect peace.

It’s like this song by Laura Story:

So my dear friends, as this world gets crazier and the weather becomes more unpredictable and you’re feeling too overwhelmed to function, keep your eyes on Jesus Christ because only He can give you perfect peace.

Please remember that if you believe in the Creator of the Universe (God), Earth is NOT our home. We are, like our spiritual forefathers mentioned in The Faith Chapter, “waiting for the city with permanent foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10, ISV).

Heaven is our home. It’s a place free of sin and sorrow. No more death, depression, oppression, despair, injustice or inequities. The day is coming when God will make everything right. Until then, let us as my prayer warrior church friend says, “Keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.”

God bless you!

Love,

Alexis

Words of Faith: A Pastor's Journey from Corporate America to Jesus

From Corporate to Clergy: “Yes, Lord!”

A Words of Faith story by Pastor CJ Cousins

I was a very reluctant recruit. My journey of faith in Christ and His call on my life was one of denying the obvious. Jesus made it evident that He had a special plan for my life from an early age, especially through a dream and a near death experience He miraculously spared me from. As a child I was occasionally found preaching to stuffed animals. This would come as no surprise to my mother, who was a singing evangelist, whom I often accompanied as she sang in evangelistic meetings domestically and internationally. Therefore I developed not only a love for singing and music, but a deep passion for Jesus and the Seventh-day Adventist message. As a youth and young adult I was very active in ministry; singing, youth ministry, preaching and public campus ministry.

It was while I was in college that Jesus placed a deep sense of calling on my heart. This was affirmed by several individuals who observed me in ministry. However I wrote off this calling since I was studying Business Administration, which I was being groomed for since high school in a special business program. I was enamored with the apparent prestigious life of the corporate world. I also wrote off this calling since I didn’t think pastors made much money and so I eventually started working at the bank. While witnessing to a co-worker at the bank, again the deep sense that I should be a pastor came over me, but again I ran from this calling and started doing my master's in Human Resource Management and becoming a recruiter for an international recruiting firm.

I ultimately found myself with a fairly large home and on my way to climbing the corporate ladder, when God dramatically pulled me out of my career. This was the biggest test in my journey of faith. While attempting to get back into my career, the Holy Spirit began to place a burden for souls on my heart, so I reasoned that I would start a ministry, called Living For Him, instead of going into pastoral ministry as a “half yes to the call of God.” However, the Lord mysteriously kept the door closed to all my attempts to returning to my career while subsequently enlarging everything I was doing in ministry. Preaching increased, bible studies became regular, small groups became a way of life and some people where baptized. The affirmation of church members and several pastors began to increase until the conference I served in was about to make me a lay pastor and church planter, when the call of God got louder than ever before! And after three years of wrestling with God and several providential events, I finally surrendered to the compelling, yet loving call of my Savior to go to the seminary and become a pastor.

Once surrendered to this call I had such a sense of peace and joy as I looked forward to the vision of ministry that Christ had given me. And I am happy to testify that not only has the vision been realized since coming to the Potomac Conference, but it is enlarging in ways that I could not have dreamed of myself. I am serving as an associate pastor at Restoration Praise Center SDA Church, a vibrant congregation full of young adults and young families. I oversee 24 small groups called Grow Groups and am the online pastor for our online campus, RPCtv. The Lord has used me to teach a baptismal Bible study class and to conduct several baptisms. I have had the opportunity to preach several times, not only in my local congregation, but also at other churches in the DMV area. I am seeing lives changed by the gospel, while my own is concurrently being transformed. I am humbled and honored that Jesus has called me to the pastoral ministry and am fully dependent on Him buy faith for what He wants to accomplish through me. I encourage you, when Jesus calls, do not delay. Just humbly respond in faith and say,“Yes Lord.”

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Author bio: Claypole S. Cousins Jr., also known as “CJ," is simply a man who is in love with Jesus. His passion is to live, preach and teach the gospel of Jesus Christ and equip “disciples making disciples”. 

He is married to the lovely Deedre Nicole Cousins, who is a wonderful support and partner in ministry. Together God has blessed them with beautiful baby boy, Thomas Alexander Cousins. 

He majored in Human Resource Management from at Florida International University and received a bachelor's degree in Business Administration. He also has a Master's of Human Resource Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University. 

He has a Master 's of Divinity degree with an emphasis in Church Growth and Evangelism from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University. He has served as Intern Pastor at One Place and Graduate Assistant for grow Groups at Pioneer Memorial Church on the campus of Andrews University. 

CJ currently serves as Associate Pastor at Restoration Praise Center in Bowie, Md. He is the pastor for Grow Groups and RPCtv. He is passionate about sharing God’s love as seen through the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the context of Revelation 14:6-12. 

In addition to preaching and teaching, CJ also loves to sing and write about Jesus.

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Connect with Pastor CJ:
Website - www.iamlivingforhim.com
Twitter - https://twitter.com/PrCJCousins
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/livingforhimtv/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/lfhministries/about

Book Review for Celebrate Lit's blog tour, featuring a book by Mimi Milan

Broken Places and God's Grace
A review of Mimi Milan's book, Twice Redeemed: The Jericho Resistance (Book 2)

If there were a song suited for Mimi Milan’s novel, Twice Redeemed, it would be “Unredeemed” as performed by Selah. The song is about broken places in the human heart and how God’s love can heal the deepest hurt. The lyrics of that song encourage the listener with a message of how when you lay your brokenness before the Lord, He can restore you. Selah says that with God in the picture, your pain will not be unredeemed.

Twice Redeemed: The Jericho Resistance (Book 2) is a beautifully written story about Mercedes Nobles, a woman who endures abuse at a saloon in Jericho. She’s helped other saloon worker women escape but is not able to save herself.

Enter John Durbin, a former law enforcement officer who still lives with integrity and honor. He’s determined to rescue Mercedes from a disgraceful and abusive fate. He rides into town like a knight in shining armor. Obstacles stand in the way of his goal to save Mercedes. During this rescue mission, they fall in love. But there are more roadblocks to their budding romance, including a secret that Mercedes keeps. It is a secret that once told, could change everything.

This novel touches on human trafficking and tugs on the human heart. The author, Mimi Milan, is a master storyteller. She invites the reader into her fictional story world set in Mexico and drops them into the scene of action. The reader experiences the story as if they are an observer watching the story of Jericho unfold. As they turn each page, the readers become invested in the plot, grow fond of the good characters, want to silence the bad guys and care deeply about how the story ends.

The author drives the characterization deep and paints a picture on every page. The descriptions of each setting are vivid and believable. The dialogue is engaging and fresh. The plot thickens with the turn of each page and the theme of God’s grace moves forward this story of redemption.

I believe that this story is worth every bit of a five-star rating. It’s worthy of winning a literary award. I recommend this to any reader over the age of 18, who wants to experience a tale that’s a beautiful tapestry of God’s passion for redeeming His children.

*Alexis A. Goring received this book for free from the author and Celebrate Lit, in exchange for an honest review.

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About the Author: 

Mimi Milan spent two decades scribbling away in notebooks before realizing that her life’s calling was to write. So she returned from Mexico and attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, majoring in Creative Writing and minoring in Film.

She currently resides in the suburbs of Charlotte, making time for God, family, and imaginary friends.

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About the book:

Who will save her from herself?

After helping another girl escape, Mercedes Nobles suffers unspeakable abuse at Jericho. So when an American cowboy rides into town, she jumps at the opportunity to start a new life… even though she carries a secret that could destroy any chance of happiness for either of them.

John Durbin may have turned in his badge, but he still believes in living by a code of honor. That includes returning to a seedy Mexican saloon and rescuing a woman who helped his friends escape. However, the tables turn and he finds himself married in name only.

Struggling with cultural differences, they questions if their marriage will survive. Will John sacrifice his faith to make his new bride happy? How will Mercedes redeem herself when John learns of the secret she’s hiding?

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Participate in the book giveaway contest to WIN a copy of Mimi's book! Follow this link...

https://promosimple.com/ps/a16d

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                                      Blog tour stops:

August 9: Blossoms and Blessings

August 10: D’S QUILTS & BOOKS

August 11: Books,Dreams,Life

August 12: History, Mystery & Faith

August 13: A Greater Yes

August 13: Black ‘n Gold Girl’s Book Spot

August 14: The Wits About

August 15: Daysong Reflections

August 16: Chas Ray’s Book Nerd Corner 

August 17: Bibliophile Reviews

August 18: God is Love

August 19: A Baker’s Perspective

August 20: cherylbbookblog

August 21: Karen’s Krayons

August 22: Bigreadersite

August 22: Debbie Dusty Deliberations