Day by Day Guided Journal: 100 Ways to Capture Memories & Create Your Own Story by Jess Conte Book Review

 

Day by Day Guided Journal is a beautiful journal designed by Jess Conte. There are fun activities broken down in four categories: check in, capture, create, reflect and grow. The check in section is designed to help you brainstorm and briefly write down your thoughts, focus on gratitude, and understanding self-care. The capture session contains fill in the blank and trivia style questions. The create section is artful coloring fun activities. The reflect and grow is meant to help us discovering our best self and we can reflect on our past and future. She encouraged readers to not have your phone close to you while you are having me time and live distraction free just for a few moments daily, if you need to. You can use this book whenever you need and the journal is created to allow you to go your own pace. 

 

 

 

I liked how she shared her own story in some of the activities. She explained how she is Australian and moved to the United States after marrying her husband. They are both have a social media presence and create content. She encourages readers to write down their own story. One of my favorite activities was taking the time to look around and draw things that make us happy, remind us of home, that we love, and that is colorful. I also liked the goal section and breaking it down in dream big, work hard, and small steps. This is beneficial to diving into what our dreams are and taking a step towards them. Another favorite thing was writing a letter to our future self and this can help us to figure out who we are. I immensely loved the positive affirmation and how this can assist us in reminding ourselves who we are and what we need to hear daily. I would recommend this wonderful book to anyone who is seeking a creative journal to find out who they are and they are wanting a break from the stress of the world. This book would be an excellent gift to any women in your life. 

 

 

"I received this book free from the publisher, Hachette Book Group/Faithwords for my honest review.”

 

 

 

 

If you would like to purchase a copy, check it out on Amazon.com:

 

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Day-Journal-Jess-Conte/dp/1546015949

A Thousand Tomorrows by Karen Kingsbury Book Review

A Thousand Tomorrows is a recent re-release of a book written by Karen Kingsbury. It was first released in 2005. It has recently also been made into a TV series releasing on PureFlix soon. The book is about a national professional bull rider, Cody Gunner. The book begins by sharing about his life story and we learned about his father, Mike Gunner a football player for the Atlanta Falcons. He loved playing football and it was a major part of his life until he suffered a knee injury and was later cut from the team. Everything changed when that happened and he didn’t know how to handle his second son, Carl Joseph being born with down syndrome. He didn’t really even pay much attention to him at all. One day, his parents had a fight and he told his wife that he didn’t love her anymore. His dad decided to leave his family and Cody explained how he watched him drive away. He recalls running after his dad for at least ten houses down. Cody described his deep loved for his brother and believed if he didn’t truly love him nobody else would. He had an unfathomable wound from his father leaving and he partly blamed his mother for telling him to never return home. Cody shared how he became a cowboy and a bull rider. He found relief from the rage inside of him when he rode a bull. 

 

 

 

Ali Daniels is the second major character of the book. She also has a dream of becoming a national champion and a barrel racer. She was hiding a dark secret. She was facing a health crisis and had cystic fibrosis. Her parents were very protective of her since her sister also passed away from pneumonia. In the book, we witness how her health changes and gets worst and how she struggles breathing with her lungs. She would one day have to obtain a lung transplant and even then, she wouldn’t live past three years at the max. She ends up meeting Cody and she is drawn to Cody and they become friends and how they both wish to have a thousand of tomorrows together.  

 

 

I would recommend this awesome novel to anyone who is seeking a book that contains a positive message in the mist of difficult circumstances. I loved the character of Cody being a cowboy who is determined to win and then everything changes when he meets a girl. It has a wonderful message of forgiveness and healing and discovering what truly matters. This has a mix of love in the book and a hope that love never ends. It is based on the principles found in 1 Corinthians 13. The book also contained a helpful group reading guide questions that will assist readers into going deeper into the message of the book. I also excited to see the new series coming out and I think it even bring the book more to life. I also purchased the second book in the series and I’m curious to find out what happens next in the Cody Gunner adventure. I also liked how she wrote a new introduction in this addition explaining how she came up with the idea for the book. This was very eye opening and Karen is an excellent writer to bring the topic of cystic fibrosis to life.

 

 

 

 

"I received this book free from the publisher, Hachette Book Group/Faithwords for my honest review.”

 

 

 

 

If you would like to purchase a copy, check it out on Amazon.com:

 

 

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Thousand-Tomorrows-Cody-Gunner-Book-ebook/dp/B002SSBDDK/

 

 

 

Check it out on Pureflix starting February 24!

 

 

https://www.pureflix.com/movie/a-thousand-tomorrows

Something Greater: Discovering God's Best Right Where You Are by Jentezen Franklin Book Review

 

In Something Greater, Jentezen Franklin has written a book to remind readers that we are living in the acres of diamonds and that greater is coming our way. This book is a re-released his popular book, Acres of Diamonds in a mass market paperback edition. He begins the book by explaining how a diamond is created. It takes time, pressure, and heat. He described how when we go through our trials that they serve a purpose and we need to learn to stay and become more fruitful. This will cause us to learn more and do more and it will bring forth a diamond. He revealed the powerful impact the word stay can have on our lives and cause a positive change reaction. He reminded readers that they grass isn’t always greener somewhere else. He looked at Ecclesiastes and how it explained how there is a time for everything, to laugh, live, gather, plant, and much more. He also explored the Prodigal son and how he left home in search of a more fulfilling life. He strongly cautioned believers to not run from churches, jobs, relationships, and not to be so quick to move. He explained how the very thing we are leaving someone else would love to have. 

 

 

 

 

One of my favorite stories, he shared was about our tattered dreams. God is still on the throne and able to bring our dreams to pass. He told the story of billionaire real estate mogul, Steve Wynn. He purchased a painting by Picasso, the Le Reve estimated to have been worth for about $60 million. Wynn had an eye disease and this affected his peripheral vision. He tried to sale it years later and at the sale he fell and tore the painting. He ripped the painting that was now worth $139 million. He was able to find a restorer and he fixed the torn painting. He later sold it for $155 million. Even though it was torn and restored it was now worth more than ever. He used this story to encourage us that even torn dreams can be restored. God’s word even declares that He will repay you the years that the locusts have eaten. Our failure doesn’t have to be final. Jesus still promises to give us life more abundantly. 

 

 

I would recommend this wonderful book to anyone who is ready to learn more about how we can do something great right where we are. We can learn about our hidden potential and discover God’s plan for our lives. Another favorite thing he shared was the chapter on jobs and how God has us right where he wants us. We may be planted where God currently wants us to be. If we choose to leave, we may miss our acres of diamonds. One of the most powerful lessons, he shared was on how we are located right where we need to be for a reason. He revealed how we don’t need to forget that we have influence over our employees and coworkers. We can in turn use this to reach others for Christ. Franklin explained how we are able to reach others for Christ in ways he couldn’t do as a preacher. He spent a great deal in stating that Jesus also did work and how we can do our jobs with excellence. This is the second time I have read this book. I read the first edition and this is a great reminder of the message of this book. I liked how this edition was smaller and easier to carry around with you for quick reference. 

 

 

 

"I received this book free from the publisher, Bethany House/ Chosen for my honest review.”

 

 

 

 

 

If you would like to purchase a copy, check it out on Amazon.com: 

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Something-Greater-Discovering-Right-Where/dp/0800762959/

Your Greater Is Coming: Discover the Path to Your Bigger, Better, and Brighter Future by Joel Osteen Book Review

 

In Your Greater is Coming, Joel Osteen explored the message of hope and believing that better days are headed your way. He reminded readers that when they are going through difficult times, they must remember that the bad break that we dealing with isn’t the end. There is greater coming. It’s imperative that we keep that phrase in our spirit and dwell on it when we are facing challenges. He shared what apostle Peter said about how after we suffer for a little while and God will provide us with grace and He will restore us and strengthen us. We can have hope that the suffering we are experiencing isn’t permanent. We have to remember that we must go through the suffering and keep an attitude of faith. Joel explained how our suffering is a setup and how He can use this to take us to another level in our destiny. We wouldn’t be who we are today without going through the disappointment, setbacks, and hardships. 

 

 

Joel shared a personal story about how his dad began pastoring for a good number of years. He eventually had to leave that church because Joel’s sister, Lisa was born with something like cerebral palsy and she was told that she wouldn’t be able to walk or feed herself. His father at the time took a week’s trip to seek God and study scripture. His church at the time didn’t believe that God healed in today’s times. But he was reminded that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He taught on healing at his church and he felt he was forced to leave the church. His parents went on to start Lakewood and at first services were held in an old feedstore and around 90 people showed up for the first service. Joel shared how Lisa was healed and how the church has grown over the years. His parents were able to experience greater favor, opportunity, influence, and step into what God had for them. 

 

 

 

 

One of my favorite stories, he described was on a lady who had been without work for over a year. She was a sales associate who contact wasn’t being renewed. She applied at many different places and was turned down. She had an interview out of state and it come down to her and another man. On the way, there she met a taxicab driver. She explained how she had been out of work and was she had been praying and believing for a door to open for her. Later that day, the driver picked up the interviewer and he realized that they were connected and he told her who she should pick for the job. The driver sang praises for the lady and she got the job all because of how the driver portray the lady who desperately wanted the job. Joel shared how this was a hand of God and wasn’t just a coincidence. God caused someone who didn’t know her to put a good word in for her that lead to her in getting the job. 

 

 

 

I would recommend this awesome book to anyone who is ready to start believing and dreaming again. We must always remember that our story hasn’t ended and if we are still breathing, then we can rely on hope and that greater is coming. I immensely loved the positive message of this book and how if we will take the extra time to let the message get into our spirit daily, we will witness a wonderful transformation and go from a caterpillar to a butterfly. God is going to do a new thing in our lives and we must not place Him in a box. I also enjoyed the story about the car charger and how Joel explained how he didn’t know that some vehicles contain cordless chargers and he used that story to explain how sometimes things don’t come in ways that we are used to or expecting them to. God could be opening up a new door but we might not be able to perceive it if we aren’t open. 

 

 

 

 

"I received this book free from the publisher, Hachette Book Group/Faithwords for my honest review.”

 

 

 

 

If you would like to purchase a copy, check it out on Amazon.com:

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Your-Greater-Coming-Discover-Brighter/dp/1455534412/

Loving People Who Are Hard to Love: Transforming Your World by Learning to Love Unconditionally by Joyce Meyer Book Review

In Loving People Who Are Hard to Love, Joyce Meyer has written a brand-new book covering the topic of love and she guides readers on how we can learn to love others who are just plain difficult to. A major scripture verse discussed in this book was John 13:34, that stated that we must love one another like He has loved us. The world is facing a crisis of a lack of love and it’s filled with hatred, violence, we have no peace, no love, and angry is more present more now than ever before. She explained how love provides us with purpose and meaning. Jesus also revealed the important of truly providing for others out of love whether it be giving clothes, food, or water to someone in need, caring for the sick, or someone who is in prison. He compared to how if we did an act of kindness to someone else, then it was like we did it for Christ. Joyce used this teaching to remind believers that the choices we make now will determine if we will be in the righteous side when Jesus returns. She encouraged believers to practice loving others daily and we can use the five love languages to do so.  

 

 

One of my favorite stories she shared was about her experience with a shopping cart filled with dented cans. There was a time that she didn’t have a lot of money and had to cut costs. One grocery store had this special cart filled with dented cans or missing labels. You wouldn’t have any idea what items you would be getting until you opened the can. It could be dog/ cat food, vegetables, fruit, applesauce. She admitted to how she would choose the cans with the smallest dents and she used this exampled to display how the take the same approach with regard to dealing and choosing people we associate with. We don’t always know what we will be getting and we can’t always read people’s labels. She explained how her husband probably didn’t realize that she had a small dent in her childhood.  

 

 

She shared how she suffered sexual abuse from her father and she didn’t obtain an apology until he was 80 years old. Her mother didn’t apologize until 30 years after she turned 18. Her abuse affected her personality and she was very controlling and afraid. She dealt with a deep issue of rejection and shame. She had a big anger problem and it surfaced in her marriage to Dave. Her husband had a strong faith and he remained peaceful and loving towards her and eventually she found healing and got closer to Jesus. Another powerful lesson was about porcupines and how they have to close to either being cold in the winter or being stuck by another porcupine quills in order to survive winter. She used to this to illustrate to us on how we may all have wounds that run deep but we are still much better off connecting with others and choosing to love. 

 

 

I would recommend this life changing book to anyone who is struggling with loving others who are difficult. We all have that boss, coworkers, church members, family, and neighbors that are hard to love. This book contained numerous information and strategies to assist us in loving others. This book would be best to reread and to actively read a chapter a day or week and put it into practice. One of the most insightful teachings in the book is the one about offense and how to deal with it directly head on. We can instead choose to follow peace and to not be easily offended. This is one tactic satan uses a lot to keep people bound and in turmoil against each other. This is more than likely the very reason in the back of the book, she enclosed scriptures to assist readers in dealing with offenses and finding true freedom. 

 

 

 

"I received this book free from the publisher, Hachette Book Group/Faithwords for my honest review.”

 

 

 

 

If you would like to purchase a copy, check it out on Amazon.com:

 

 

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Loving-People-Hard-Love-Unconditionally/dp/1546016090

NET, The TEXT Bible, Hardcover, Comfort Print: Uncover the message between God, humanity, and you edited by Michael and Hayley DiMarco Book Review and Giveaway

 

Made with students, young adults, and new believers in mind, The TEXT introduces the new and memorable TEXT study method—Talk to God; Encounter God and humanity in Scripture; eXamine your heart; Talk to others—to help readers of every experience level interact with God’s message. Along with this easy-to-use Bible engagement technique, answers to common questions, prayer prompts, and easy-to-understand study tips, The TEXT is a Bible readers of any experience level will want to use every day.  

Features Include:  

• TEXT the Text: use the four-step TEXT study method— Talk to God; Encounter God and humanity; eXamine your heart; Talk to others—to engage with Scripture 

• Big Q of the Text: big life questions with short answers 

• “Who is God?”: nearly 100 short devotions on the person and character of God 

• Praying the Text: Learn how to start praying God’s Word right back to him! 

• Get to Know the Text: brief explanations of people and events found in Scripture 

• Follow the Thread: navigate the Bible across topics 

• Anatomy of the Text: concise descriptions of literary devices and categories of Scripture found within the Bible, such as parables and apocalyptic books 

• Terms of the Text: brief definitions of important words to help us better understand and discuss Scripture 

General editors: 

• Michael and Hayley DiMarco are the bestselling and award-winning authors of more than 40 books including Own It, God Guy, God Girl, and A Woman Over whelmed. Michael and Hayley have now served as general editors on three Bible projects. Together, they work side-by-side at Hungry Planet, a company they founded that creates winsome and spiritually based content for teens and adults. They live in Eugene, Oregon, where Michael serves as a pastor. 

My Review:

The NET the Text Bible is a wonderful Bible featuring key new features teaching us about God’s written Word. This Bible is geared towards students and young adults, aged 18-40. The entire scope of the Bible is meant to be like a gateway to connecting to God and can be viewed as an online presence mixed with a group text conversation. The editor’s explained how the single most important thing is our thoughts on God and we can reply on the face that God will always be there to give us answers to life’s mystery of questions. I liked how the Bible contained a summary and a quick breakdown of who wrote the chapter, key verses, purpose, dates, and text treads to prepare readers on what the chapter will enclose. One of my favorite things was a session called, “praying the text”. I liked the one that covered storms and it was placed near Jeremiah 15. This prayer was scriptures discussing storms and how God will keep us safe under his wings, controls the water, and provides us with the hope found only in Christ. Another awesome feature was the 100 devotionals placed throughout the Bible that was based on the TEXT principle. One of my favorites was on God is our provider and they encouraged readers to list attributes in a column on who God is and on the other side who humanity is. It explored stress and worrying and how we can examine our hearts and grow deeper in learning more about God and how He cares for us. I also immensely love how they included special charts featuring: prophecies fulfilled at the cross, spiritual gifts, two types of wisdom, praying the text index, hashtags, reading plan, maps, and a concordance. I loved how the Bible comprised of two ribbon bookmarks to make it easier to flip back and forth and study different verses and it makes it quicker for follow the tread features. 

 

Key points: 

• A Bible for students that doesn’t talk down to them and teaches who God is, how to engage with Scripture, and how to have a personal relationship with him. 

• Ideal for teens, young adults, new believers, and anyone who doesn’t feel confident engaging Scripture on their own. 

• Accessible new Scripture Engagement Method (TEXT) that connects Scripture to all of life. 

^• Get 50% off your copy of The NET TEXT Bible if you order before Valentine’s Day! 

 

Website: https://textbible.com

 

 

Buy Link: https://churchsource.com/products/net-the-text-bible-hardcover-comfort-print-uncover-the-message-between-god-humanity-and-you?variant=39814677037153&utm_source=influencer&utm_medium=review&utm_campaign=momentum_influencers&utm_id=TNB

 

Disclosure:  

Many thanks to Harper Collins Christian Publishing for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. 

 

Giveaway: 1 (one) copy of the TEXT Bible (Hardcover) 

(Note: This is limited to US winners only.)

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