fun from (in)courage

This month, (in)courage is focusing on how "encouragement is a powerful thing"...and I know that for me, that strikes a chord because I don't have a friend right now that doesn't have something going on.  As I sit here, I think over the variety of faces that mean a lot to my heart and I feel the weight of all that presses in on them...and I find myself wondering what it is that I can do to simply bring a smile to their faces.  I know that I don't have the power to fix anything...but if I can cause even the most temporary uplift of the corners of their mouths, I know that I will have helped to crack the shell on what burdens them.

It was great that I was given the chance to get greeting card variety pack this month!!! I tend to get kinda picky when it comes to picking out cards for people I really care about and most "religious" cards that I come across in my local stores leave so much to be desired as they are so generic in their messages...but, with these....I feel in love as SOON as I opened the plastic.  Not only are they cards gorgeous, they are 100% color, inside and out, and each contain a beautiful scripture and verse on the inside left cover. 

Reaonsibly priced at $2.99 a piece, these are sure fire winners in my book :)

Did you know that (in)courage offers bloggers a chance to get *free* product in exchange for a review??  I only found out about it recently myself...you can click here to find out more about the program. 

***I was provided free product by Dayspring in exchange for a review of the product sent.  All opinions listed here are my own...and other than product, I was given no other compensation for this review.***

Still Reading...
Bina

Girl Ain't Fat, She Just Weighs Heavy

I signed up for this book simply because I was in desperate need of humor...and I can honestly say that this is one of the best books I have picked up in a LONG time. 

Girl Ain't Fat, She Just Weighs Heavy is a non-fiction book, actually labeled as a "self-help" book...but it is laughter that helps your "self" be better, in my opinon.  Shellie Rushing Tomlinson did an amazing job of taking her own experiences and turning them into laugh-out-loud material that leaves you wiping your eyes and wondering "Did she really live thru that???"   I would not only recommend this book...I plan on buying extra copies for a few good friends!!!

** Please read to the bottom to find out about a Facebook Release Party!! **

Cover Information:
The bestselling author of Suck Your Stomach In & Put Some Color On! returns with more helpful how-to's and keen observations from Dixie .

Guided by principles from the ancient Belle Doctrine, the host of radio and television's All Things Southern offers down-home advice on everything from health and fitness-managing thy caloric calculations without going Straight Running Crazy and surviving the Raging Inferno Syndrome (aka hot flashes)-to the Southern art of handling your man (Bubba Whispering). Whether giving business tips or debunking the Big Boned Theory, making political observations or celebrating the inevitable resurgence of big hair, Shellie is an adviser women can relate to and laugh with regardless of their age or which side of the Mason-Dixon they call home.

Facebook Release Party:

To celebrate the Sue Ellen’s release, Shellie is having a Facebook Party!  

Join Shellie and the gang on June 2^nd at 5:00 PM PST (6 MST, 7 CST, 8 EST) for a Southern style shin-dig! She'll be dishing on Bubba Whispering, debunking the Big Boned Theory, and how to manage going Straight Running Crazy. If you don't know what any of that is, then be sure to pick up a copy of the book (Not necessary to join the fun! Who knows - you might win a copy!) and join us at 5:00 pm on June 2nd at Shellie's Facebook page. And tell your friends - she's giving away copies of her books and some great gift certificates.

You can click on the Facebook link on the top of my sidebar to join in!!

**Litfuse Publicity Group provided me this book for review purposes & is allowing me to keep this title once finished. I get no other compensation...other than the chance to fill my heart and soul with an excellent read. :) **

Still Reading...
Bina

Rejoice, A Women of Faith CD

I am a total music fanatic, so when I got the chance to review a Women of Faith worship cd, Rejoice...I was all over it!

I was happy to find that some of the songs were ones I already knew, so that helped to draw me into the set...but I also enjoyed learning a few new tunes.  I will admit that I am not always a big fan of straight worship cd's...but for the most part, I enjoyed the tunes chosen for the disc as well as the beautiful voices displayed.  Is a definate go-to in the moments when I am alone in the car, needing to reconnect with my Lord.

Cover Information:
REJOICE captures the unbridled joy, awestruck adoration, and reverent worship audiences experience over the course of a two-day Women of Faith event.
In arena events across the U.S., the Women of Faith Worship Team leads audiences into deeper communion with God. Through the songs on this new studio recording, they bring that experience to the listener, no matter where they are. There’s a sound for every situation; a song for every emotion. This is not just worship for women - it’s music for anyone and everyone who is ready to rejoice over the incomparable love God has for us.
Includes:

1. Beautiful Redeemer
2. So Good
3. Forever Reign
4. Come As You Are
5. Hosanna
6. Our God
7. Glory To God
8. You Brought the Sunshine
9. Greatness of Our God
10. Great Is Thy Faithfulness

**Thomas Nelson provided me this book for review purposes & is allowing me to keep this title once finished. I get no other compensation...other than the chance to fill my heart and soul with an excellent read

(or listen as the case may be). :) **

Still Reading...
Bina

The Elemental Journal

I snatched this title up for a variety of reasons...I am an avid journaler, it has an amazing cover, and I was looking for new ways to compile my thoughts (outside the written word).  When the package came in the mail, I was so excited to flip thru the colorful pages and was happy to find that the directions were easy to follow and didn't call for a lot of odd tools or resources.

But...and this is probably on me for not paying more attention when I chose it...a lot of what is in the book is more, how shall I say, high end artsy than I personally am.  I wouldn't make most of what is shown because it really just isn't me...and I wouldn't use most of it, if I got them as gifts, for the same reason.  While there are a couple more "practical" items listed, most of the things are just too touch-me-not for this girlie.

Cover Information:
Rusty doorknobs, cardboard containers and plastic packaging may seem like trash to some, but through the creative mind, they are transformed into beautiful expressions - equally parts artful book and assemblage. The Elemental Journal will show you how to craft a wide variety of journals to hold your secrets or express your inner thoughts, and discover new ways to use wood, paper, fabric, plastic and metal in your art.

Peek inside The Elemental Journal and you will find...

15 stepped-out journal projects made from unusual materials and found objects, from tree bark to dismantled photo albums to tin boxes.

Tips for seeking out materials for your journals in flea markets, garage sales, and in your own attic or trash can.

Inspiring gallery projects from 9 contributing artists, including Susan Tuttle, Jen Osborn and Jill Berry.

One artist's trash is another's treasure. Discover yours with The Elemental Journal.

So...my overall opinion is that this is a great coffee table book, for all its amazing photos, but not so much a book I will use in journal or craft time.

**Thomas Nelson provided me this book for review purposes & is allowing me to keep this title once finished. I get no other compensation...other than the chance to fill my heart and soul with an excellent read

(or listen as the case may be). :) **

Still Reading...
Bina

Mine Is The Night

Here Burns My Candle was my first introduction to Liz Curtis Higgs and her amazing abilities...while I have since devoured most everything she has written, I was so very excited to get this book copy in the mail.

Picking up where she left off in HBMC, Liz  immediately sweeps us back into the world of Elisabeth and her mother-in-law, Marjory Kerr.  Now moved back to Selkirk (Marjory's hometown and the birthplace of Elisabeth's dead husband), the women find themself trying to live on no money and in confined quarters. 

I found myself falling in love with them all over again and enjoying the introductions to a bunch of new faces.  Although I "know" the storyline that this is based from (the Bible's book of Ruth), I couldn't help but get nervous and wonder as they story-line played out...and with Liz's ability to paint a picture with her words, it all played out as a movie in my mind...each and every scene vivid and real.

I love Liz's ability to create characters that seem so real and known by us readers...but also how she is careful to show reverence towards the orginial Bible stories she pulls from.   Complete with a couple budding romances, a bit of trouble in making it all come together and hearts bent on being the women God called them to ... this book was a perfect ending to the story began in last year's HBMC.

I finished this book with a joy for the places each character found themselves, a sadness that their stories were complete for my reading mind and a hunger to go back and re-read Ruth's story.  And if it wasn't clear before, I am a die-hard fan of this amazing author :)

**WaterBrook Multnomah provided me this book for review purposes & is allowing me to keep this title once finished. I get no other compensation...other than the chance to fill my heart and soul with an excellent read. :) **

Still Reading...
Bina

Made To Crave

All it took was for me to see Lysa TerKeurts's name for me to jump on board with this book.  I had the privilege of hearing her speak a number of years ago at a Proverbs 31 Ministries event and a lot of what she had to say that day has stuck with me in a very positive way.

Her newest book, Made To Crave, is for the woman searching for a way out of the double-fisted food-to-face routine and is written with a lot of heart and personality...which is all Lysa, all the way.  From her ability to use the humor that comes from hindsight (like admitting that she would take the ponytail holder out of the hair before weighing in...cuz you know how much weight they carry!!) to her realistic, head-on approach to the Word and it's application in my life, I found myself relating to this woman as if she was sitting in my living room, sharing a cup of hot tea with me...not as a "writer" but as a girlfriend who understands where I've been in life.

While our relationship to food is the main thrust of Made To Crave, Lysa works hard to help women to realize that the cravings we feel inside are not "bad", but rather the impulse that we have been given by our Creator.  Born with a God-sized hole, we long to be filled and have our cravings filled...but living in a sin-filled world, we are often led astray in how we fill what longs...leaving us hungry, searching and (in my case) locked in a battle with food that leaves us feeling helpless to get out of it.

For me, on a personal note (as this is my blog and all)...I found a freedom with God that I haven't known in a long time.  As I read thru the experiences, feelings and Truth of what Lysa had to say, it dawned on me that I am "made for more" than where I am...that He didn't make me battle in my mind over how much is too much nor did He intend me spend so much time hating how I look...how I feel...or how I just can't seem to stop.  In realizing the Truth of who I am because I am His...I have been able to accept the plan He has for me in regard to how I let go and am willing to believe that I am worth fighting for in this area.  I am highly grateful for her willingness to be transparent with all us women...and for God's placement of Lysa's book in my hand.

For any woman searching for help with food...for understanding on what it means to love the Lord with all she is...for willingness to just step awaaaay from the donut, this is a book I would recommend with all my heart.

Book Cover Information:
Just because a woman finally fits into her skinny jeans doesn't mean she's won her battle with food. Too often, women overlook the spiritual component to their physical struggle with healthy eating. Made to Crave taps into the desires God gave you to consume food without letting food consume you!

Made to Crave is the missing link between a woman's desire to be healthy and the spiritual empowerment necessary to make that happen. The reality is we were made to crave. Craving isn't a bad thing. But we must realize God created us to crave more of him. Many of us have misplaced that craving by overindulging in physical pleasures instead of lasting spiritual satisfaction. If you are struggling with unhealthy eating habits, you can break the "I'll start again Monday" cycle, and start feeling good about yourself today. Learn to stop beating yourself up over the numbers on the scale. Discover that your weight loss struggle isn't a curse but rather a blessing in the making, and replace justifications that lead to diet failure with empowering go-to scripts that lead to victory. You can reach your healthy weight goal - and grow closer to God in the process. This is not a how-to book. This is not the latest and greatest dieting plan. This book is the necessary companion for you to use alongside whatever healthy lifestyle plan you choose. This is a book and Bible study to help you find the "want to" in making healthy lifestyle choices. 224 pages. Companion Bible study DVD set also available. http://madetocrave.org/purchase-resources/

DVD Series Info:

If you want to maximize your experience and bring these teachings to life in a way you’ll never forget, you’ll want to order the full set of resources. Adding the DVD teaching series and the workbook will motivate you to get healthy without feeling deprived, lose the weight in a permanent way, and find the peace your body, mind and soul desires. This DVD study can be done in a group or by yourself.  The Bundle is only available through Proverbs 31 Ministries, so click here to order! http://madetocrave.org/purchase-resources/

About The Author:

Lysa TerKeurst is an author and speaker who helps everyday women live an adventure of faith through following Jesus Christ. As president of Proverbs 31 Ministries, Lysa has led thousands to make their walk with God an invigorating journey.

Lysa wrote the book Made to Crave from the perspective of a woman who has never craved a carrot stick in her whole life. Having struggled with her weight her whole adult life, Lysa knows what it feels like to be in the vicious cycle of gaining and losing, but never feeling at peace in her struggle. Everything changed when Lysa decided to have her deepest desire met by God not food. Now, armed with the spiritual motivation she gained in her own journey, she is inspiring others to find lasting victory.

As a nationally known speaker, Lysa has been passionately teaching women God’s truths for years. Lysa’s personal adventures of following God led to appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Good Morning America, The 700 Club, USA Today newspaper, Woman’s Day magazine, and Focus on the Family radio.

Today, Lysa and her ministry team at Proverbs 31 Ministries encourage more than 375,000 women through their daily online devotional. In addition, she co-hosts a 1-minute inspirational radio program aired on more than 1,200 stations around the world. Plus, she touches hearts through their monthly magazine, P31 Woman. Lysa’s blog averages over 70,000 avid readers per month. She is the award-winning author of 14 books, including her newest releases, Made to Crave and Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl. Other noteworthy books include What Happens When Woman Say Yes to God, What Happens When Women Walk in Faith, Capture His Heart, and Capture Her Heart. Visit Lysa's website for more info and to visit her blog! http://lysaterkeurst.com

**Litfuse Publicity Group provided me this book for review purposes & is allowing me to keep this title once finished. I get no other compensation...other than the chance to fill my heart and soul with an excellent read. :) **

Still Reading...
Bina

The Truth About Dating, Love & Just Being Friends

This is the newest book by Chad Eastham and is typical for him in his charm of being able to twist together humor and seriousness into a practical guide for teenagers.  He delves into the realm of teenaged relationships in an effort to refocus the what is actually important in life...which is not what they think it is (ie - boys and girls...eeeee!).

I wanted this book because I have four teenagers...one boy and three girls...and thought it might help give some insight to the couple that are boy-crazed and encourage the other two that are pretty level-headed.  But what I found in my exploration of the book is that this book is intended for the older teen set, probably more like 16 and up.  That doesn't diminish his wisdom or wit, though, as I felt that Chad was right on in his approach to the age group he was writing to.

One of our 14 year olds viewpoint on the book was this: "This book basically just says 'don't have sex' and 'don't fall in love until you are like 20'.  I really didn't think this book was very helpful for kids my age because it is directed at much older teens and really wasn't useful for me."
So while I found it to be a not-now, but maybe-later book for MY kids, I would recommend it to any older girls/boys or parents out there that are looking for a Godly approach to this topic from a perspective that keeps it light and easy to understand.  Chad is a pro at what he does, fur sure, dude.

Book Information:
Chad Eastham, with his typical wit and wisdom for teens, brings much sought after advice on girls’ favorite topics including dating, love, friendship, and other important stuff.
Chad shines some much-needed light on these major issues for teens. Rather than let their feelings navigate them blindly through their tumultuous adolescence, Chad offers clarity, some surprising revelations, and answers to some of their biggest questions: How do I know who to date? When should I start dating? How should I start dating? Is this really love? And, Why do guys I like just want to be friends?
Packed with humor that adds to the sound advice, this book will help teens make better decisions, have healthier relationships, and be more prepared for their futures. Just a few things girls will learn include: Five things you need to know about love; Eight dumb dating things even smart people do; Ten reasons why teens are unhappy; and Ten things happy teens do.
Any teen can live a happier, healthier life: they just need to hear The Truth.

**Thomas Nelson provided me this book for review purposes & is allowing me to keep this title once finished. I get no other compensation...other than the chance to fill my heart and soul with an excellent read. :) **

Still Reading...
Bina